Annemiek van Vleuten's age a hurdle in the way of replicating 2022 success - "My efforts of between two and four minutes are not like before"

Annemiek Van Vleuten aims to have her final season in the peloton be on par with the success she experienced in 2022, where she secured wins in all three grand tours. However, due to her age and the consequent decline in physical prowess, replicating that level of success may prove to be a formidable task this year.

The beginning of her season was marked by her participation in Setmana Ciclista-Volta Comunitat Valenciana Fèmines last week, where she achieved a 4th place finish in the General Classification and a bronze medal in the third stage. Upon completion of the event, she shared her reflections with her fans through her blog. “I became a long-effort runner,” she wrote.

She continues, “My efforts of between two and four minutes are not like before, I am less explosive than in the past and that is partly because of my age and partly because I became a stage lap rider. So explosiveness is lost.”

In the previous season, she made the announcement that she would retire after 2023, despite her coach having a differing perspective. In her opinion, it is optimal to conclude her career while at the pinnacle of her achievements. She is scheduled to participate in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad this weekend.

“We have been training again. It is good to not lose motivation in my last campaign. My coach told me that it is a shame that I am leaving because I have a margin, and we are just starting to work together. But all this can be useful to me tomorrow, "concluded van Vleuten.