View source for Vrienden van het Platteland

{{Infobox cycling team
| name           = Vrienden van het Platteland
| image          = [[File:Vrienden van het Platteland logo.gif]]
| code           = OND (2002–2004)<br />VVP (2005–2008)
| registered     = Netherlands
| founded        = {{start date|2000}}
| disbanded      = 2008
| generalmanager = Peter Smeets
| teammanager    = Jan van Dam (2007)<br />Wim Kruis (2008)
| discipline     = [[Road bicycle racing|Road]]
| status         = 
| season         = 2000–2003<br />2004<br />2005–2008
| oldname        = Ondernemers van Nature<br />Ondernemers van Nature-Vrienden van het Platteland<br />Vrienden van het Platteland
| kitimage       = Vrienden van het Platteland jersey.png
}}
'''Vrienden van het Platteland''' ([[Union Cycliste Internationale|UCI]] Code: VVP) was a Dutch [[UCI Women's Teams|UCI women's road cycling team]] that existed in the 2000–2008 road cycling seasons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cqranking.com/women/asp/gen/team.asp?year=2004&teamcode=OND|title=2004 Roster|access-date=15 February 2013|work=cqranking.com}}</ref><ref>[http://www.cqranking.com/women/asp/gen/team_palm.asp?year=2005&teamcode=vvp&podium=1 2005 Vrienden van het Platteland]</ref><ref>[http://www.cqranking.com/women/asp/gen/team_palm.asp?year=2006&teamcode=vvp&podium=1 2006 Vrienden van het Platteland]</ref><ref>[http://www.cqranking.com/women/asp/gen/team_palm.asp?year=2007&teamcode=vvp&podium=1 2007 Vrienden van het Platteland]</ref><ref>[http://www.cqranking.com/women/asp/gen/team_palm.asp?year=2008&teamcode=vvp&podium=1 2008 Vrienden van het Platteland]</ref>

== History ==

=== 2006 ===
{{main|2006 Vrienden van het Platteland season}}

One of the main new recruits for the team was former junior rider [[Ellen van Dijk]].<ref name="wielerrevue">{{cite news|url=http://www.wielerrevue.nl/2005/09/26/van-dijk-en-leezer-naar-vrienden-ploeg/#|publisher=wielerrevue.nl|title=Van Dijk en Leezer naar Vrienden-ploeg|date=26 September 2005|access-date=13 December 2014|language=nl}}</ref> In March [[Ellen van Dijk]] became University World Champion at the [[2006 World University Cycling Championship]] in the [[2006 World University Cycling Championship – Women's road race|women's road race]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.wielerrevue.nl/2006/03/25/opnieuw-twee-studentenwereldtitels-nederland/|publisher=wielerrevue.nl|title=Opnieuw twee studentenwereldtitels Nederland|date=25 March 2006|access-date=13 December 2014|language=nl}}</ref> and finished second in the [[2006 World University Cycling Championship – Women's time trial|women's time trial]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.wielerrevue.nl/2006/03/23/gunnewijk-en-van-ruitenbeek-wereldkampioen-studenten/|publisher=wielerrevue.nl|title=Gunnewijk en Van Ruitenbeek wereldkampioen studenten|date=23 March 2006|access-date=13 December 2014|language=nl}}</ref> The other main victories for the team were [[Flèche Hesbignonne]] by [[Chantal Beltman]] and stage 2 of the [[2006 Tour Féminin en Limousin|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 [[2006 Dutch National Time Trial Championships – Women's time trial|women's time trial]]. At the end of the year the team ended 12th in the [[2006 UCI Women's Road World Rankings#UCI Teams Ranking|UCI Team's Ranking]] with [[Chantal Beltman]] as the best individual at the 30th place in the [[2006 UCI Women's Road World Rankings#Individual World Ranking (top 100)|UCI Individual Women's Road Ranking]].<ref name="UCI">{{cite web|url=http://62.50.72.82/ucinet/default.asp?RankingsDetailID=276&RankingsRace=MON&RankingsType=Individual&continent=&discipline=ROA&l=ENG&npage=-1&page=rankingsdetail&ridercategory=WE&year=2006|title=Ranking - Cycling - Road 2006 Women  Elite  UCI Ranking  Individual Final result|access-date=3 September 2013|publisher=[[Union Cycliste Internationale|UCI]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130910203641/http://62.50.72.82/ucinet/default.asp?RankingsDetailID=276&RankingsRace=MON&RankingsType=Individual&continent=&discipline=ROA&l=ENG&npage=-1&page=rankingsdetail&ridercategory=WE&year=2006|archive-date=10 September 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Van Dijk was also active on the track and won the bronze medal at the [[2006 Dutch National Track Championships]] in the [[2006 Dutch National Track Championships – Women's individual pursuit|women's individual pursuit]].

