"I can leave the stage with my head held high" - Curtain comes down on Annemiek van Vleuten's legendary World Championship career

For the very last time in the legendary career of Annemiek van Vleuten, the Dutchwoman has crossed the line at a World Championships, finishing eighth in her final crack at the Rainbow Jersey in Glasgow.

Unable to retain her World Championship title in what would have been a fairy tale ending, van Vleuten finished nearly three minutes down on the eventual winner Lotte Kopecky, passing on the Rainbow Jersey to her Belgian rival.

“I was better than expected. Many favourites had already been eliminated," said van Vleuten in her post-race interview. After a cruel puncture took her out of the running for victory, the 40-year-old was able to enjoy the final few kilometres however, soaking in the adulation of the crowd. “I really enjoyed my last kilometre. "Of course, I had a flat tire on the last lap and before that I had already stopped twice. It was a miracle that I came back. That didn't work the last time. I can be bummed about that, because I was in a good situation with Demi. That's why it's a shame that I have a puncture, but I can't control that. I can quickly accept that. My final lap really gave me goosebumps.”

"Now I can leave the World Cup stage with my head held high. It's a wrap!" she adds before praising the new world champion, Kopecky. “She was the number 1 favorite for me. I've thought that since the Tour, and she rode very easily on the track too. She is a very deserved world champion. We had to play our numbers. If I could stay with it, things could turn out differently.”