To paraphrase an old adage, with great talent comes great expectation, and with that the pressure is higher than ever. Anna van der Breggen is well aware of the fine line that can be the difference between success and failure. In 2016 she enjoyed by far her best season to date, becoming both Olympic champion and European champion, while her teammate Annemiek van Vleuten missed out on the former after a horrific crash just kilometres from victory. With such big goals, Van der Breggen couldnīt afford for things to go awry, and the burden of her own hopes and expectations took their toll. Now, she says, her only goal is to enjoy racing as much as possible.ADVERTISEMENT `I still like to do well and win races, that wonīt change, but I want to enjoy what I do,` she told Cyclingnews from a team training camp. `If I look back to the season last year, then I can only be proud, and thatīs what you want to achieve when you are an athlete and a cyclist. `I really enjoyed the Olympic year, but at the same time, I think it was a really hard year, and I didnīt enjoy it because of that... but now I just enjoy every day on the bike and when I think about that year and that period, Iīm really happy and I donīt care if I donīt get podiums in the spring or if I do. I just like riding and racing with my new team. I think that is the most important.` While she has shrugged off the pressure and expectation that she put on herself, there will doubtless be some coming from the outside world. Thankfully for Van der Breggen, there will be plenty of world-class shoulders to share the pressure within her new Boels Dolmans team. After three seasons with the Rabo-Liv squad, the Dutchwoman decided to seek out pastures new. The decision was sparked in part due to the decision by Rabobank to put an end to their long-term sponsorship, but she says that she was already mulling on a potential shift. Trying something new
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