When Misha Bredewald (Parkhotel Valkenburg) crossed the finish line in Arnhem as the winner of the sixth and final stage of the 2022 Simac Ladies Tour, it was not only the culmination of a long road back from a serious injury in 2018, but also her first It was also the beginning of a new chapter with a big win.

"This was totally unplanned and I'm really happy. It's really cool and weird. I feel very, very good today and everything went well. Today was my day," Bredewald was overjoyed.

She and teammates Kirstie Van Haften and Quinty Schoenes, who won the polka-dot jersey, raised their arms as the TV cameras turned on them after the finish. Schones and Van Haften interrupted the interview to cheer on their teammates, who finished sixth overall, performed well throughout the week, and also won the white U23 jersey.

On the race-winning attack, Bredewald explained that the white jersey held her back a bit.

"It was a great moment, but I still had my doubts because I didn't want to get caught and lose time on the white jersey. But Raymond Rolle, the sport director, said in my ear, 'Give it your all,' and Gasparini gave it his all." [And he said, 'Mischa, do it or don't do it. I'm happy with the sprint because Gasparini was very fast.

On August 20, 2018, in his second junior season, Bredewald was hit by a truck while training, breaking six ribs, three vertebrae, and a pelvic bone, as well as suffering brain damage. It took him months of physical and mental recovery before he was able to ride a bike again.

Continuing with her former junior team, which became the U23 club team Rogelli-Gyproc-APB (now Continental Team AG Insurance-NXTG), Bredewald did not race at all in 2019, her first elite season and only competed in selected races in 2020, with a notable 13th place in the Trophée des Grimpeuses.

Bredewold then signed with Parkhotel Valkenburg for 2021, and after two seasons with the team,

the 22-year-old recently signed a two-year contract with Team SD Walks, one of the top teams in the women's peloton. Bredewald was happy to repay the trust of her soon-to-be team with a big win.

"I have come a long way. After a long rehab, the team manager gave me the chance to join the team two years ago. It was out of pure goodwill, because I really had nothing to do with it. I'm so happy to have been able to bring this win to the team before I left.

"Going to SD Walks next year is of course very nice, but I'm especially happy to be with the team I have now.

Moving to one of the biggest teams in women's cycling is the next step in her career and a big dream for the future.

"I want to win. I want to win everything. I want to win in Flanders, I want to win in Amstel, I want to be world champion. I'm happy that everything went well today, and I want to keep going like this and get more wins in the process," Bredewald said.