Babette van der Wolf grew up surrounded by bicycles. Her father, Michael van der Wolf, competed in the pro peloton for nine seasons, riding for three different second-tier teams between 1996-2000. She attributes her love for the sport to her upbringing in the Netherlands with a role model like her father, inspiration from her older sister, and an affinity for managing the ever-present wind in the Netherlands – “The wind, the fight, the chaos, I love it all”.
While still a junior, Van der Wolf found success on the track, winning a European Championship on the track and finishing with a bronze medal in the Madison (with Nienke Veenhoven) at the UCI Junior Track Worlds in Israel. At the most recent UEC Track Juniors and Under-23 European Championships, she secured a European Championships gold medal with Nienke Veenhoven in the women’s U23 Madison.
“Cycling isn’t just about today. It’s your life,” she told Cyclingnews.
Cyclingnews: Tell us a little about your family and how your father inspired you and your sister to ride bikes.
Babette van der Wolf: My father was a professional cyclist for many years, winning numerous races and podiums. When my sister was born, he retired to be there for her, though he still raced occasionally in amateur and derny events. Seeing my sister start cycling on her bright pink bike, I wanted one too, and a little jealousy sparked my own passion.
Both my father and sister have always been guiding…
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