| After spending a brilliant 13 years in the women’s peloton, eight of which were with Team DSM and its previous incarnations, Julia Soek is set to hang up her wheels at the end of the 2021 season.
Upon joining the team in 2014, Soek’s bubbly and friendly personality allowed her to slot into the Women’s program with ease, where she was part of immediate successes with the team. Over the years Soek progressed into an important cog in the team’s sprint train and a vital domestique, often selflessly taking up the hard work to control breakaways and increase the tempo in the finale; managing to do all of that with her infectious smile blazoned across her face.
Gaining more confidence and experience with each season, Soek has also been an important role model for new and young riders within the team, helping to guide them as they make the step up to professional cycling. It’s that experience which Soek transferred to her role as road captain brilliantly; always remaining calm in hectic moments and making level-headed but quick-thinking decisions which often led to great results. In her time with Team DSM, Soek has been a part of 45 victories so far, lending her versatile skillset and hard-working attitude to whatever job she needed to do. Tasting success herself, Soek was able to raise her arms in the air victorious at the 2017 Erondegemse Pijl after winning a two-up sprint to the line after a hard day out in the saddle. Looking ahead, Soek wants to end her career on a high with Team DSM and add some more wins to that burgeoning tally before taking up her pursuits off the bike.
Click here for quotes and reaction from Soek and coaching staff.
Photo Credit: Cor Vos | 