Anne-Marije Rook
storyteller.
Creating Fandom, Fostering Nerdom.
I'm a journalist first: an interviewer, writer and editor with 21 years in media. I've also led communications, PR and editorial strategy for brands and audiences that care deeply about what they do, always with a multilingual, international perspective.
I cut my teeth in bustling newsrooms, where the coffee was always burnt and the clocks were constantly running out of time. That's where I fell in love with the thrill of a deadline, and with the power of words.
A reporter’s instinct. A strategist’s perspective.
I actually studied journalism. Got the degree and everything. And then, I spent two decades honing the craft.
I started as a newspaper reporter and never stopped being one. I’ve interviewed world leaders and world champions, founders and first-timers. I’ve covered politics, police blotters and city news, but found my specialty in sports, where health, economics, technology and politics all meet human stories. Along the way, I’ve become known for my technical knowledge of cycling and my expertise in women’s cycling.
That reporting instinct has shaped my work beyond journalism, too: setting editorial direction, leading nonprofit communications and helping outdoor and performance brands earn coverage in the international press. Whatever the role, I’m looking for the story that matters and a reason for people to care.
Most recently, I led editorial and communications strategy for the North American arm of a global enthusiast title. Before that, I founded an award-winning digital publication, managed PR for outdoor and performance brands, and led communications for the largest active transportation nonprofit in the U.S.
I’m also a former elite endurance athlete and still spend my free time on gravel roads, bikepacking routes and mountains. That’s given me an insider’s ear for enthusiast audiences: what they trust, what they ignore and what makes them care.
Three disciplines, one craft.
Journalism & reporting
Twenty-one years of finding the story and telling it well.
- In-depth interviews that earn trust and get past the talking points
- Human-interest features that put the reader in the room
- Clear, accurate coverage of technical subjects and products
- Fast, prolific writing on deadline, from news to long-form
- Deep subject expertise, event coverage, podcasts and commentary
Editorial leadership
Setting the voice and the standard for a publication.
- Editorial strategy, calendars and audience growth
- Commissioning, editing and mentoring writers
- Line editing and copy editing, from web to print and books
- SEO, editorial budgets and AI workflows
- Cross-border collaboration with international teams
Communications & PR
I know what editors want because I've been the editor.
- Media relations, product launches and press releases
- International placements across the U.S., UK, Germany and Japan
- Brand voice, messaging and content strategy
- Crisis communications and stakeholder relations
- Ambassador, athlete and influencer programs
Career
From North American Editor to Communications Director, Account Manager and Podcast Host, I've worn many hats.
Career details on LinkedIn ↗Bylines worth reading.
"A bit of a sh*tshow": What recon day looks like at the UCI Road World Championships
Riding the crowded, technical Montréal circuit alongside the world's best during course reconnaissance.
"Your greatest competitors are also your greatest motivation": the Kasia-Demi rivalry continues
Two rivals on losing, respect and what drives them after a world title decided between them.
The Enve Melee 2 is the race bike Enve wishes it had built for TotalEnergies
A product launch read through the story of a brand's pro team partnership.
Chloé Dygert's stickers, the illusion of sports neutrality and why we report on them both
Explaining an editorial decision to readers, and questioning sport's claim to political impartiality.
4kg: the weight of a double standard
A champion climbed into history, and the conversation turned to her body.
Breaking Away
One cyclist's escape from communist Poland, through an Austrian refugee camp, to America.
An exclusive sit-down with Rapha founder Simon Mottram
How a frustration with a niche sport became a global brand.
I went on a press trip for a $1,399 bike. Here's why that's a big deal
What a launch event says about where a category is headed.
Why Red Bull Rampage is the most terrifying, awe-inspiring bike event on the planet
On-site reporting from the edge of the desert cliffs.
991km, one yellow jersey and $10,000 in debt
Marianne Martin and the first women's Tour de France in 1984.
Digging for Bravery
How Katie Holden's dream brought women to Red Bull Rampage.
I rode the 352-mile Unbound XL gravel race so you don't have to
A full day and night in the saddle, reported from inside the race.
Podcasts
- QueenStage · inclusive coverage of women's cycling, its athletes and its big moments
- Off the Back · Cycling Weekly's podcast on racing, gravel, gear and industry news
- Lez Have a Baby · two moms answer frank questions about queer conception and pregnancy
Books
- CX Fever by Maghalie Rochette · main editor, 2025
- Cyclocross photo books by Balint Hamvas · writing, editing, translation, 2019–2021
- The Road Book · writing, editing, translation, 2017–2018
- Cyclephotos CX coffee table books · writing, 2016–2018
Full archives
- Cycling Weekly author page · 2022–2026
- Velo / CyclingTips byline · hundreds of stories, 2015–2018
- Also published in CyclingNews, Rouleur, VeloNews, Singletracks and Hi Hey Hello