From Herpen in the Netherlands, Elise is now into her second year with the team after a good opening campaign in 2021, which followed off the back of a strong junior career.
The big jump direct from juniors into the elite ranks can often be tough, but Elise powered through the more challenging moments “with the support of the team”, where she learned a lot and gained experience. It’s not only the step up in racing, which was a challenge, but the change of routine was something that took Elise sometime to get used to…
“It’s a bit weird to go from being at school until four then going for an hour or so of training, to having all of your day free to do training.”
Around midway through the year things clicked for Elise and putting all of those learned experiences to good use, she could “show her strength”, which culminated in a brilliant supportive ride at the Tour de Romandie and a Queen of the Mountains jersey to take home.
“It might not have been the biggest win for a lot of people but for me it was special and was a nice way to crown off the season. It has only made me hungrier for more.”
Elise has always only really had eyes for the bike, despite not being brought up in a cycling family. She took part in several sports alongside her dance classes while at school, but from a young age she “knew she wanted to cycle”. She had a lot of help from her parents and family at a young age, while having lots of fun and making “great memories” throughout it.
Chatty and outgoing, it is no surprise that one of Elise’s attributes that she describes herself as is “energetic”, which can be really useful to her as she is always buzzing about and wanting to do something, especially riding her bike; “I like so much that it gives me energy instead of costing me any energy.”
Alongside that, her “driven” and “thoughtful” nature has allowed Elise to make her way through the sport and now brush shoulders with her idol Marianne Vos, who she admires due to her commitment, resilience, and ability to remain at a high level for so long.
Away from the bike Elise is quite a homely person who really enjoys spending time with her family and friends, whipping up a storm in the kitchen cooking the famous Dutch staple of “Aardappels Groente Vlees (AGV)” otherwise known as “potatoes, vegetables and meat”. When she’s not got her chef’s hat on, she likes to clear her mind outside in nature or read a compelling book. A studious person, Elise is also currently following a Bachelors in International Business Administration which is keeping her busy and is something “broad so she can specialise after cycling”.
