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Olympic Skater Sandrine Tas Switches to Cycling, Debuts at La Fleche Wallonne

Belgian Olympian Sandrine Tas is launching a professional road cycling career after competing in speed skating at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. She will make her debut with the Lotto Intermarche Ladies team at the prestigious La Fleche Wallonne Femmes race. Tas believes her years of endurance training in skating will provide a solid foundation for her transition to the peloton. While excited for the new challenge, she acknowledges she still has much to learn about pack riding and race positioning.

Key Points: Sandrine Tas: From Olympic Skating to Pro Cycling Debut

  • Olympic speed skater switches sports
  • Debut set for La Fleche Wallonne Femmes
  • Strong endurance base from skating
  • Joins Lotto Intermarche Ladies team
  • Aims to leverage competitive experience
3 min read

Olympic speed-skater Sandrine Tas switches to cycling, set for debut at La Fleche Wallonne Femmes

Belgian Olympian Sandrine Tas transitions from speed skating to road cycling, set for her first race at La Fleche Wallonne Femmes.

"Making my debut in such a prestigious race is a real honour. - Sandrine Tas"

Brussels, April 21

Belgian Olympian Sandrine Tas is embarking on a new phase in her athletic career, shifting from speed skating to professional road cycling, with her first race scheduled at the esteemed La Fleche Wallonne Femmes on Wednesday.

Tas recently competed at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, delivering a strong performance, just missing a medal. She finished seventh in the 3000m and was only 0.13 seconds away from reaching the podium in the 5000m, ultimately placing fourth. Her results also included sixth place in the team pursuit and 13th in the mass start, followed by a repeat of her fourth-place finish in the 5000m at the World Championships.

After a demanding winter season, Tas took a break to recover before turning her attention to cycling, where she will compete for Lotto Intermarche Ladies. "After my skating season, I took some time to rest and recharge. Since the opening weekend, I've been following the races on TV, and it definitely gives you the urge to be out there in the peloton yourself," Tas said in a team press release.

"Over the past few weeks, I've been training hard, and fortunately, everything has gone well. I feel ready to start racing again, and I'm really looking forward to wearing the Lotto Intermarche kit for the first time," she added.

Her years of speed skating endurance are likely to help her in transitioning smoothly as she gets ready for her debut in a UCI Women's WorldTour race. "Making my debut in such a prestigious race is a real honour. I'm sure it will be an invaluable experience for me," she said.

Cycling has been a part of Tas' life for a long time, serving as both a cultural influence in Belgium and a training tool for her skating career. "I grew up with cycling: the Tour of Flanders was always a big day at home," she said in a recent interview.

Since turning her attention to road racing in 2021, Tas has shown steady improvement, climbing from modest beginnings at the national championships to a top-10 finish in 2025. Along the way, she secured the Elite 2 national title in 2024 and followed it up with a silver medal the next year.

Despite her achievements, Tas stays mindful of the challenges involved in the sport. "I still have a lot to learn, how to move within a pack, and about positioning," she said.

As she prepares for a new challenge, Tas plans to leverage her competitive instincts and endurance to establish herself in cycling, following an already successful career on the ice.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Her endurance from speed skating will definitely be a huge asset. It's fascinating to see athletes cross over like this. Hope she does well, though the peloton dynamics will be a new challenge entirely.
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Rohit P
Fourth place by 0.13 seconds... that must hurt. But kudos to her for channeling that energy into a new sport. Shows true champion spirit. All the best to Sandrine!
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Sarah B
While I admire her courage, I hope the team is managing expectations. Transitioning to a WorldTour race directly is a massive jump. The learning curve in the pack is steep and safety is paramount. Wishing her a safe and successful debut.
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Meera T
This is so cool! Growing up with cycling culture definitely gives her an edge. Reminds me of how many Indian kids grow up with cricket but excel in other sports later. Go Sandrine!
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David E
Her humility is refreshing. "I still have a lot to learn" – that's the right attitude to have. The physical engine is there from skating, now it's about race craft. Will be interesting to follow her progress.

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