This win is for them

Two years ago, I was training on my TT bike, doing 45km/h on a small downhill. There was a bit of corner and when I went around it, I didn’t see a bus had stopped in the road. I crashed, hard.

My back was broken. I had 4 fractures in my back, 2 in my neck and one in the back of my head. I broke several ribs. I broke 6 teeth.

I was in intensive care which followed 3 months lying on my back where I couldn’t do anything, my family had to do everything for me. I didn’t know if I’d be a professional cyclist again but the people around me kept believing in me.

When I started healing, the physio said I was making a lot of progress. I thought even if I don’t come back to a high level, at least I can just enjoy riding my bike. The progress gave me a lot of energy and I wanted to come back so badly that I worked really hard on the rehab.

I could not believe the recovery I started making. I wanted to thank my body.

The successful recovery was confirmed last year in the early kermeses season in Belgium. I started feeling like the old Sofie on the bike. When I started racing at the top level I was in the front of the races again but I still didn’t have that one big win I’ve been waiting my whole career.

This year I was again good from the start of the season. Before the crash I was a good rider but now I’m enjoying the races a lot more. I used to have a lot of nervous energy in the races now I see the race as something to enjoy. I just appreciate this opportunity I have with Parkhotel Valkenburg to be back at the top level.

Ok, now to the moment that I will remember in my life forever – Brabantse Pijl.

A week before the race I rode the course. It’s only 25 kilometres from my home so my boyfriend – who is also a professional cyclist – did the recon with me. I knew the race would suit me very well. It’s a hard race, always up and down, that’s something I really like.

In the morning, the sports director told the team, “Sofie really wants to win today.”

Here I am, two years after my big crash now realistically talking about winning one of the biggest races on the calendar with some of the best riders in the world on the start line.

From the first hills, there was a split in the peloton and we formed a breakaway. I was in the front. A few riders came back to us in the front which made it a group of 15. CCC and Sunweb were constantly attacking and I knew it was important to be in a move with one of them.

There was another split and I was in the front with three girls but the peloton was chasing. 7 or 8 girls caught us and there were 3 Sunweb riders in that group so they wanted to ride. This was a perfect situation for me. I went full gas on the cobblestones, the last section before the finish line and I saw everyone hurting in my wheel. Floortje Mackaij was with me but the team didn’t want her to ride because they were working for Coryn Rivera. When I looked at the names who were there I didn’t think I could win the sprint but I just felt stronger and stronger.

When I put my hand in the air, a lot of emotions came back. Immediately I thought back to the crash. This victory wasn’t just for me, it was for everyone who supported me. My boyfriend, my parents, my sister, my team. They never stopped believing in me, even when I was lying flat on my bed with a broken back. This one is for them.