Pauliena Rooijakkers announces pregnancy, plans to return to racing

Pauliena Rooijakkers announced that she will take a break from racing to become a mother for the first time this November. The 33-year-old Dutch cyclist plans to return to cycling in the future, as she feels she “has more to give” to the sport.

After securing top ten finishes in all three Grand Tours, including a third place in the 2024 Tour de France Femmes, Rooijakkers joined UAE Team ADQ in 2026 for a two-year contract. Her last race this year was the Setmana Ciclista Valenciana in February.