Friday, the thirteenth: Sophie Von Berswordt-Wallrabe, debutant in the field with noble German family roots

Interview Every Friday at 1:13 p.m. in our winter section ‘Friday, the thirteenth’ you can read an interview with a cross or cyclo-cross rider who finished thirteenth in one of the previous weeks. This ranges from junior girls to elite men, from C2-cross to World Championships. What’s the story? This week the number thirteen of the X2O Trophy in Koksijde among the women’s elite: the Dutch Sophie Von Berswordt-Wallrabe.

The Flemish Duinencross was only the first cyclocross ever for Von Berswordt-Wallrabe in Belgium. In fact, she once rode one international cross. That was the EKZ CrossTour round in Meilen, Switzerland. She finished 24th. Exactly five years and two days later she was at the departure point in Koksijde.

“I have always really wanted to race, but the step to buy bikes and equipment was quite a big one; it was unaffordable,” she laughs. “When I joined Visma | Lease a Bike, I already said that I would really enjoy racing in the winter. And that’s exactly what they wanted, to work on my explosiveness. The team now facilitates everything, I am very happy with that.”

After some regional cyclo-cross races, she decided to register for a major cross. She immediately finished thirteenth in the sand classic. “Beyond expectations!” she says enthusiastically. “I was called up as the very, very last. There were almost seventy ladies at the start. It was quite a challenge to get through the suit.”

“There is hardly any room for that at the start, you have to run straight up those dunes. With cycling in your neck, calves and I know a lot everywhere. Then I thought: what have I gotten myself into?! But after that things went surprisingly well. I felt like I was miles behind. I didn’t want to leave because of the 80% arrangement and I succeeded!”

She then also rode in Gullegem (eleventh) and on Sunday she will start at the National Championships in Hoogeveen. “Then this little adventure, my mini-cross winter, ends. I did that together with my father, great fun. Next winter I hope to do even more cycling. Although I still have a lot to learn technically.”

Via the mountain bike to the road
Von Berswordt-Wallrabe’s story started on a mountain bike. In her youth she did this playfully and for social contacts at the cycling club Alcmaria Victrix. When she got older, that faded away and she stopped. It was only when she went to study at the University of Maastricht and went on some racing bike rides with the student association MSMWV Dutch Mountains that she discovered how beautiful it was to cycle there.

A while later she hired a trainer to try to make something of her last year as a promise on the mountain bike. “That worked out, because I finished sixth at the U23 World Cup and I won the National Championship. After that my mountain bike career really took off.”

In the following years she played for a Swiss professional team and competed in European and World Championships with the Dutch selection. She took bronze (2019) and silver (2021) at the National Cross Country Championships and won two national titles in the MTB discipline Marathon. She is still the reigning champion in this regard.

However, two broken collarbones in 2022 set her back far. “As a result, I lost a lot of UCI points. As a result, I did not get a contract extension, because the points also count for those teams. And if you don’t have that, you’re basically worthless, in quotes. I couldn’t find a contract for 2023, but I was still able to continue at Watersley. That was difficult, alone.”

Discovery tour at Visma | Lease a Bike
On October 23, 2023, the press release suddenly appeared that the MTB rider had signed with the Visma road team | Lease a Bike. “I got the chance to take a test through it. It quickly became apparent that they saw it in me. And I didn’t want to miss that opportunity. I really enjoy road cycling and had always decided that if mountain biking no longer gave me satisfaction, I would try it again on the road.”

“I didn’t have anything before 2024 and I’m also graduating this year. After that I want to be able to make a living from my sport. I once wanted to qualify for the Olympic Games on MTB. But the competition is now too strong for that.”

After considering all the considerations, she decided to fully pursue her road career. In that respect, 2024 is a true voyage of discovery. “I ride a full road program, because the combination with mountain biking is too difficult. I still want to run a few Marathons in red, white and blue, but that’s about it.”

“This year I am focusing on the Ardennes classics. That is close to my heart, from my home in Maastricht. I’ll start in the Tour of Valencia soon, then I’ll do Strade Bianche, which is a real one highlight. Then Paris-Roubaix, Amstel Gold Race, Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. I really can’t complain, because I really think this is a wonderful program!”

From German nobility, but then again not
Anyone who sees the surname of the former mountain bike star might think she is married. That is not the case, but the story behind her name is special. Von Berswordt-Wallrabe is of German noble descent. “It’s a bit complicated,” she laughs.

“My grandfather is of German nobility, but my father is not his biological son. So I do have the name, just not the same bloodline. Half my family is German and it is indeed a noble family. That means my family has an estate in Germany. But because I’m not of the bloodline, I don’t notice much of it. I have no title. I think there is a legacy from my grandfather, but that’s it.”

However, she does value her special surname. If she ever gets married, her future partner can forget that she takes a different surname. “I think so, haha. But I would actually like that anyway, whether I am noble or not. I always find it strange when female athletes achieve something under their maiden name, only to later be called something else. Why wouldn’t you keep your own name? That’s not difficult for me, I just want it.”

Good luck this weekend, men’s and women’s crossers. May the best win. And remember: thirteen is not always an unlucky number!

Read the other stories in the ‘Friday, the thirteenth’ section here