"Because of her, the rest work harder" - Why Annemiek van Vleuten's disappointing final year as a pro shows the progress of women's cycling

Whilst Annemiek van Vleuten's final year in the women's World Tour peloton has so far been a bit of a disappointment. Jonas Heyerick and Jonas Creteur believe it shows the growth and improvement of women's cycling.

"Demi Vollering herself said that van Vleuten has in fact challenged the peloton to work even more," says Creteur on the Sporza podcast De Tribune. "Vollering says she worked more because she had the motivation to beat van Vleuten in her final year. If van Vleuten had ridden the same year as last year and Vollering only started winning next year, they would have said that van Vleuten is not there."

Indeed the domination of Demi Vollering, Lotte Kopecky and the Team SD Worx set-up means that the 40-year-old Dutchwoman is still looking for a farewell victory. "She has lived like a king for years. If the others have seen that and take an example from it, then they can only grow in their sport," Heyerick continues. "If you win everything and you are going to change your approach at the age of 40... That is not necessary. Maybe she needed some renewal after all these years. But I would say: keep it up the way you've been doing it for years."

She had hired the biochemist of marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge. Whatever a biochemist may be?" Creteur agrees. "She started training more on explosiveness with that man... But apparently, that didn't work out," he concludes.