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Anna Bruneel: On a journey of turning a dream into reality
Meet the young Belgian, one of the most promising riders on the AG Insurance – Soudal U23 squad.
Some eight years ago, Anna Bruneel made it onto the podium of her very first race. In fairness, it wasn’t that difficult, as she jokingly looks back on that day, because “we were just three riders at the start, so all I had to do was finish the race”. It’s a fun anecdote that says more than it looks at first sight, because the most important thing on that day wasn’t the result, but the fact that her passion for cycling was ignited, a passion that has taken her to the AG Insurance – Soudal U23 team.
“I loved being on the bike. I remember that when we went for a family trip, I always sat on my brother’s bike. Then, my dad saw a small team training not far from our home and asked them if I could join them on a ride, which they agreed. It was a day that I still remember, because it meant a lot for me back then.”
Flanders is cycling’s heartland, a place where great riders are forged and legends are born. It’s almost impossible to not find a road, a cobblestone stretch or a hill that is inextricably linked to a cycling race, a place where history was written and champions made a name for themselves. For Anna, this is the Oude Kwaremont – one of the most iconic climbs in the region – which continues to inspire her to this day.
“Kwaremont is only 20 kilometers from the place I live. When I was a child, I went there with my family to watch the race pass by and I was fascinated by the faces of the riders and the way they fought for every inch of the road. Years have passed, but every spring I can’t wait for De Ronde to come so that I can go there again and cheer for the riders.”
Just 19 years of age, Anna is in her first season with AG Insurance – Soudal U23, and despite having joined the squad only a couple of months ago, she already feels at home here: “I had a good feeling from the first the moment I talked with Jolien about joining the team. We had a nice chat and I just knew that I had to ride for this team. In fairness, I had always dreamed about sporting the jersey of AG Insurance – Soudal, especially as they are not far from my home, so it’s kind of a dream come true. The first couple of months were really nice, we had a good training camp in Calpe where I got to know the riders and staff, and some strong bonds were made.”
As she combines her studies with cycling, Anna is delighted that she has found the proper environment for her to develop: “I like endurance races, I feel that longer races suit me. I still have to work on my explosiveness, especially on the short climbs in the Ardennes, but I know I will get there. I’m in no rush, just taking it one step at a time at the moment. This is another thing I like a lot about this team: there is no pressure and you can feel the support of those around you.”
Dream. Dare. Grow. Anna Bruneel illustrates our motto, the one that guides us in our mission to contribute to the development of women’s cycling: “I’m motivated by the improvements I make, by seeing all the hard work that I put in pays off. I am proud of the races I have won solo, of the steps I have made, and I’m keen on following this road. Making it onto the AG Insurance – Soudal U23 squad already fed my big dream of turning pro one day. I hope to become a good rider for the Flemish races. I also hope to win Ronde van Vlaanderen. Just the thought of climbing up the Kwaremont and feeling the insane support of that passionate crowd gives me goosebumps. Doing that on the way to victory in De Ronde would be truly unforgettable.”