Meet the rider: Jolien D'hoore

D'hoore is a 29-time national track champion as well as a four-time national road champion at all competition levels.⁠

She won the bronze medal in the omnium at the 2016 Olympics and was one of the strongest sprinters in the women's peloton.⁠

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Jolien won her first gold medal in her career in track cycling in the European championships. She won the madison with her partner, Lotte Kopecky. In 2017 they repeated this feat at the World Championships in Hong Kong. ⁠

As a road cyclist she won Gent-Wevelgem, Ronde van Drenthe, Driedaagse Brugge-De Panne, 3 stages in the Giro d’Italia,...⁠

In 2015 Jolien finished second in the Tour of Flanders.⁠

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In September 2021, it was announced that D'hoore's last race would be the inaugural women’s Paris-Roubaix the following month. After her retirement from competition she took up the Directeur Sportif position with AG Insurance Soudal Quickstep, the female Wolfpack.

How long have you been cycling and how did you get into it?
I’ve been doing track and field when I was a little girl but I was looking for something else. When I was 12 years old I discovered the bike and I never stopped since then. 

What was your first bike and why was it so special?
My first bike was a ‘Eurobike’, a shiny chrome bike with red details but an unknown, cheap brand. I can’t believe people would buy a bike like that but back then it was my dream bike.

Can you describe what cycling means to you?
Cycling means a lot to me. It gave me so much when I was a rider and even now being a DS it’s still my daily business. 

We all have someone we look up to in cycling (or someone who inspires us). 
Who is that for you?
I don’t have a specific person in mind. I just look up to everyone who’s involved and doing something for women’s cycling. 

What’s your most memorable experience or moment on a bike?
My bronze medal in Rio 2016 (omnium, track cycling)

Are you a solo or group rider?
GROUP rider

Who is your favorite rider of all time and why?
Tom Boonen. He was the rider I grew up with. He made us proud being a Belgian. Both on and off the bike he was a hero for so many people. 

What’s your favorite race and why?
Tour of Flanders. There's a reason why they call the week of Tour of Flanders the holy week. It’s the most prestigious race in Flanders and even in the World. It’s raced on my home roads, that’s why it’s also so special to me.

What’s your favorite place to ride?
Mallorca; beautiful island with climbs and flat parts. The best of both worlds.