Pauliena Rooijakkers

Pauliena Rooijakkers is a Dutch professional cyclist whose climbing strength, consistency, and determination have made her one of the most respected Grand Tour contenders in women’s cycling.

Pauliena Rooijakkers

Pauliena Rooijakkers was born on May 12, 1993, in Venray, Netherlands. She developed into a professional road cyclist after beginning her career in Dutch cycling, gradually building a reputation as a strong climber, dependable teammate, and capable all-around racer.

She turned professional in 2012 and spent her early career developing through several Dutch teams. Those years gave her valuable experience in European racing, where she learned how to manage long stage races, respond to attacks, and compete against increasingly strong international fields.

Her path to the top level was not defined by immediate fame or a sudden explosion of victories. Instead, it was built through persistence, steady improvement, and a willingness to take on demanding roles within professional teams.

As she gained experience, Pauliena Rooijakkers became known for her ability to perform consistently in major stage races. She developed into a reliable general classification contender, capable of climbing with the best riders in the world while also contributing to team tactics.

Her career reflects an important truth about professional cycling: success is not always measured only by race wins. Consistent high finishes, strong teamwork, and the ability to perform across a demanding calendar can be equally important markers of excellence.

Early Career and Development

Pauliena Rooijakkers began her professional journey in the early 2010s, competing for Dutch teams and gradually establishing herself in the European peloton. Her early seasons helped her develop the endurance, positioning, and tactical awareness required to succeed at the highest level.

She showed promise in one-day races and stage races, often finishing among the leading riders without immediately becoming a frequent winner. Those results reflected her developing strength as an all-rounder, particularly in races with demanding climbs and unpredictable conditions.

During this period, she also found success in beach racing, winning multiple Dutch national beach race titles and a European beach race championship. Those competitions required endurance, bike-handling ability, and resilience, qualities that complemented her development as a road cyclist.

Her early career was shaped by learning how to compete against elite riders. The women’s professional peloton became increasingly competitive during that era, with stronger teams, deeper talent pools, and more demanding race programs. Adapting to that environment required patience and continuous improvement.

She gradually became more comfortable racing at the front of major events. Her climbing ability began to stand out, especially in stage races with mountainous terrain. That strength would later become central to her greatest professional achievements.

By the late 2010s, she had established herself as a dependable professional rider. She was not yet a household name, but she had built the foundation necessary to compete for major results in the years ahead.

Breakthrough and Major Results

A major breakthrough came in 2022, when Pauliena Rooijakkers finished second overall at Itzulia Women and third overall at the Tour de Suisse Women. Those results confirmed that she could compete for high overall placements in prestigious stage races.

That same year, she won Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria, a one-day race in the Basque Country. The victory was an important milestone because it demonstrated that she could convert her climbing strength and tactical awareness into a professional win.

She also won the mountains classification at the Tour de Suisse Women, reinforcing her reputation as a rider capable of performing on difficult climbs. Her ability to sustain effort over long ascents became one of the defining features of her racing style.

In 2023, she expanded her range by competing successfully in gravel racing. She won the UCI Gravel World Series event in Houffa, showing that her endurance and bike-handling skills could translate beyond traditional road racing.

That versatility became an important part of her identity as a cyclist. While she remained focused on road racing and Grand Tours, her success in gravel demonstrated her willingness to explore new formats and challenge herself in different environments.

Her results also reflected the value of experience. By the time she reached her early thirties, she had developed into a more complete rider, combining climbing ability with improved tactical judgment and greater confidence in high-pressure situations.

Pauliena Rooijakkers Tour de France Femmes and Grand Tours

Pauliena Rooijakkers reached the most significant result of her career at the 2024 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. Racing for Fenix-Deceuninck, she finished third overall, earning a place on the final podium in one of women’s cycling’s most prestigious stage races.

Her performance was built on consistency and courage. She entered the final stage in seventh place overall, but produced an exceptional ride on the demanding route to Alpe d’Huez. She finished second on the stage behind Demi Vollering and moved up to third in the general classification.

On the final climb, she stayed with Vollering for much of the ascent, demonstrating remarkable climbing strength and tactical discipline. Her ability to respond to attacks and maintain contact with one of the sport’s strongest climbers helped secure her place on the podium.

The result was especially meaningful because it came against a world-class field. Kasia Niewiadoma won the overall title, Demi Vollering finished second, and Pauliena Rooijakkers completed the podium. Her performance was widely praised as one of the standout rides of the race.

