>"I followed all the races and attended the Tour de France Femmes, among others. I also spoke to the women one-on-one, either remotely or together on the bike," said the national coach in the KNWU's announcement.
>"I started with a blank canvas, and over time, the pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place. But of course, it was difficult. The level of the Dutch riders is high; we could have started with several teams.
>"This means you also have to disappoint riders. This 180-kilometre course with 3,000 meters of elevation gain has to suit you. You think about it a lot, and that's how you make the choices."
>"We're going for gold. However, winning is never a given; just look at the different nationalities that have won in the classics and the Tour," said Ten Dam.
>"Our goal is clear: we're going for victory in orange. The race situation will determine who ultimately comes out on top. I expect the women to be ready to go at the start line, fighting for each other in orange."
>The Dutch women's team faced criticism for their tactics in recent seasons, with their multiple leaders sometimes ending up as a hindrance. Ten Dam knew full well this would need to change during his tenure, and he highlighted in the team release that each rider will know their role heading into Worlds.
>"I've carefully considered all the possible tactics and the corresponding team roles. We've discussed this with the riders, and they've said 'yes' to their specific roles," Ten Dam said.
>"Up until now, our team time has been limited, of course, but soon in Kigali [and later during the European Championships in France], we'll spend a considerable amount of time together, especially with the women who will also be riding the time trial. There'll be plenty of time to train together, chat, and of course, laugh!"
it's nice of them to give a convict a chance to be a national team coach