Anna van der Breggen and Chantal van den Broeck-Blark have extended their contracts with Boels Dolmans, while Olympic champion van der Breggen will move into the role of team leader and coach after the Tokyo Olympics next year. Van den Broeck-Blaak will assume the same role in the spring of 2022.

The move will see both athletes racing in the colors of SD Worx, the new sponsor that will take over from Boels Dolmans in 2021, and will then work as team coaches. The current team leader, Danny Stamm, will remain with the team and take an active role in the team car.

"We are happy to report positive news at this difficult time for the sport at the top level," team manager Erwin Jansen said in a press release.

"Along with van der Breggen and van den Broeck-Braak, who have helped shape the DNA of the team over the past few years, we are signing two world-class riders who will be part of the team for the long term. With their leadership, our team will continue to grow."

Stam said that being part of the backroom staff in the future means that the two Dutchwomen will keep the team moving forward in the years to come.

"It is a revolutionary step for women's cycling to have two of our best riders promoted to coaches. I am confident that with these women giving their input as team leaders and coaches, we will be able to raise the bar once again."

Van der Breggen, who turned 30 last month, has won 12 one-day classics, including the Rio Olympics road race gold medal, two Giro Rosa, the 2018 World Championships road race, the Tour de Flanders, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, and five La Fleche Wallonne He has won almost everything that can be won in the sport, including winning.

This season he will focus on defending his title at next year's delayed competition before taking over as team leader and coach for SD Worx as he sets his sights on the road race at the Tokyo Olympics.

"The Tokyo Olympics is of course a big challenge and an important reason to continue for another year. I also want to end my career with another great and fulfilling season." Especially after this year, which was greatly marred by the coronavirus outbreak, there is great motivation to continue for another year."

"I have been thinking about my role as team leader/coach for some time. I was immediately excited about the team proposal. I became increasingly aware that I was looking for a new challenge in my life, and in 2021 I want to get the most out of myself on my bike for one more season.

"After that I will focus on this new job. I look forward to helping cyclists get even better. I hope to provide more guidance in the areas of science, nutrition, and mental support. I am confident we can improve in these areas."

Van den Broeck-Braak is currently one of the team's road captains and a specialist in the spring classics: the 30-year-old has won the Ronde van Drenthe, Omloop Het Newsblad, Gent Wevelgem, and Amstel Gold Race and the pinnacle of her career was her victory at the 2017 World Championships road race in Norway.

She will race until the spring classics in 2021 before hanging up her bike and turning to coaching.

"After six years of riding with this team, I feel completely at home here," van den Broeck-Braak said. I see a great opportunity to continue working with Anna as the team leader of the SD Worx cycling team after the spring of 2021." In women's cycling, it is not common for cyclists to transition to coaching after retirement.

"We know we need to grow further as a team. The level of competition is constantly increasing. I especially like the direct approach to coaching, training, and nutrition. After all, we want to remain the number one women's cycling in the world."