Her Tour de France success was not an isolated achievement. Earlier that year, she finished fourth overall at the Giro d’Italia Women, one of the most demanding stage races in women’s cycling. She also finished ninth overall at the Vuelta Femenina, further demonstrating her ability to perform across all three Grand Tours.

She later repeated a fourth-place finish at the Giro d’Italia Women in 2025, confirming that her Grand Tour consistency was not a temporary peak. Her ability to remain competitive in the toughest stage races made her one of the most dependable general classification riders in the peloton.

Her 2025 Tour de France Femmes campaign ended with a ninth-place overall finish, another strong result in a race known for its difficulty. While it did not match her 2024 podium, it reinforced her reputation as a rider capable of competing at the front of major stage races year after year.

Climbing Strength and Racing Style

Pauliena Rooijakkers is best known as a climber. Her ability to maintain a strong rhythm on long ascents has made her a valuable asset in mountainous stage races and a difficult opponent when the road turns upward.

Her racing style is characterized by patience and resilience. Rather than relying solely on explosive bursts of speed, she often performs best when a race becomes attritional and riders must manage their energy carefully over challenging terrain.

She is also a capable all-rounder. While climbing is her greatest strength, she has shown the ability to compete in one-day races, handle difficult weather conditions, and contribute to team strategies across different types of courses.

Her willingness to work for teammates has been an important part of her career. In professional cycling, success often depends on collective effort, and she has built a reputation as a rider who understands both individual ambition and team responsibility.

That balance between personal goals and team duties has made her a respected figure in the peloton. She has competed for teams including CCC-Liv, Canyon-SRAM, Fenix-Deceuninck, and UAE Team ADQ, gaining experience in a variety of competitive environments.

Her consistency across Grand Tours is particularly impressive. Finishing in the top ten of all three major women’s Grand Tours requires not only physical strength but also careful recovery, tactical awareness, and the ability to handle the pressure of multi-day racing.

Teams and Professional Journey

Throughout her career, Pauliena Rooijakkers has represented several prominent teams. Her moves between squads have reflected her growth as a rider and her desire to develop in environments that support her strengths and ambitions.

Her time with Canyon-SRAM gave her experience racing alongside elite international talent and competing in some of the biggest events in women’s cycling. That period helped refine her tactical understanding and exposed her to the demands of racing at the very top level.

With Fenix-Deceuninck, she enjoyed one of the most successful periods of her career. The team provided an environment in which she could pursue general classification goals while also contributing to a broader competitive project.

Her move to UAE Team ADQ for the 2026 and 2027 seasons represented a new chapter. The transfer reflected her continued ambition to compete for major results and convert her consistency into more race victories.

Throughout those transitions, she has maintained a professional approach built on preparation, resilience, and teamwork. Her ability to adapt to different team structures and racing roles has helped her sustain a long and successful career.

Training Mindset and Lasting Inspiration

Pauliena Rooijakkers’s story is an inspiring example of persistence in professional sport. She did not become a Grand Tour podium finisher overnight. Her success came through years of development, difficult lessons, and a steady commitment to improvement.

Her ability to perform consistently at the highest level has made her a role model for athletes who value patience and long-term growth. In a sport that often celebrates dramatic victories, her career shows the importance of reliability, preparation, and quiet determination.

She has also demonstrated that athletes can continue evolving later in their careers. Her greatest result, the 2024 Tour de France Femmes podium, came after more than a decade as a professional cyclist. That achievement proved that experience can become a powerful advantage.

Her approach to racing emphasizes effort, teamwork, and resilience. Whether supporting a teammate, chasing a general classification position, or competing in a one-day event, she brings a disciplined mindset and a willingness to embrace difficult challenges.

For young cyclists, her journey offers a valuable lesson: progress may take time, but consistent effort can create opportunities. Rather than measuring success only by immediate results, athletes can build careers through steady development and a commitment to improvement.

As she continues her career with UAE Team ADQ, Pauliena Rooijakkers remains a rider to watch in the biggest stage races. Her climbing ability, Grand Tour experience, and competitive determination give her a strong foundation for future success.

Her legacy is already defined by a remarkable Tour de France podium finish, consistent Grand Tour performances, and a career built on perseverance. She represents the strength that comes from believing in long-term growth and continuing to pursue excellence, even when recognition arrives gradually.