In 2016, just a few months after winning the Dutch elite national road championship at age 19, Tessa was hit by a truck while on a training ride, resulting in 16 broken bones and a long, arduous recovery process. The experience taught her hard-earned lessons in resilience and self-belief. It also led her to switch her focus to off-road disciplines. Tessa had a breakout year in 2022, winning her nation’s Beach Racing and Mountain Bike Marathon National Championships as well as the European Beach Racing Championship, the Dutch Gravel series title, and three UCI Gravel World Series events. In 2023, she was the UCI Gravel World Series Overall Series Champion, with victories in Denmark and Germany.
| Team | Gravel |
|---|---|
| Hometown | Hoorn, The Netherlands |
| Cycling disciplines | Gravel, Marathon MTB, Beach Racing |
| Top Results |
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| Favorite event | UCI Gravel World Series in Houffalize. It was my best race of last year and it's in the most beautiful setting in Ardennes. And, I love the descents! |
| Favorite local training ride | I live in North Holland where there is a very nice 40km off-road route through the forest along the coast, then on the way back you can ride 40km over the beach and along the dunes and end with a mountain bike trail. It's the best combination between gravel, beach racing, and mountain biking in one ride! |
| Why do you ride? | I love being outdoors in nature - a very nice sunrise on an early ride in the dunes, the view in the mountains, the change of the seasons, and cycling through a winter wonderland. The bike brings it all! In addition, I really enjoy competing with others. |
| How did you get started? | I participated in the Rabobank fat tire race in my village. I thoroughly enjoyed battling with the other riders, and I won. A professional cyclist advised me to get into cycling. |
| Advice to beginners | Enjoy all the beautiful moments on the way to achieving your goals and don't be concerned with just the result. Be grateful for all the little beautiful moments of happiness! |
| Who inspires you? | Annemiek van Vleuten and Bibian Mentel. Both know how to radiate a lot of positivity, despite all the setbacks they have experienced. I have a lot of respect for that. |
| What does the future of cycling look like? | Even more beautiful gravel competitions and gravel tours where everyone can enjoy the diversity of gravel. |
| Biggest obstacle you've had to overcome | In 2016, I had a serious accident on the bike in the Belgian Ardennes. I was hit head-on by a truck and broke 16 bones including my back. It was a very long rehabilitation process, from not being able to move my leg until the first meters back on the bike. My advice to anyone facing challenges is to try to see the positive in every situation and enjoy all the small steps you make! Believe! |