October 6, 2016

Pieters to bolster Boels-Dolmans spring classics squad in 2017

 “Amy’s a complete rider. Her abilities would suit every team. Her nationality is an additional bonus.” – Danny Stam

Sittard – Boels-Dolmans Cycling Team is proud to announce a third new signing for the 2017 season. Omloop Het Nieuwsblad winner Amy Pieters will join the Dutch-registered squad on a two-year contract. The 25-year-old is expected to bolster Boels-Dolmans Cycling Team’s options in the spring classics and the sprints.

“My main hope for the next season is to achieve a really big victory,” said Pieters. “I made a step higher this year, but I didn’t have the big victory I had hoped for, and that’s the goal for next season. I hope I can do a good winter and be important for the team in the spring and in the sprints.”

The Dutchwoman has spent the majority of her professional career racing for a Dutch team. She turned professional with Merida Cycling Team, which became Skil-Koga, Skil-Argos, Giant Shimano and finally Liv-Plantur during her six-year tenure with the organisation.

“I moved to Wiggle last year after six years for a Dutch team to try something different, but I think I learned that a Dutch team suits me better,” said Pieters. “In The Netherlands, cycling is so important, and with that comes a certain way of thinking and a specific way of running a team. The organisation suits me better. There’s more structure and more clarity, and I realise now that I need this.” 

While Boels-Dolmans is happy to embrace an international flavour, Dutch roots and a Dutch license make a Dutch rider like Pieters a very attractive prospect to team partners.

“Amy’s a complete rider,” said team manager Danny Stam. “Her abilities would suit every team. Her nationality is an additional bonus. I believe she will fit in well with the team.”

In her five years as a professional, Pieters has garnered a string of steady results. Her biggest victories include: a stage at the Aviva Women’s Tour (2016), back-to-back wins at Dwars door Vlaanderen (2014-15), the prologue at Route de France (2015), a stage at the Tour of Qatar (2014) and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (2013). She’s ridden herself onto the podium on stages at Boels Rental Ladies Tour (2016) Thüringen Rundfahrt (2016), Lotto Belgium Tour (2015), and BeNe Ladies Tour (2014) as well as one-day races Le Samyn (2016), La Course (2015), Rabobank 7-Dorpenomloop Aalburg (2015), Ronde van Drenthe (2015), Open de Suède Vargarda (2014), Boels Rental Hills Classic (2014) and Tour of Chongming (2013).

“My biggest ambition is to be there for the team in the spring,” said Pieters. “I hope by

stepping up for the team, I can help the team achieve more victories and have a win for myself. I can sprint, but I also like the other roles. I want to be in the breaks and race aggressively and show that I can help the team in every situation.”

“When I’m the rider that is there for the sprint, I can do the sprint, but we have a lot of fast riders on Boels-Dolmans,” Pieters added. “We’ll have to see how things are going in the spring and how the other girls are riding and racing before we really know.”

Stam is hesitant to slot Pieters into a single role as he sees her as much more versatile than a field sprinter.

“Of course, she can have a leading role in the bunch sprints, but that’s not the main goal with Amy,” said Stam. “I see her doing important work for the team in the spring classics. She fits in with our classics team perfectly.”

Pieters is the 11th rider Boels-Dolmans Cycling Team has announced for the 2017 squad. One of three new signings alongside Van der Breggen and Van den Bos, Pieters will race join returning riders: Chantal Blaak, Karol-Ann Canuel, Lizzie Deignan, Amalie Dideriksen, Megan Guarnier, Nikki Harris, Christine Majerus and Kasia Pawlowska.

More information: www.boelsdolmanscyclingteam.com