Sports manager Danny Stam has been following Femke Gerritse for quite some time. "In several races where there was climbing to be done, we saw Femke's talent to ride uphill. We also got good signals from several riders from our team who rode with her. Last summer, in the run-up to the Tour de France Femmes, she was with us to recon some stages. Then we noticed that she fits well with our team. We are confident she can still make the necessary steps and have therefore also offered her a three-year contract," Stam said.
Precisely that three-year contract was a positive surprise for Gerritse. "It was already wonderful for me that the best team in the women's peloton was interested in me. The fact that they are offering me a contract until the end of 2026 shows that they have a lot of confidence in me. It also means that in this team I will get the chance to develop further."
Gerritse has been racing for Parkhotel Valkenburg since 2021. From the current Team SD Worx selection, Demi Vollering, Lorena Wiebes, Mischa Bredewold and Femke Markus also have a past with this Dutch team. "With Mischa and Femke I was still in the team together last year. They told me how well organised everything is at Team SD Worx. They are very enthusiastic about their transfer and have already been able to make great strides in their first year with Team SD Worx. I am now also ready for the switch to a WorldTeam and am convinced that I can develop further in this team."
Gerritse, from Rosmalen, came into the international spotlight when she captured the mountain jersey after the third stage of the Tour de France Femmes to Epernay last year. On the tough climbs in the Champagne region, she gathered enough points to wear the polka dot jersey for four days. The mountain jersey was later taken over and won by Demi Vollering.
"As a rider, I'm pretty all-round," Gerritse indicated. "I come into my own best on the shorter, more explosive climbs. Hill classics like the Amstel Gold Race, Liège-Bastogne-Liège but also the Strade Bianche should suit me. In the Tour de France Femmes, but also in the Tour of Scandinavia, I have seen that I can also do well on the longer climbs. That is something I hope to develop further in the coming years. At Team SD Worx it is fantastic that I can be at the side of Demi Vollering and Lotte Kopecky, among others, because I can learn a lot from them. It is also a privilege to work with sport director Anna van der Breggen, who has a lot of experience. For me, this is a dream transfer."