Floortje
Mackaij

“I have been part of this team since I was 17 years old. I’ve been here a long time. Team Sunweb is just like a family for me and I am in a really good place here.”

Put simply, Team Sunweb would not be the same without Floortje Mackaij, whose charming smile and bubbly personality is as synonymous with the Dutchwoman as her tell-tale curly hair. Endlessly positive, optimistic, and energetic, she is very much at home amongst her teammates and staff, who she values highly in her development as one of the best cyclists in the world.

Floortje, who describes herself as an open book, said:

“There are so many people who have expert knowledge and know exactly what they are doing. It’s not just on the bike, it’s everything around it too. The bike set-up, nutrition, coaching. Everything has to be a high quality to get the best out of yourself. Keep challenging – you can always go further, there is always more.”

A classics specialist, there is nothing Floortje likes more than a tough day on the bike, preferably in wind and rain so she has a mental advantage over her rivals. Motivated by “the feeling of winning” and “getting the best out of yourself”, Floortje can count a win at the 2015 Gent Wevelgem, the 2018 edition of Omloop van de Westhoek, as well as a podium at Le Samyn des Dames, in her palmares, while her greatest achievement was winning the world team time trial title in 2017.

Originally competing in the Netherlands as a speed skater, Floortje’s father was a cyclist and sparked his daughter’s interest in the sport. The rest, as they say, is history.

“I was winning straight away, and I loved it. You can see when you train hard, stick to your schedule, you can get to the level you want to be. I love it. You train well, do everything you can and get the best out of yourself.”