=== 2007 ===
{{main|2007 Vrienden van het Platteland season}}
The main victories on the road for the team were the time trial at the [[2007 Tour of Chongming Island Stage race|Tour of Chongming Island]] by [[Ellen van Dijk]] and the [[Norwegian National Time Trial Championships|Norwegian]] and [[2007 Dutch National Time Trial Championships – Women's time trial|Dutch Time Trial Championships]] by [[Anita Valen]] and Ellen van Dijk. On the track Van Dijk also won the individual pursuit at the [[2007 Dutch National Track Championships – Women's individual pursuit|Dutch National Track Cycling Championships]]. At the end of the year the team ended 23rd in the [[2007 UCI Women's Road World Rankings#UCI Teams Ranking|UCI Team's Ranking]] with [[Ellen van Dijk]] as the best individual at the 37th place in the [[2007 UCI Women's Road World Rankings#Individual World Ranking (top 100)|UCI Individual Women's Road Ranking]].<ref name="uci">{{cite web|url=http://62.50.72.82/ucinet/default.asp?RankingsDetailID=444&RankingsRace=MON&RankingsType=Individual&continent=&discipline=ROA&l=ENG&npage=-1&page=rankingsdetail&ridercategory=WE&year=2007|title=Ranking - Cycling - Road 2007 Women  Elite  UCI Ranking  Individual Final result|access-date=3 September 2013|publisher=[[Union Cycliste Internationale|UCI]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130909190306/http://62.50.72.82/ucinet/default.asp?RankingsDetailID=444&RankingsRace=MON&RankingsType=Individual&continent=&discipline=ROA&l=ENG&npage=-1&page=rankingsdetail&ridercategory=WE&year=2007|archive-date=9 September 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The first podium place for the team was a third place for [[Jaccolien Wallaard]] at [[Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|Omloop Het Volk]] in March. In May [[Ellen van Dijk]] finished third at [[2007 Omloop van Borsele|Omloop van Borsele]] and in the time trial stage at the [[2007 Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin|Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin]]. Van Dijk finished third again in an international time trial at the [[2007 Tour of Chongming Island Time trial|Tour of Chongming Island Time trial]] in June. The day afterwards Van Dijk won the first stage of the [[2007 Tour of Chongming Island Stage race|Tour of Chongming Island]] with Wallaard in third place. After finishing second in the stage 2 and stage 3 Van Dijk ended also second in the general classification.<ref name="CQ">{{cite web|title=Vrienden van het Platteland (VVP) - UCI 2007|url=http://www.cqranking.com/women/asp/gen/team_palm.asp?year=2007&teamcode=VVP&podium=1|publisher=CQranking.com|access-date=5 December 2014}}</ref> In July Ellen van Dijk represented the Netherlands at the [[2007 European Road Championships|European Championships (under-23)]] and finished fifth in the time trial. At the national championships [[Anita Valen]] won the [[Norwegian National Time Trial Championships|time trial in Norway]] and finished second in the [[Norwegian National Road Race Championships|road race]]. In the Netherlands Ellen van Dijk won the [[2007 Dutch National Time Trial Championships – Women's time trial|Dutch time trial championships]]. Due to Van Dijks' good results in the time trials she was chosen to represent the Netherlands in the time trial at the [[2007 UCI Road World Championships|World Championships]] in [[Stuttgart]] where she finished 17th.<ref>{{cite web|title=Results of Ellen van Dijk in 2007|url=http://www.cqranking.com/women/asp/gen/rider_palm.asp?riderid=611&year=2007&all=1&current=0|publisher=CQranking.com|access-date=5 September 2012}}</ref> Due to her good results Ellen van Dijk became sportswomen of the year of [[Woerden]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Ellen van Dijk, sportvrouw van 2007|url=http://www.deweekkrant.nl/artikel/2007/december/17/ellen_van_dijk_sportvrouw_van_2007|publisher=Wourdense Courant|date=18 December 2007|access-date=3 October 2013}}</ref> Van Dijk was invited to join the Dutch national track cycling team.<ref name="biography">{{cite web|title=Biography of Ellen van Dijk|url=http://www.ellenvandijk.nl/index.php/biografie|author=Ellen van Dijk|publisher=Ellenvandijk.nl|access-date=4 September 2012}}</ref> At the [[2007 Dutch National Track Championships|national track championships]] she became Dutch champion in the individual pursuit, ahead of [[Marianne Vos]] and [[Kirsten Wild]], and finished fourth in the [[2007 Dutch National Track Championships – Women's scratch|scratch race]] and [[2007 Dutch National Track Championships – Women's points race|points race]].<ref name="cyclingarchives">{{cite web|title=Ellen van Dijk (cyclingarchives)|url=http://www.cyclingarchives.com/coureurfiche.php?coureurid=13500|publisher=Cyclingarchives.com|access-date=5 September 2012}}</ref>

