Mischa Bredewold and Steffi Häberlin look ahead to the Tour de Romandie
# Bredewold and Häberlin Gear Up for the Tour de Romandie
As excitement builds for the upcoming Tour de Romandie, Team SD Worx–Protime athletes Mischa Bredewold and Steffi Häberlin are eager to showcase their talents and team spirit. Both riders recently shared their reflections on the grueling Tour de France Femmes and their aspirations for the upcoming race.
Bredewold, who recently claimed the title of Dutch time trial champion, recalled her post-Tour feelings with a laugh, stating, “Honestly, I was pretty exhausted. I spent a lot of time on the couch, and I heard from many riders and staff that the Tour really took its toll.” After taking the necessary time to rest, she is now feeling reinvigorated. “Since Sunday I’ve felt the energy coming back. I’m looking forward to riding through beautiful Romandy.”
As she prepares for the individual time trial (ITT) scheduled for Friday, Bredewold expressed both excitement and some apprehension. “It’s a climbing time trial, which unfortunately isn’t really my specialty, so it will be hard to make a difference against the best climbers—although you never know.” Nonetheless, wearing her national champion’s jersey for the first time brings her joy. “It’s a real thrill to wear a champion’s jersey. That’s exactly why I’m really looking forward to Friday.”
Expectations are high for the Tour de Romandie, particularly given the challenging terrain and the strong competition. Bredewold noted, “The start list includes many pure climbers. On Saturday we face a tough climb of 11 km at 7-8%—I expect the race to be largely decided there. If that happens, I see opportunities for us on Sunday: that stage suits puncheurs more.” With an eye on teamwork, she highlighted her hopes for teammate Blanka Vas, saying, “Blanka Vas was very strong at the Tour de France—if she carries that form into the weekend, she could be one of the favorites on Sunday.”
Häberlin, the Swiss national champion, shares Bredewold’s enthusiasm for the tour, particularly as it takes place in her home country. “I’m really looking forward to the Tour de Romandie and to finally race again, after a short break post-Giro where I already got to show my Swiss national champion’s jersey. It’s an honour to wear this jersey in my own country, and I hope there will be lots of spectators along the route,” she said.
Her ambition is palpable, as she stated, “It’s a short stage race: a not-too-long time trial and then only two days left. Precisely because of that, I want to see what’s possible and try to leave my mark—there aren’t that many races left for me this year. I’ll give everything, and I’m excited to see the team and all of the girls again.”
With the stage set, the Team SD Worx–Protime line-up features Blanka Vas, Mischa Bredewold, Femke Gerritse, Laura Stigger, Steffi Häberlin, and Mikayla Harvey, all ready to tackle the challenges that lie ahead in the picturesque Romandy region. The riders are poised to not just compete but to make their mark in what promises to be an electrifying event.
