Friday, August 9, 2024 at 9:20 PM
The Dutch duo in the Madison, Maike van der Duin and Lisa van Belle, surprised everyone by riding to the podium of the Olympic Games in Paris. Only the brand new Olympic champions Italy and the reigning British world champions finished above the young Dutch team.
“I certainly wanted and dared to dream this,” Van der Duin said in front of the camera of the NOS. “Since this winter I only had one thing and that was these Olympic Games. Everything was against me, everything. But here we are on the podium!”, she continued. The 22-year-old rider broke her ankle during a training camp with her team Canyon//SRAM in the United States at the end of last year and therefore had to miss the European championships in her own country. She also lost her father this year.
Van der Duin and Van Belle, two years younger, had more than earned their bronze medal. They raced with guts, took a lap, took the lead in the race and were able to hold on to the lead for a long time. Ultimately, that earned them a podium place. “And we have only cycled together twice! Lisa only cycled in this field for the first time this year,” Van der Duin continued. “We have such a good atmosphere and there is so much confidence, but we also have a lot of fun.”
“When we took that lap… I don’t know what we were yelling at each other, but we just felt… We’re just going to give it everything!” Van Belle complimented her teammate for her sense of timing. “Maike read the race perfectly and really went at the perfect moment. We just went for it and it worked out well.” Van der Duin believed mainly in taking a lap and not so much in the sprints. “I gave it everything and then I couldn’t do it anymore!” Van Belle also broke down. “But it was worth it!”
Finally, Van der Duin explained what this great achievement means to her: “That after all the setbacks, if your mind just cooperates and you try to do all the things you have in your power well, then a lot is possible.”
