The 2006 women's road cycling season was the seventh season for the Vrienden van het Platteland (UCI code: VVP) cycling team, which began as Ondernemers van Nature in 2000.
One of the main new recruits for the team was former junior rider Ellen van Dijk. In March Ellen van Dijk became University World Champion at the 2006 World University Cycling Championship in the women's road race. and finished second in the women's time trial. The other main victories for the team were Flèche Hesbignonne by Chantal Beltman and stage 2 of the Tour Féminin en Limousin by Ellen van Dijk. At the national championships Sharon van Essen finished second in the road race and Iris Slappendel won the bronze medal in the women's time trial. At the end of the year the team ended 12th in the UCI Team's Ranking with Chantal Beltman as the best individual at the 30th place in the UCI Individual Women's Road Ranking. Van Dijk was also active on the track and won the bronze medal at the 2006 Dutch National Track Championships in the women's individual pursuit.
Roster
Ages as of 1 January 2006.
Sources
Riders who joined the team for the 2006 season Rider2005 team Junior rider Junior rider
Riders who left the team during or after the 2005 season Rider2006 team
Results
Season victories
+Single day and stage races 2006 Date Nation Race Cat. Winner11 June Flèche Hesbignonne 1.2 Chantal Beltman22 July Stage 2 Tour Féminin en Limousin 2.2 Ellen van Dijk
+National, Continental and World champions 2006 Date Discipline Jersey Winner 25 March World University Champion – Road race Ellen van Dijk
Results in major races +Results at the 2006 UCI Women's Road World Cup races#DateRaceCountryBest riderPlace1Geelong World Cup - -2New Zealand World Cup - -3Tour of Flanders for Women Chantal Beltman 27th4La Flèche Wallonne Féminine - -5Tour de Berne - -6GP Castilla y Leon - -7Coupe du Monde Cycliste Féminine de Montréal - -8Open de Suède Vårgårda - -9Ladies Golden Hour - -10GP de Plouay - -11Lowland International Rotterdam Tour Ellen van Dijk 6th12 Rund um die Nürnberger Altstadt - -
+Results in other major single day racesDateRaceRiderPlace23 MarchWorld University Championships – Women's time trial Ellen van Dijk 25 MarchWorld University Championships – Women's road race Ellen van Dijk 15 JulyEuropean Road Championships – Women's under-23 road race Ellen van Dijk 10th
UCI World Ranking
The team finished 12th in the UCI ranking for teams.
+ Individual UCI World Ranking Rank Rider Points30 Chantal Beltman 22374 Ellen van Dijk 5886 Iris Slappendel 47123 Sharon van Essen 30376 Moniek Rotmensen 2
References