Olympic Puzzle: Riejanne Markus Prepares for Crucial Weeks to Secure Spot in Paris 2024

On November 14, 2023, Riejanne Markus takes the picture in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris with her big smile. She supports herself on one leg, the other rests on top of her bicycle.

Eight days later she would pose with a big smile for the wedding photos of her marriage to (gravel) cyclist and sock expert Jasper Ockeloen.

But in Paris Demi Vollering, Ellen van Dijk and national coach Loes Gunnewijk are on either side of her.

That day, a select group of cyclists explored the Olympic time trial route and part of the road race in Paris. A course with many twists and turns and climbs over the cobblestones of Montmartre.

A course with many opportunities and many Dutch competitors.

Only four cyclists can start in the Olympic road race. Two of them also have to act in the time trial. There is a lot of pressure for an Olympic starting spot.

“It’s going to be very difficult, we knew from the start,” said Markus on the eve of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. “The competition in Holland is just great. The only thing I can do is show what I’m worth in the competitions.”

But although Van Dijk and Vollering, Marianne Vos, Lorena Wiebes and someone like Shirin van Anrooij already showed their best side, Markus jumped the Flemish spring. The season is only really starting for her now.

And so the coming weeks are crucial for Markus to prove himself. “I did an altitude internship on the Teide in Tenerife. Last year I came fourth in Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Now I want to be on the podium. And then I go to the Vuelta, where I finished fourth last year. for the championships for me.”

The eldest of three cycling siblings Markus does not hide his intentions. And why would she do that? The 29-year-old rider of Visma-Lease A Bike is getting better every year.

In 2021, Markus – who already had a loyal following – won Tour de RieRie Youtube Channel – her first WorldTour race, a stage in the Tour of Norway. In 2022 she became Dutch VAM mountain champion and third at the European Time Trial Championships.

In 2023 she finished fourth in Liège, fourth in the final classification of the Vuelta, 11th in the final classification of the Tour and, between the two, Dutch time trial champion by a large margin.

That is also the discipline she really wants to ride in Paris. And in the road race, the national coach Gunnewijk can use her to control the race a little, because there is a repetition of the fiasco in Tokyo must be avoided at all times.

“I have shown at previous World Cups and European Championships that, as a race captain, I am valuable to the team, that I can go very far in the finals and I am certainly not afraid to sacrifice myself for the team.”

But bringing both Markus and Van Dijk will come at the expense of a finisher like Vollering, Vos or Wiebes. A devilish dilemma for the national coach. And then it helps if you can show really good results.

To start on Sunday in the Ardennes. “The harder classics are very interesting, I think. Of course the Olympic selection has a place in your mind, but even if these Games had not happened I would like to ride well here. I hope I can show that I can handle that. well.”