Anna van der Breggen has confirmed that she will make a stunning return to road racing next season, three years after her retirement.

The 34-year-old, a former Olympic and triple world champion, hung the wheel at the end of the 2021 season to take on the role of directeur sportif at sd Worx-Protime. But after the team confirmed earlier reports from Dutch broadcaster NOS at a press conference on Thursday, she will race in the colors of SD Worx back in 2025.

Van der Breggen, who last raced in the world of Leuven in 2021, said she was motivated and excited to return, noting that the break from the race gave her the opportunity to see the sport "from a different angle.""

"Motivation is great to get back on the bike after three years," Van der Breggen said. "It's an exciting decision. If you do not feel motivated, you will not be able to do this. That was also why I decided to quit in 2021 after the Tokyo Olympics. I've been doing the same for years and felt tired.

"I've been able to win a lot of competitions, but I've been able to take a lot from you both physically and mentally. After a period of 3 years where I've seen cycling from a different angle, I feel my motivation and will to cycle is completely back.

"I'm excited to be back. Again struggling with the bike, again racing with the team. I now realize how much I love games, sports and competition.

Van der Bregen said her thinking about racing was "different" when she returned to racing. Having already won so many of the biggest races on the calendar, she said, "My mindset will be different" to "enjoy the sport", rather than taking aim at a particular major goal. "I don't focus too much on winning a particular race or having a clear goal. After this long break, I feel it's a privilege to be able to ride the race and become a cyclist again.

"For me, it is no longer about racing and winning, but about enjoying sports and competition. In the next 6 months, I will train a lot and work on my fitness. I would like to know which level I can go back to. Of course, I aim to be a better cyclist than in previous times. Whether it will succeed or not will always remain a question.

But despite talk of not trying to "check off" her win at Palmares, van der Bregen said she still wants to be a winner in her 62 cas "Do I still want to be a winner" Of course, I feel the competition in me," she said. "I always want to win. But that doesn't mean you can always win. That's fine, too, because it only makes the victory you have more beautiful.

"When you have to struggle to go somewhere, it only makes the reward more beautiful later. In any case, for me, it's a privilege to be a cyclist again in 2025.

Van der Bregen enjoyed a storied career on the street, having enjoyed a 10-year career with Sengers Ladies, Rabobank-Liv and Boels-Dolmans/SD Worx.

Along the way, she won a record 7 La Fresh Wallonne titles, plus 4 Girodon victories and victories in Liège-Bastogne-Liège (2 times), a tour of Flanders, and in Stradevianche.

In addition to working as a DS on the hugely successful SD Worx-Protime team and leading the likes of Demi Vollering, Lotte Kopecky and Lorena Wiebes to countless victories, Van der Breggen also tried his hand at gravel racing.

Back in May, she took on her first race since retiring, the Traca 100km gravel race in Spain, with Marie Schreiber and Femke Marx and SD Worx-Protime podium Sweep Team Sports Manager Danny Stam welcoming van der Breggen's return to the race

"I had noticed for a while that Anna had started cycling little by little on her own during the stage race," he said. "We are pleased to have another world-class cyclist on the team with her.

"I hope she can grow to that high level again. We are confident about it. If Anna has doubts about something, she will not do it. That certainly applies to this big step.

News that she is set to retire and rejoin the racing corps at sd Worx-Protime continues the 2025 team update, with star rider Demi Vollering set to depart for fdj-Suez.