02/04/2023

SD Worx presents major challenge for Annemiek Van Vleuten at Tour of Flanders: "I know I wasn't good enough in the Strade Bianche to follow them, but every race is different"

In a comprehensive blog entry on her personal website, Annemiek van Vleuten shared her thoughts on the Tour of Flanders. The reigning world champion is set to compete in the historic race for the last time before hanging up her cycle for good at the end of the season.

“After just under a month on Tenerife, I am back on mainland Europe. Next Sunday is the Tour of Flanders, my first race of a new block,” Van Vleuten wrote. She continues, “That will be a block that I kind of see through to the Vuelta a Espana. That's what I've been at altitude for and that does work through to then. I was able to run a good training camp and I think I was definitely able to kick it up a notch. I'm curious to see what the result is and I'm looking forward to racing again.”

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Her last season is not turning out to be a success as she has been unable to secure a victory. Adding to the disappointment, she is only two victories away from reaching the remarkable milestone of 100 wins. “Sunday might be a bit of 'how a cow catches a hare'. I have obviously followed the competitions in recent weeks and SD Worx is overwhelmingly the strongest block at the moment, with Marlen Reusser, Demi Vollering and Lotte Kopecky showing a very high level. I know I wasn't good enough in the Strade Bianche to follow them, but every race is different and I'm also better, so I'm going to Flanders in good spirits,” writes the Dutchwoman.

Her main hurdle will be SD Worx and while she has already a plan for that we will have to wait to know what it is. “Of course I'm not going to give away my tactics, but I'd rather not get caught in the pincer again by an outnumbered SD Worx, although there is quite a chance of that. We need to forge a plan to see how we can squeeze out of that, but that will certainly not be easy in Flanders with a team so dominant,” concluded van Vleuten.