Annemiek van Vleuten makes no excuse for Strade Bianche Donne performance -"I wasn't good enough, and others were stronger"

The Strade Bianche Donne proved to be a bit of a letdown for Movistar's leader, Annemiek van Vleuten, who placed fifth and ended up more than two minutes behind the winner, Demi Vollering.

“There was never a moment of calm in the race,” she told Eurosport. She continues, "That was good for the audience, but I didn't play a part in the final."

She refrains from making any excuses for her underwhelming performance. "I wasn't good enough, and others were stronger. I had very good legs, but I made a big mistake. Because actually I was well placed all day, but I made a mistake in the place where I really wanted to. I was too far back.”

When the conversation turned to the horse on the course, she chuckled and found it amusing. Her next target will be Tour of Flanders. “That was really crazy. I was able to avoid him, but he didn't bother me. Now I'm going to Teide in Tenerife. I need to get a little better, although I think I was good. But you have to be super good to win in women's cycling. I am back for Flanders,” concluded van Vleuten.