Thursday, April 25, 2024 at 9:15 AM
The KNWU and Loes Gunnewijk have decided to end the collaboration at the end of this year. Gunnewijk started in 2017 as a junior women’s talent coach and assistant paracycling coach. In 2019, she became national coach of the Dutch women, where she was responsible for the juniors, U23 and elite.
After eight years, the collaboration comes to an end. Under her leadership, Dutch cyclists have so far managed to win 55 medals at the European Championships, World Championships and Olympic Games. “In recent years I have worked with great pleasure and passion with the talent and world top within women’s cycling. Through training camps, team days and preparations it is possible to forge a team and perform as well as possible during the championships,” Gunnewijk looks back on recent years.
“We have grown enormously with the riders and staff, in a sport that has developed significantly in recent years. Although I still enjoy my work, after two Olympic cycles I am ready for a new challenge,” she continues in a press release. “This season we are still going full steam ahead for a successful summer that we have worked hard towards, with the Olympic Games in Paris, the European Championships in Belgian Limburg and the World Cup in Zurich.”
Wilbert Broekhuizen, Technical Director at the KNWU, would like to thank Gunnewijk for her period with the cycling association. “Loes has created a top sporting climate in recent years in which many riders have been able to win medals. At the same time, she was busy guiding and coaching new talents to the highest level. In short, she did not have an easy assignment. To continually create a team from a group of champions is an achievement. Naturally, I wish Loes the best of luck in her next challenge.”
Criticism
Gunnewijk was not only showered with praise during her national coaching position. There was also some criticism, especially after the Tokyo Olympic Games. Many eyes were focused on Gunnewijk after the Olympic road race for women. TeamNL’s tactics were much discussed and complaints were also made about communication.
Due to miscommunication within the Dutch team, there was uncertainty about the leading group that was moving forward. Annemiek van Vleuten thought she would win gold in Tokyo, but she did not know that the Austrian Anna Kiesenhofer was still ahead. Gunnewijk confirmed the miscommunication afterwards. “Although it is not all that black and white,” she immediately said.
