Annemiek van Vleuten announces retirement for 2023

The Dutch veteran announced this morning that she has renewed with Movistar for another season, and at the end of 2023 she will be ending her long career on the road.

Van Vleuten is set to start the Giro Donne tomorrow, and will also be eyeing strongly the Tour de France Femmes during this summer. She has, since the early 2010's, been one of the peloton's most dominant riders, something which has been most prominent in the last few seasons. Having wins at both World Championships, La Course by Tour de France, Strade Bianche, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and Olympic time-trial title and countless other wins throughout her career.

“My career, my driving force as a professional athlete, has always been about improving, not winning. Refining every physical ability or mental aspect on the bike, both as an individual and together with the team I’m part of, is what really gives me energy," van Vleuten said in a press release. “I’d like to contribute a bit more to the team’s improvement, just like I’ve done with the Movistar Team for the past two years, in 2023," she informed with a renewal. 

Her career will be ending in the finale of next year, after becoming a pro in 2008. “Individual-wise, I didn’t feel like stopping right now – I’m still super motivated, while also aware that there will be a moment when I’ll have to stop. And it suits me better to stop when I’m still at my highest level, playing the game at the front in the biggest events. I just want to finish on a high, and doing it with this wonderful group of people feels like the right thing to do," the 39-year old said.