All-rounder Marit Raaijmakers has extended her contract with Human Powered Health Cycling through 2025.
Runner-up in this year’s Vuelta CV Feminas, the 25-year-old has been an important part of the team since joining in 2022. In that time, Raaijmakers has competed in all three Grand Tours and has become a crucial cog in Daria Pikulik’s sprint lead-out train.
“I’m honored to continue,” said Raaijmakers. “For me, it’s a sign of respect and appreciation. I have been around from the start of Human Powered Health and we started with just soil. Slowly the grass started growing and now becomes greener.”
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- Second in Vuelta CV Feminas. Photo: Getty Sport
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- Competing at the recent Baloise Ladies Tour.
2025 will be her fourth season with the team.
“If grass elsewhere looks greener, it’s probably fake,” she explains. “It’s about fertile soil for long-term success. I believe in this team’s vision and plan and want to be around for the harvest.”
Raaijmakers has developed a considerable skill set from track cycling, but in 2025 her focus will be entirely on the road.
“At the moment I’m an all-round rider on the team,” she explains. “I do the last lead-out position, I do hilly classics, I support GC riders in the mountains, and I have a decent time trial. But now, with complete focus on the road, I’m all in on pushing the limits of my potential even further.”
As well as showing flickers of solo success, Raaijmakers will continue to be a useful addition to any stage race roster.
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- Racing in the 2022 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
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- A happy place in nature.
“We are still learning the full capacity of Marit,” says Kenny Latomme, Team Manager. “This year she has been at the hilly races in Spain, climbing, doing lead-out and TTs and we’re asking her to go full gas. These are crucial in stage racing and she’s good in all of those disciplines, a very good helper and she always gives her best for her teammates.”
Raaijmakers has spent her early twenties on Human Powered Health and now reflects on that growth.
“When I signed with the team I was 21 and came from a complete Dutch team,” she says. “In the past three years, I experienced many different cultures and personalities. An American team with so many nationalities from different continents has allowed me to broaden my horizons which I will be forever grateful for. The trips, travels, and people made it special and I look forward to creating more history.”
