Sarah Rijkes

Sarah Rijkes (born 2 April 1991) is a former Austrian professional racing cyclist, who last rode for UCI Women's Continental Team . She is an all-rounder with a preference for hilly stage races.

Career Born in Waidhofen an der Ybbs, Rijkes came to competitive cycling through her Dutch father. As her first Elite racing team she joined the Austrian ARBÖ Löffler Ladies Team from her hometown Waidhofen an der Ybbs, where her mother worked as a team official. Her first professional team was the Austrian outlet Squadra Scappatella, which she joined in 2013. Only a few months after the season started, Rijkes suffered a major setback as she crashed heavily at the Tour of Chongming Island world cup race in China and missed almost the entire season, not returning to racing before September. Despite her unlucky season, Rijkes managed to get her first professional contract abroad in 2014 when she joined the team in Belgium. During her time at , she also rode as a guest rider for several other teams. After two years, Rijkes stayed in Belgium, this time signing for in 2016.

Rijkes competed for Austria in the road races of the 2015 UCI Road World Championships in Richmond, where she did not finish, and the 2016 UCI Road World Championships in Doha, where she finished 63rd.

Personal life Rijkes has a Dutch surname with her father being from the Netherlands. She is fluent in Dutch. Besides her career in professional cycling she is currently also studying biology.

Major results 2008 3rd Time trial, National Junior Road Championships 2009 2nd Time trial, National Junior Road Championships 2011 2nd Time trial, National Under-23 Road Championships 2012 2nd Time trial, National Under-23 Road Championships 2014 National Road Championships 4th Time trial 5th Road race 2016 3rd Road race, National Road Championships 2018

2019 National Road Championships 3rd Time trial 5th Road race 9th V4 Ladies Series - Restart Zalaegerszeg 2020 National Road Championships 2nd Road Race 4th Time trial 2021 4th Road race, National Road Championships 2022 4th Road race, National Road Championships 6th Visegrad 4 Ladies Series - Hungary 10th Visegrad 4 Ladies Race Slovakia