Daniela Hezinova: Finding her feet in the World Tour

Talkative, outgoing and eager to learn – Daniela has thrown herself feet and cleats first into her time so far with Team Picnic PostNL.

The now 19-year-old made the big jump straight out of the junior ranks to the World Tour at the start of the season. In what can be a performance and results orientated sport, it is crucial that for the younger riders they are given the space to grow and make mistakes, as they make the transition physically to competing against elite women riders who have been battling at the top of the sport for a decade.

Now, three months into her time with us, we wanted to catch up with Daniela to find out how she is handling the transition and reflect on her opening part of the year.

A longer relationship than it seems

Daniela’s relationship with Team Picnic PostNL already started earlier in 2023 as a second year U17 rider when, thanks to the team’s cooperation with Grouwels-Watersley R&D Road Team, she was able to then join one of the most prominent junior outfits in the sport for 2024. An added bonus is that they also happen to be based a 15-minute bike ride away from the team’s Keep Challenging Center in Sittard!

“Through my old team we did some technique training and tactical planning workshops with the team in 2025, and then also did a recon of Ronde van Vlaanderen and Liège-Bastogne-Liège with Hans [Team Picnic PostNL Scouting Coordinator]. That was really cool to experience and get to see how the team already worked, and hopefully it even comes in use this year!”

From there, it wasn’t long after that when Daniela’s contract was announced, and she was soon heading to the team’s HQ in Deventer in October for some fittings and measurements.

“That moment when I headed to the HQ was pretty amazing, with all the custom fittings and meeting lots of new people. It was really like a ‘wow, I’m actually here, this is it’ kind of feeling.”

Of course, that feeling was mixed with a bit of nervous excitement too but that all-in and embrace everything nature that Daniela has carried her through to team camps in December and January where she got to meet the rest of her teammates for the first time.

“December camp was nice because it was a bit relaxed and it was the first time we were all together, also with the Men’s program too, so it was exciting meeting a lot of new people. I think we all clicked pretty well, and I was super happy about that, and the atmosphere was good too.

“In January, it was more intimate because we had a smaller group there with quite a few of the girls already away to Australia for the racing, but it meant we could get to know each other even better. I was recovering from a bit of an injury, so I didn’t do all the testing but still managed the 20-minute and the lactate test.

“It wasn’t my best effort, but at least it means I have a bigger improvement next time,” she laughs.

“It felt like juniors again, just 100 watts more”

The camps were done, injuries recovered from and training had resumed in full swing and before she knew it, Daniela was lining up on the 12^th of February at Setmana Ciclista Valenciana, pinning on her first race numbers as a professional rider.

“I knew my shape was still on the rise because it was only a few weeks after I started training properly again, but I was super excited to start racing again – especially at this level.”

“For me, the big step up from juniors to elite is obviously performance wise. The bunch still behaves quite similarly to in the juniors, especially in Valencia when it was everyone’s first race of the year, so it was more chaotic. It felt like juniors again, just 100 watts more.”

Learning from those around her

The support structure naturally has also grown for Daniela too and that’s something she’s getting used to, taking advantage of the expertise and information available to her.

“Everything is new for me basically. For example, I only started doing strength and conditioning training last year, so I’ve got some help from the team doing that and made steps there. Or with nutrition and making sure that I’m properly fuelling on and off the bike and getting in the right dietary supplements too.

“There are some big steps to be made and, on the bike, I feel like I learn every day. In every race there is something that happens which I can learn from. Of course, I make mistakes but I’m comfortable in doing that and it’s good that people then tell me so I know where I can get better and how to improve.”

A home away from home – Staying at the KCC

One of the perks of our Women’s program is that the riders can stay at the Keep Challenging Center, our elite sports campus and facilities, in Sittard. There, they can take advantage of having some staff members close at hand but also living closely with their teammates to create an even better bond: something that Daniela is taking full advantage of.

“I’ve lived in Sittard for two years already with my previous team, so I already know the area which is handy.

“I like that all of us who are living or staying there can go out and do our training together, but that we can also spend some time together off the bike too: go for a coffee in town, go shopping, or watch something at the cinema.

“We’ve already made it a nice way of living here and can just do the little things that make you happy.”

Throughout the season, whoever is at the KCC naturally changes with riders away at racing, in different parts of the world for whatever reason, but so far Daniela has built up a nice connection with Josie and Robyn.

“The three of us have been there for quite some time now so I would say I’m pretty close with them. But whenever someone else comes we just grow as a family. Mia arrived a few days ago and we went to the cinema together, and now Megan is spending some time here too so she’s joining us as well.”

Looking to the future

It’s clear when speaking to her that Daniela has a wise head on her young shoulders and uses each day as a possible moment to learn and grow. Something which is an invaluable skillset when making the rather daunting leap from juniors to elite racing.

With a few more Belgian races on the menu in the upcoming period, Daniela is excited to continue to test herself in the professional bunch.

“I feel like I’m finally catching up again after the injury at the start of the year and I’ve started to feel good on the bike. So in the next races I want to be able to stay in the peloton and help the team for longer and in a better way. It’s all about gaining experience, which so far has been amazing and helpful for the future.”

Like in the interview we did with Frits, we ended the conversation with Daniela by asking her that if we spoke to her again in three months’ time, what would she have hoped to achieve.

Living up to the opening part of this section, Daniela pondered and reflected a bit before answering:

“Hmmm, that’s an interesting question. For me, of course it’s not about results at the moment and I don’t have any pressure from the team on that. It’s about staying there longer, doing my job better and just getting more settled and comfortable in the peloton in a more consistent way. Hopefully of course I can also grow on the bike too, keep learning from everyone around me and keep challenging.”

With that mindset and determination, taking things step-by-step, and having the freedom to make mistakes and learn, we’re looking forward to seeing where Daniela can go in this sport over the coming years.