Nina Buijsman will remain with Human Powered Health through the 2028 season, continuing a journey that has already seen her return to the team and make significant steps forward as a rider.
After two years away, Buijsman rejoined Human Powered Health for 2026 and quickly rediscovered a familiar environment. The speed of the reintegration was stark. Buijsman placed 6th overall at the Tour Down Under, her first race back, and later in the season posted consistent GC results at the WorldTour level at the Giro d’Italia Women, Tour de Suisse Women, and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
“I’m really happy to stay with the team. It felt good to come back after two years, and I really feel at home here,” Buijsman says. “The respect and trust within the team, as well as the motivation we have, are things I really like. And, of course, being away together so much, it’s important that we also have a lot of fun together.”
That sense of belonging has gone hand in hand with a year of development in her racing style.
“I’ve developed a lot in longer efforts, which is important for climbing, so I’m really happy with that,” she says. “Step by step, I’m getting closer to the top in climbing stages, which makes racing more exciting for me.”
Fifty race days in 2026 is a testament to the 28-year-old’s adaptability and continues where she left off in 2023.
“Nina’s story with us has always felt a little unfinished, so having her back this season has been really special,” says Ro De Jonckere, General Manager. “She has grown enormously over the past year, both as a rider and in the way she approaches racing, and we have started to see the Nina we always knew was there and, honestly, even more than we expected.
A shared future is key for an athlete who has come to illustrate the development of the program.
“She has taken another step this season, and it has been great to see her confidence and understanding of her own abilities grow,” continues De Jonckere. “We know there is still a lot more to come, and that is what makes this extension so exciting for us. After having her leave for two seasons and then finding her way back to us, I’m very happy that this time Nina is here to stay. We are looking forward to seeing how far we can take this together.”
Returning to the team has also allowed Buijsman to grow into a different role, with increased responsibility.
“I’ve also developed mentally, especially when it comes to trusting the process and dealing with the responsibility of being one of the leaders,” she explains. “In my last season with the team in 2023, I wasn’t at the physical and psychological level I’m at now. With the right training and racing, I’ve been able to develop physically. Having a different role last year and receiving a lot of trust this year also helped me grow mentally.”
One of the defining moments of Buijsman’s season came at the Tour Down Under in Australia, where she jumped three places overall on the final day with a daring move.
“The Tour Down Under in Australia at the beginning of the year was very special for me,” Buijsman says. “From the start, the team gave me the trust to be the leader there, even though I had been away from the team for two years and had a difficult year last season. The belief was still there. I was really excited and curious to see what level I was at. Finishing sixth in the GC was a special feeling for me and felt like a fresh start.”
Buijsman joined the team at the Human Powered Health Performance Lab in Wellesley, MA last year, a visit that reestablished her confidence in the program
“The Labs give you a good idea of where you can improve and what you can work on,” Buijsman says. “The personal bike fitting is also really valuable, because you can find the right balance between comfort and being as aerodynamic as possible. But besides the testing itself, it’s also nice to see the faces behind the HPH Lab and to get to know the new people in the team.”
Now, with her future secured, Buijsman can continue building on the progress of her return season.
“My goal is to keep developing and to play a role in the finals of races,” she says. “I love the game of racing, and it’s really cool to be part of it.”
Photos: GettySport, HPHCycling
