Name: Marjolein de Vliegher
Hometown: Breda, the Netherlands
How did you get into cycling? I used to play volleyball and football when I was younger, but because of injuries I had to find another sport, so I bought my first bike when I was 29. I started out with some shorter-distance rides, just enjoying the scenery and being outdoors. Not long after that I met my partner and we started riding together and distances got longer and longer. Although I was really enjoying the riding, I always missed a competitive element, and I found that in Zwift racing a few years later. After a while racing on Zwift made me curious about IRL racing, so last year, at 39, I finished my first full season of gravel racing.
How many years have you been racing on Zwift? I started Zwift in October 2019 and I did my first Herd Beginner Race in the first week. I have been racing year-round on Zwift ever since.Â
Are you part of a virtual team? Yes, I’ve been racing with the Herd Racing League since I started riding on Zwift. A big part of the races I’ve done were with my Zwift Racing League team The Herd of Little Penguins. Several women on that team have been racing and riding together since the first ZRL season and I love being a part of that team. Occasionally you can see me riding with BEAT added to my name, which is my IRL team BEAT Cycling Club that also has an e-racing team.Â
What do you love most about racing? Pushing your limits and sometimes surprising yourself with what you can do.
What is your favourite style of race (e.g. points, scratch, iTT, TTT, Chase, duathlon)? I don’t really have a favourite style of race, but I like to mix it up. I do like the tactics involved with races – making a plan, individually or with my team, to get the best result possible and trying to execute that plan during a race.Â
What is your favourite Zwift women’s race series? There are several great Women’s race series, but for me the best ones are those that have a mix of racing styles, like SHEries, Tour de Boudicca and Iceni series. I also love the big fields and strong competition in Zwift Racing League.Â
What is your most memorable racing experience, inside or outside or BOTH? That must be the gravel world championships in Italy last year. The course, with lots of steep climbs, didn’t really suit me and it wasn’t my best race of the season, but riding in that amazing landscape in an orange jersey and with all those strong women from all over the world was the best experience ever. At one point I was riding in a chase group with riders from USA, South Africa, Australia, Canada, France, and many more countries and even though it was hard and my legs were hurting, the only thing I could think about is how amazing that was.Â
What is your favourite food to eat post race? I do a lot of my races in the evenings, so I rarely eat after and just take a recovery shake. But during long endurance rides I love having a piece of apple pie and a nice poke bowl after.
What advice would you give to a woman entering her first Zwift race? Be prepared for a hard start. After that, just give it all you’ve got and have fun.