=== 2008 ===
{{main|2008 Vrienden van het Platteland season}}
[[Ellen van Dijk]] became [[2008 European Road Championships – Women's under-23 time trial|European Champion in the time trial]] and won the stage 2 of the [[2008 Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin]] and the prologue of [[2008 Tour Féminin en Limousin]]. [[An Van Rie]] won the Belgian Time Trial Championships. However, the largest victories were on the track. [[Ellen van Dijk]] became [[2008 UCI Track Cycling World Championships – Women's scratch|World Champion in the scratch]] and European champion in the [[2008 UEC European Track Championships – Women's under-23 points race|Women's points race]] and [[2008 UEC European Track Championships – Women's under-23 scratch|Women's scratch]]. At the European championships she also won two silver medals. [[Willy Kanis]] won 4 times an individual event at the Track Cycling World Cups in 2008 and together with [[Yvonne Hijgenaar]] two times the team sprint event.
The team finished 19th in the [[2008 UCI Women's Road World Rankings#UCI Teams Ranking|2008 UCI Team Ranking]].

== Roster ==
{{for|a list of all the riders|List of Vrienden van het Platteland riders}}
During the years the team had mainly Dutch riders, including:<br />
{{flagicon|NED}} [[Ellen van Dijk]] (2006–2008)<br />
{{flagicon|NED}} [[Sharon van Essen]] (2004–2006)<br />
{{flagicon|NED}} [[Loes Gunnewijk]] (2004–2005)<br />
{{flagicon|NED}} [[Chantal Beltman]] (2004–2006)<br />
{{flagicon|NED}} [[Yvonne Hijgenaar]] (2008)<br />
{{flagicon|NED}} [[Willy Kanis]] (2008)<br />
{{flagicon|NED}} [[Roxane Knetemann]] (2008)<br />
{{flagicon|NED}} [[Vera Koedooder]] (2004)<br />
{{flagicon|NED}} [[Iris Slappendel]] (2004–2006)<br />
{{flagicon|NED}} [[Annemiek van Vleuten]] (2008)

During the last two year the team had also riders from other countries, including:<br />
{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Katie Brown (cyclist)|Katie Brown]] (2007)<br />
{{flagicon|NOR}} [[Anita Valen]] (2007)<br />
{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Liesbet De Vocht]] (2008)<br />
{{flagicon|USA}} [[Tina Pic]] (2008)<br />
{{flagicon|BEL}} [[An Van Rie]] (2008)

