WielerFlits<\/a> to take a closer look at a rider who, until recently, wasn\u2019t on many European radars.<\/p>\nVictoria\u2019s Van Dam<\/h2>\n
Van Dam\u2019s name might sound familiar to Dutch ears, and there\u2019s a reason for that. Her family has roots in Zaandam, with her great-grandparents fleeing to Canada during the Second World War. \u201cMy great-grandparents lived in Zaandam,\u201d she said. \u201cDuring the war they moved to Canada with my grandfather.\u201d She added that she does feel a connection to the Netherlands, even if she didn\u2019t grow up with the language. \u201cI\u2019d like to learn Dutch\u2026 at the team, people sometimes just start speaking it to me because they think I\u2019m Dutch. I like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the bike, her path to this point has been anything but conventional. Van Dam only began focusing fully on the road after the 2024 Olympics, having previously raced primarily in North America with DNA Pro Cycling. Her first real exposure to European racing came just a year earlier. But remember, she was also fully focused on the 2024 Olympics, and spent all kinds of time on the boards before that.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 2023 I raced in Europe for the first time,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s where I kind of rediscovered cycling\u2026 suddenly there were cobbles, narrow roads, chaos. I realised I still had a lot to learn. The learning curve is really steep.\u201d<\/p>\n
Big results already, more coming<\/h2>\n
That adjustment hasn\u2019t been subtle. But the results have followed. A consistent finisher in tough races, Van Dam has shown she can handle selective courses and still deliver a sprint at the end \u2014 a combination that makes her a natural fit for the Ardennes.<\/p>\n
She\u2019s still waiting on her first pro win, but she is for sure on the cusp. Van Dam continues to simply kill it. \u201cI do think about it,\u201d she said, \u201cbut I hope it comes soon. I just have to stay patient.\u201d<\/p>\n
There are all kinds of Canadians racing in both the men\u2019s and women\u2019s races. You can watch it on FloBikes.com \u2014 and dontcha worry, Canadian Cycling Magazine<\/em> will have reports on both of \u2019em.<\/p>\nVan Dam is just one of several Canadian women who could have a big day Sunday. Lidl-Trek\u2019s Isabella Holmgren, world champ Magdaeline Valli\u00e8res Mills (EF Education Oatly), take your pick. It\u2019s gonna be a good race tomorrow.<\/p>\n
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