Mien van Bree

Wilhelmina Elizabeth (Mien) van Bree (24 April 1915 – 4 August 1983) was a Dutch cyclist. She is considered a pioneer of women's cycling in the Netherlands.

Early years Van Bree was the fourth of five children in a horticultural family, the daughter of Adrianus van Bree (1878–1959) and Elizabeth Hendrika van Beek (1884–1952). She grew up in the Tramstraat, in Loosduinen, South Holland. Cycling was an early hobby for her. To train and test her speed, she chased after the buses. Her talent was noticed by neighbour Piet Moeskops, five-time sprint world champion (1921–1926). His compliments motivated her to further develop her cycling talent. In 1931, with some girlfriends, she founded the Hague women's cyclist club Vooruitgang Is Ons Streven (VIOS), one of the first Dutch women's cycling clubs. In the Netherlands in the 1930s, girls riding racing bikes was not considered respectable, but Mien van Bree didn't like that.

Career The Dutch Cycling Union did not allow bicycle races for women, so van Bree moved to Belgium, where women could race. In addition, she cycled early in the morning from Loosduinen to Belgium, to ride a race in the afternoon. She participated in sprint, long distance, couple and tandem races on the track. In 1934 she became third during the world cycling championship and in the years 1935–1937 she finished second. She was always beaten by the Belgian Elvire De Bruyne from Erembodegem.

Van Bree won her first victory in 1937 during the European Cycling Championships. In 1938, after a race of one hundred kilometers in Rocourt, she became world champion. She also extended her European title. A year later, she also extended her world title. During this time she was in a relationship with another rider, Maria Gaudens, who was also a rider.

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