===2008 squad===

Ages as of 1 January 2008. 
{{Cycling squad start}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Liesbeth Bakker]]|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2008|1|1|1986|7|1}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Martine Bras]]|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2008|1|1|1987|5|17}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Nikki Butterfield-Egyed]]|nat=AUS|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2008|1|1|1982|4|12}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Ellen van Dijk]]|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2008|1|1|1987|2|11}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Lorian Graham]]|nat=AUS|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2008|1|1|1977|11|8}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Yvonne Hijgenaar]]|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2008|1|1|1980|5|15}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Marit Huisman]]|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2008|1|1|1989|3|1}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Willy Kanis]]|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2008|1|1|1984|7|27}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Roxane Knetemann]]|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2008|1|1|1987|4|1}}}}
{{Cycling squad mid}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Kristy Miggels]]|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2008|1|1|1980|8|6}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Tina Pic]]|nat=USA|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2008|1|1|1966|5|9}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Martine van der Herberg]]|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2008|1|1|1989|11|24}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[An Van Rie]]|nat=BEL|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2008|1|1|1974|6|9}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Annemiek van Vleuten]]|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2008|1|1|1982|10|8}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Monique Verstraten]]|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2008|1|1|1983|4|24}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Liesbet De Vocht]]|nat=BEL|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2008|1|1|1979|1|5}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=[[Jaccolien Wallaard]]|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2008|1|1|1982|9|30}}}}
{{Cycling squad end}}
Sources<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingarchives.com/ploegfiche.php?id=13878|title=2008 Roster|access-date=15 February 2013|work=cyclingarchives.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cqranking.com/women/asp/gen/team.asp?year=2008&teamcode=vvp|title=2008 Roster|access-date=15 February 2013|work=cqranking.com}}</ref>

;Guest riders
The team had [[Felicia Gomez]] and [[Linn Torp]] as guest riders during the [[Tour of New Zealand]] and Gomez also during the [[Geelong Tour]].

