The arrival of Nienke Vinke in the Sd Worx Pro Time team is not just a simple transfer, but the beginning of a much larger project with which the Dutch squad aims for a concrete victory in a grand tour, especially looking to the future. After Lotte Kopecky's failed assault on the Tour de France, Sd Worx began looking around, trying to identify athletes who could first support Anna Van Der Breggen and then potentially become team leaders. The choice fell on Valentina Cavallar and especially on Nienke Vinke, a very young Dutch talent who has already shown her skills on big stages, winning the white jersey at the 2025 Tour.

Nienke presents herself to the media confident and determined. At only 21 years old, she has very clear ideas: reaching the podium of a grand tour. She has a fixed goal, but also knows she will have to go through a process of growth as an athlete and better manage race pace. "My first major goal is to continue growing. Winning the white jersey was nice, but I don't think it's the most important thing. I always race to win, and that achievement came as a consequence. I like the mentality within the Sd Worx team, there's a positive pressure, and I'm surrounded by true champions who push me to improve, to chase victory. It's a serene environment, but totally motivating. It's a dream to race alongside Anna Van Der Breggen - it's also one of the reasons I chose this team. She has suggested many small things to me, and being able to learn from her is a unique opportunity," Nienke explains. According to her, the team has welcomed her in the best possible way. During the first training camp, she met her teammates and staff, and now with additional weeks of training in Spain, she'll have the chance to refine her race tactics.

Her arrival at Sd Worx is a real market coup that very much resembles Oscar Onley's move to Team Ineos. She previously had a contract with PicNic Postnl but was able to terminate it and start a new challenge thanks to a clause. Nienke doesn't elaborate much on the details of her decision but explains that at a certain point, she couldn't say no to Sd Worx's offer and felt the need for a change. "I've always liked the Sd Worx team, especially for how they help young riders develop. I've seen girls make incredible quality leaps, especially in stage races. Then it's undeniable that one of the reasons for my choice is the presence of great champions. Lotte Kopecky and especially Anna Van Der Breggen are two icons, and I hope to learn a lot from them. I believe I'm ready to face this new adventure. From juniors, I moved to the Dsm team, and they taught me not only how to stay in the group but especially how to manage my life as a cyclist. The thing I found most difficult to adapt to were the distances - going from 2-hour races to over 4 hours wasn't easy, but they helped me, they made me understand what kind of athlete I want to become. It was a good journey, but the time has come to change, to take an additional step," Nienke specifies, and her words remind us very much of Francesca Barale's, who had sincerely explained how the PicNic team was ideal for young riders but not for the next step. What's certain is that step by step, the young Dutch rider has measured herself against the greats without too much pressure, and now in a true powerhouse team, she could truly make a quality leap.

There are no definitive plans for Nienke Vinke's 2026 yet, but she will certainly work a lot on stage races and try to perform well in the Ardennes. During the training camp, she already found a point of reference in Anna Van Der Breggen, her longtime idol who could teach her a lot. For her part, the Dutch champion has already crowned her young compatriot as one of the most promising talents around, who could aim high. There's still time before Nienke Vinke's seasonal debut, but her motivation is already very strong. She doesn't want to set limits, is ready to work for her teammates, and above all, to learn as much as possible while waiting for her moment.