The Dutch Mischa Bredewold has become European cycling champion in Wijster, Drenthe. More than ten kilometers from the finish, Bredewold made her decisive attack. The leading group, which still included her Dutch teammates, did not respond sufficiently, causing the 23-year-old Bredewold to open a gap of more than 30 seconds.
Despite several attacks in her back, she turned out to be untraceable. In the final climb of the Vamberg, Bredewold retained her lead and arrived alone at the finish. Her lead was four seconds over defending champion Lorena Wiebes and world champion Lotte Kopecky, who won silver and bronze respectively.
This put Bredewold ahead of two teammates, with whom she rides for SD Worx outside of country competitions. In an interview with the NOS she said she was “dreaming”. “I feel like I’m living in a kind of haze.” She acknowledged that her attack came at the right time and thought that she would be brought back due to her narrow lead until the end of the match. “Until the last two kilometers I was waiting for them to come.” Looking back she saw no one, and then it was “all or nothing” for the last few meters.
With tears in her eyes and a big smile, Bredewold climbed the highest step of the podium, where, in addition to a gold medal, she also received a ‘star jersey’. As European champion, she can wear that jersey until the next European Championship.