Dutch cyclists primed to deliver Road Race gold to Marianne Vos
Ellen van Dijk is determined to help the Netherlands win gold at the Glasgow 2018 European Championships on Sunday.
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Ellen van Dijk is ready to sacrifice her own Road Race chances to help the Netherlands celebrate another cycling gold medal at the Glasgow 2018 European Championships on Sunday.
The time trial specialist will be part of a powerful squad looking to set-up Marianne Vos for the victory before she bids for a hat-trick of titles racing against the clock three days later.
Dutch riders have dominated the event since the women's race was added to the championships in 2016. Anna Van Der Breggen triumphed two years ago before multiple world and Olympic Champion Vos won last year.
“We're all in this together and my strategy in the Road Race will be to help Marianne or one of my other team-mates win the competition in Glasgow," said van Dijk. “Any victory for an individual in the Dutch squad is a team victory so I'll do everything I can to make sure one of our girls takes the gold medal.
I'm not a great sprinter. I specialise in time trial but I'll be putting everything into a concerted team effort. We all inspire one another and there's an excellent spirit within the group.”
Rio 2016 Olympic Games gold medallist Van Der Breggen and current World Champion Chantal Blaak are also in the Dutch squad.
Britain's Dani Rowe is hoping the home fans will inspire her to victory over the 130km course, which consists of nine 14.4km loops around the city centre. Denmark's Pernille Mathiesen and Poland's 2016 European silver medallist Katarzyna Niewiadoma are also contenders.
"The Dutch are very strong and will be the favourites but I think we also have a very good squad," Rowe said.
"The course is very technical, a bit like a criterium with a few punchy climbs which should suit me.
"I just hope it is dry on Sunday. If it's wet then it could be carnage because of the technical nature of the course."
The men's race will be held on 12 August.
