“Many cyclists have a difficult relationship with food" - Annemiek Van Vleuten reflects on career difficulties as final bow nears

The legendary career of Annemiek van Vleuten is nearing its conclusion. The Dutchwoman is currently riding her farewell race at the Simac Ladies Tour and has been reflecting on her time in the women's World Tour peloton.

“I'm not necessarily a climber by nature. In ten years' time, someone like me will no longer be able to win the Tour de France, because there will be so many specialists," the 40-year-old Movistar Team rider, with a grand total of 104 career wins, tells NOS. "Actually, I'm more of a Flandrien. I am built a bit wider. For a Tour de France I unnaturally have to look up my weight. That is still healthy, but it is not my balance weight. I have to focus very much on it. Weighing all my food for a while to reach the weight with which I can win the Tour.”

Widely regarded as the greatest rider of her generation, van Vleuten has an almost untouchable palmares after fifteen years competing at the highest level. It hasn't always been easy however. “Many cyclists have a difficult relationship with food. It's all around you. That temptation to eat. The more you limit yourself, the greater the need becomes. It's a 24-hour job."

"My relationship with it? I also find it a struggle. That, together with my injuries, is one of the not really fun aspects of cycling. That you always have to pay attention to it,” she admits. “That is difficult. I also see it with my male colleagues, who also suffer from it. Sometimes people don't talk about it because it is very difficult. You also have to eat enough to perform well. If you don't do that, good performance is not possible. It's a very difficult balance.”