In a move that’s turning heads across both triathlon and cycling communities, Maya Kingma, the 29-year-old Dutch Olympic triathlete, is making an unprecedented career pivot. Forget the Tour de France—the real action this season centers on whether an elite triathlete can survive the punishing demands of a Grand Tour as Kingma prepares for her Giro d’Italia debut.
This isn’t just a casual crossover. The two-time Olympian who finished 11th in Tokyo is abandoning the swim and run disciplines that have defined her career to focus exclusively on professional cycling with EF Education-Oatly, a UCI Women’s World Tour team known for embracing unconventional talent.
Olympic triathlete takes on Grand Tour
Kingma brings impressive credentials to her new venture. With a World Triathlon Series win in Leeds under her belt, she possesses the cardiovascular engine and mental toughness essential for elite cycling. However, the question remains: will these attributes transfer effectively to the unique demands of stage racing?
The Giro challenge
The Giro d’Italia Women, scheduled from July 6-13, will test Kingma’s adaptation to professional cycling’s complex ecosystem. Unlike the relatively controlled environment of triathlon, she’ll face the challenges on the Giro d’Italia stages race that include team tactics, positioning battles, and the grueling recovery between consecutive days of competition.
What makes Kingma’s transition particularly fascinating is her attraction to cycling’s strategic elements. She’s drawn to the calculated chaos of a Giro stage, where success depends not only on physical prowess but also on tactical acumen and split-second decision-making.
Her preparation has been methodical and intense. In 2024, Kingma logged over 594 hours on her bike, dedicating 55% of her training time to developing cycling-specific endurance. Beyond physical conditioning, she’s immersing herself in the nuances of peloton dynamics and the technical aspects of a Giro stage sprint masterclass.
From individual sport to team dynamics
EF Education-Oatly isn’t expecting immediate victories from Kingma. They’ve strategically positioned her as a valuable domestique—a support rider who will shield their general classification contenders from wind resistance and deliver them to critical sections of each stage in optimal condition.
The contrasts between triathlon and road cycling are stark. While both require exceptional endurance, cycling demands sustained effort over multiple days rather than intense bursts. Team tactics replace individual strategy, and cycling-specific skills like cornering and descending become crucial.
A bold experiment with far-reaching implications
Expert opinions on Kingma’s chances remain divided. Skeptics point to the vast differences between the disciplines, questioning whether she can adapt to the peloton’s cutthroat environment. Optimists see her exceptional fitness and fresh perspective as potential advantages that could disrupt conventional racing approaches.
Whether Kingma succeeds or struggles, her daring transition represents something larger than individual achievement. It challenges perceived limitations between sporting disciplines and may inspire a new generation of athletes to pursue unconventional paths.
Conclusion
Maya Kingma’s Giro d’Italia debut transcends typical sports narratives—it’s a high-stakes experiment in human potential and athletic adaptability. As July approaches, both triathlon enthusiasts and cycling fans worldwide will be watching closely to see if an Olympic-caliber triathlete can successfully navigate the complex world of Grand Tour racing.
The ultimate question isn’t simply whether Kingma can survive the Giro, but whether she might redefine what’s possible at the intersection of these demanding endurance sports.
