Riejanne Markus humiliates world top after months of time trial secret: "Access to same facilities as the men"

"Last winter, I told the team that winning the Dutch National Time Trial Championships was my biggest dream. I truly love time trials. The team gave me all the support I needed to make this dream come true," Markus proudly begins her analysis. "Of course, things still need to go well on the actual race day, but it worked out. We did everything we could during the preparation phase to make this a success."

Starting from winter, Markus started working with performance coach Matheu Heijboer in an extremely professional manner. "I made significant gains in aerodynamics, and I was provided with the same conditions and facilities as the men. This includes the wind tunnel, a different handlebar and other things like that... I'm incredibly grateful for that, along with the support of the women's team throughout the year based on my training program." She is now quite pleased that she kept it all a secret, without making it public. "Sometimes you have to set big goals in secret," she laughs.

When asked by IDLProCycling.com why she hadn't focused on her time trial earlier, Markus responds with a smile: "There simply wasn't the space and time for it before, so we decided to make it a major goal this year. The team expressed their full support, and it's amazing getting to work with Mathieu. We started the process in October of last year in the wind tunnel, and from that moment on, I could always text him with any questions. The fact that they were willing to help me with everything gives me a tremendous amount of confidence."

Markus' wholehearted embrace of time trials is no longer a secret. Following her dominant victory at the National Championships, securing a spot at the World Championships in Glasgow in August seems to be a near certainty. "This was a qualifying moment, and it is my ultimate dream to be at the starting line of a World Championship time trial. It's not easy in a country like the Netherlands, but I hope that I have proven myself today," Markus nods.

"The constant battle with oneself is so beautiful. Moreover, it's incredibly honest," Markus explains, further elaborating on her love for time trials. "The course was also very challenging, which made it even tougher. I'm proud that I managed to accomplish it all. Last year, I had a completely different preparation for the National Championships. I participated in more road races before the time trial championship. Now, I know that I can reach my highest level in time trials when coming from a training camp."

As a result, the Dutch cyclist is getting to know herself better and better, a success story that actually began after her surprising national road title in 2022. "After last year's Nationals, we slightly adjusted my program. I reduced the number of races and focused more specifically on preparation, including high-altitude training camps, for specific competitions. In that regard, I have a unique position. Marianne (Vos, ed.) and I are the only two who will be heading up to altitude three times this year. I have found a better balance in training myself towards top form. This sometimes means skipping important races, but I know I can reach a higher level elsewhere. This approach works for me, and I'm grateful that the team gives me the freedom to do so."

The question is justified: if someone can beat Vollering and Van Vleuten by a minute in a time trial, they can also contend for success in the Tour de France, right? "I'm really looking forward to the Tour. There's a fantastic route, even more challenging than last year. We'll see what it brings, but my focus is currently on the National Championships on Saturday. After that, we'll head to Tignes for altitude training, preparing for the Tour. I'm really excited about the time trial there. It's a dream to compete at the highest level in the Tour, especially while wearing the red, white and blue jersey."

And those who gain a significant amount of time in the race against the clock automatically come into consideration for the general classification. This is especially true after Markus showcased impressive climbing abilities in both the spring races and the recent Vuelta a España. "Whether I can ride for the general classification in the Tour, I don't know. I attempted it for the first time in the Vuelta and surprised myself with a fourth-place finish in the overall standings. Initially, in winter, we were aiming for a top ten finish, but it gradually evolved into aiming for a top five. I can adjust my ambitions, be ambitious for the Tour as well, but it does represent a higher level."

For now, Markus doesn't entertain the idea of comparing herself to Van Vleuten, who truly discovered her potential in stage races and mountainous terrains at a later age. "I believe I can do more than I think, although I wouldn't want to compare myself directly to someone like Annemiek. I lean more towards being a time trialist, but that allows me to maintain a steady and high power output for extended periods. That's my specialty, and it can take me far in demanding races."

Bram van der Ploeg (Twitter: @BvdPloegg)