There will be no Marianne Vos at Sunday's Tour of Flanders. Her team, Visma | Lease a Bike, announced that the 38-year-old rider is skipping the Flemish Monument to be with her family following the recent passing of her father, Henk.
A heartbreaking loss
It had been known for some time that Henk Vos's health was declining. Back in mid-January, Vos announced that she would delay the start of her 2026 racing season, and she also skipped the winter cyclo-cross campaign entirely because she wanted to remain close to him during his illness.
Following his passing last week, Visma | Lease a Bike confirmed that their star rider would understandably be taking time away from the peloton to mourn with her loved ones.
"Vos will not start, because she is with her family after her father passed away last week," the Dutch team said in an official statement. "We wish Marianne and her loved ones all the strength and support they need during this difficult time."
Just one of Marianne Vos’s 258 professional career victories
An interrupted spring campaign
Because of her father's health, Vos's season started significantly later than usual. She ultimately made her 2026 road debut on March 7 at Strade Bianche, where she secured a highly respectable seventh place. A week later, she lined up at the Trofeo Alfredo Binda, finishing sixth.
While she was initially scheduled to compete in Milan-Sanremo and Dwars door Vlaanderen, those races were ultimately scratched from her program. Now, the Tour of Flanders has also been removed from her calendar.
Despite this latest withdrawal, Vos remains on the start list for Paris-Roubaix on April 12th and the Amstel Gold Race on April 19th. Later in the year she is also scheduled to race the Vuelta, starting May 3rd, and the Tour de France, starting August 1st. For now, though, racing can wait.
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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