==Victories==
{{colbegin}}
;2000
:1st Zeddam Cyclo-cross, [[Danielle Jansen]] 
:1st Luyksgestel Criterium, [[Sonja Van Kuik-Pfister]]
:1st Kortenhoef Derny, [[Edith Klep-Moerenhout]]
:1st Dordrecht Criterium, [[Francis Linthorst]]
:1st Nijmegen Criterium, [[Janneke Vos]]
;2001
:1st Luyksgestel Criterium, [[Tanja Schmidt-Hennes]]
:1st Zoetermeer Criterium, [[Areke Hassink]]
;2002
:1st Haarsteeg Criterium, [[Martine Bras]]
:1st Omloop van Borsele, [[Loes Gunnewijk]]
:1st Commonwealth Games Track Championships (Points race), [[Kate Bates]]
:1st Memorial Marc Van Beek, [[Kate Bates]]
:1st Haasdonk Criterium, [[Kate Bates]]
;2004
:1st Omloop van Borsele, [[Chantal Beltman]]
:1st Overall RaboSter Zeeuwsche Eilanden, [[Chantal Beltman]]
::1st Stage 3a, [[Loes Gunnewijk]]
:1st Zoeterwoude Criterium, Iris Slappendel 
:1st Steenwijk Criterium, Andrea Bosman 
:1st Gouden Pijl, Chantal Beltman 
:1st Wielerronde van Nispen, Andrea Bosman  
:1st Overall Boekel, Loes Gunnewijk 
::1st Stage 3, Loes Gunnewijk 
:1st Berkelse Wielerdag, Chantal Beltman 
:1st Vorden, Cyclo-cross (F):  Loes Gunnewijk 
:1st Stage 1 [[Tour de Feminin]], [[Chantal Beltman]]
:1st Stage 5 [[Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin|Tour de l'Aude]], [[Chantal Beltman]]
;2005
:1st Veldhoven, Kristy Miggels 
:1st Rijssen, Chantal Beltman 
:1st Stage 2 RaboSter Zeeuwsche Eilanden, Chantal Beltman 
:1st Kieldrecht, Andrea Bosman 
:1st Boxtel Cyclo-cross, Loes Gunnewijk 
:1st Herford Cyclo-cross, Loes Gunnewijk 
:1st Stage 4 [[Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin|Tour de l'Aude]], [[Loes Gunnewijk]]
:1st Stage 3 [[Ronde van Drenthe|Novilon Internationale Damesronde van Drenthe]], [[Kristy Miggels]]
;2006
:1st World University Road Race Championship, [[Ellen van Dijk]]
:1st Fleurus, [[Moniek Rotmensen]]
:1st Amerika, [[Iris Slappendel]]
:1st Cras-Avernas, [[Chantal Beltman]] 
:1st Oosterbeek, [[Chantal Beltman]] 
:1st Stage 2 [[Tour Féminin en Limousin]], [[Ellen van Dijk]]
:1st [[Profronde van Stiphout]], [[Moniek Rotmensen]]
:1st Bochum, [[Iris Slappendel]]
:1st Stage 2 Boekel, [[Ellen van Dijk]]
:1st Stage 1 TTT [[Giro della Toscana Int. Femminile]], [[Iris Slappendel]], [[Chantal Beltman]] & [[Ellen van Dijk]]
:1st {{flagu|Netherlands}} National University Road Race Championship, [[Ellen van Dijk]]
:1st Flèche Hesbignonne, [[Chantal Beltman]]
;2007
:1st Breezand, [[Monique van de Ree]]
:1st Bleiswijk, [[Ellen van Dijk]]
:1st Oudenbosch, [[Monique van de Ree]]
:1st Stage 1 [[2007 Tour of Chongming Island Stage race|Tour of Chongming Island]], [[Ellen van Dijk]]
:1st {{NOR}} National Time Trial Championships, [[Anita Valen]]
:1st Alblasserdam, [[Ellen van Dijk]]
:1st [[Profronde van Stiphout]], [[Ellen van Dijk]]
:1st Maarheeze, [[Jaccolien Wallaard]]
:1st {{flagu|Netherlands}} National Time Trial Championships, [[Ellen van Dijk]]
:1st Stage 2 Boekel, [[Ellen van Dijk]]
:1st {{flagu|Netherlands}} National Track Championships (Individual pursuit), [[Ellen van Dijk]]
;2008
:1st Los Angeles (UCI Track World Cup) Team Sprint, [[Yvonne Hijgenaar]] & [[Willy Kanis]]
:1st København (UCI Track World Cup) Sprint, [[Willy Kanis]]
:1st København (UCI Track World Cup) Keirin, [[Willy Kanis]]
:1st World Track Championships (Scratch race), [[Ellen van Dijk]]
:1st  Beaufort, [[Tina Pic]]
:1st Anniston, [[Tina Pic]]
:1st Stages 2 & 6 Mount Hood Classic, [[Tina Pic]]
:1st Districtskampioenschap Midden-Nederland, Road, ITT, Elite, The Netherlands (F):  [[Annemiek van Vleuten]]
:1st Stage 2 TTT Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin, [[Ellen van Dijk]] & [[Martine Bras]]
:1st Somerville, [[Tina Pic]]
:1st Stage 2 Nature Valley Grand Prix, [[Tina Pic]]
:1st Tielt-Winge, [[Liesbet De Vocht]]
:1st European Championship, Road, ITT, U23 [[Ellen van Dijk]]
:1st Stage 4 Fitchburg Longsjo Classic, [[Tina Pic]]
:1st Geel, [[Martine Bras]]
:1st Stage 1 Tour Féminin en Limousin, [[Ellen van Dijk]]
:1st {{flagu|Belgium}} National Time Trial Championship, [[An Van Rie]]
:1st De Klinge, [[Liesbet De Vocht]]
:1st Binghamton, [[Tina Pic]]
:1st European U23 Track Championship (Points race), [[Ellen van Dijk]]
:1st Priority Health Grand Cycling Challenge, [[Tina Pic]]
:1st Ann Arbor, [[Tina Pic]]
:1st European U23 Track Championships (Scatch race), [[Ellen van Dijk]]
:1st European Track Championships (Omnium) [[Yvonne Hijgenaar]]
:1st Melbourne (UCI Track World Cup) Team Sprint, [[Yvonne Hijgenaar]] & [[Willy Kanis]]
:1st Melbourne (UCI Track World Cup) 500 m, [[Willy Kanis]]
:1st Melbourne (UCI Track World Cup) Keirin, [[Willy Kanis]]
:1st {{flagu|Netherlands}} National Track Championships (500 m), [[Willy Kanis]]
:1st {{flagu|Netherlands}} National Track Championships (Sprint), [[Willy Kanis]]
:1st {{flagu|Netherlands}} National Track Championships (Pursuit), [[Ellen van Dijk]]
:1st {{flagu|Netherlands}} National Track Championships (Keirin), [[Willy Kanis]]
{{colend}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Vrienden van het Platteland seasons|state=expanded}}
{{UCI Women's Teams}}

[[Category:Vrienden van het Platteland| ]]
[[Category:Cycling teams established in 2000]]
[[Category:Cycling teams disestablished in 2008]]
[[Category:Defunct cycling teams based in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:UCI Women's Teams]]