Trek announces time trial specialist Ellen van Dijk to join new team

Trek continues to build a well-rounded squad with the Dutch powerhouse joining in 2019

Dutch cyclist Ellen van Dijk needs little introduction in the world of women’s cycling. She is renowned for her time trial ability and over her career has become one the world’s best in the race against the clock. Ellen has five World Titles to her name, the first coming on the track in the Scratch race in 2008, and has won the coveted rainbow jersey at the 2013 World Championships in the Individual Time Trial. She also has three World Titles (2012, 2013, 2016) with her respective trade teams in the Team Time Trial.

Ellen first turned pro in 2006 and has been a member of top-level UCI women’s teams over the years that included Team Columbia–High Road, Specialized–lululemon, Boels–Dolmans, and most recently, Team Sunweb, joining the German squad in 2017.

She excels in tough one-day races like the spring classics and flat stage races. Her powerful engine and selfless demeanor have made her an invaluable teammate – she’s as happy to help a teammate win as herself.

Ellen’s list of successes is impressive; the most notable wins coming in the Tour of Flanders (2014) and overall victories at the Tour of Qatar (2011), Boels Ladies Tour (2013) and three times at the Healthy Aging Tour (2013, 2016, 2017).

This season, Ellen, 31, has not shown any signs of slowing down, taking wins in Omloop van het Hageland- Tielt-Winge and Dwars door Vlaanderen, winning the time trial stage and finishing 2nd overall in Thüringen Ladies Tour, helping her team win the team time trial in the Giro d’Italia Femminile, winning both the National and European time trial titles (again!), and finishing second overall in the Boels Ladies Tour.

Ellen is also an accomplished track cyclist, winning multiple World Cup races in the points race, individual pursuit, and team pursuit, and competed in the 2012 Olympic Games in both road and track.

“I’m very excited to join the Trek Factory Racing team next year. It’s great to see Trek stepping up as a sponsor and bringing women’s cycling to a higher level with this team. The way they approach women’s cycling is exactly what is needed to see it grow,” said van Dijk.

“For me, it’s an opportunity to work together with such a cool company, and honestly, I can’t wait to start riding a Trek bike. The team has a great line up, and with so many enthusiastic people involved, I’m sure it’s going to be a huge success.”

Ellen van Dijk joins Lizzie Deignan, 29, (GBR), Elisa Longo Borghini,26,( ITA), Lotta Lepistö, 29, (FIN), Ruth Winder,25, (USA), Tayler Wiles, 29, (USA), Lauretta Hanson, 23, (AUS), Abi Van Twisk,21, (GBR), Letizia Paternoster, 19, (ITA), and sport directors Ina Teutenberg (GER) and Giorgia Bronzini (ITA).