"Not interesting if only one team is winning" - Annemiek van Vleuten wants Team SD Worx dominance brought to an end in 2024

Although 2024, marks the first year in a long time that Annemiek van Vleuten won't be present in the women's peloton, the legendary Dutch woman will remain a keen viewer from home.

Viewing women's cycling from a fan's eye however, van Vleuten has concerns. "In general, it worries me that next year [2024], it should not be the same again. It's not about SD Worx, and it's more about other teams that should look at themselves about their tactics and about the riders they have," she says in quotes collected by Cycling News. "It's important that women's cycling remains interesting and if it's again what we had so far, that they win that much, maybe it won't be so interesting."

Van Vleuten competed against Team SD Worx in recent seasons, taking wins but also suffering defeats against the likes of Lotte Kopecky and Demi Vollering. "The riders also choose to be together all in one team, it's working really well for SD Worx, so I cannot blame them, but other teams need to have a look to challenge them a bit more," van Vleuten says.

"When I'm watching on the couch, I want to watch interesting races, it's also not interesting for me if only one team is winning," she concludes. "SD Worx are good at poker, and I have to shout out to them because they are good at the poker game. It may be time for the other teams to play the poker, too. It would be more smart."