"She has been sick many times over the past winter" - Blanka Kata Vas has winter difficulties justified by Lars Boom

Kata Blanka Vas delivered very early on in 2021-2022 in the Cyclocross season with a debut win in the Overijse World Cup but has since struggled to keep her performances at the same level, going through the 2022-2023 with some inconsistency and difficulties. 

“She has been sick many times over the past winter. This has an effect on your condition and results. It's hard to see, because there's a lot more to it than what's coming out now," SD Worx team manager Lars Boom told the CROSS podcast. "We will have to adjust some things for next year, and try to stay healthy. Then the results will come naturally. Next year we want to expand the number of crosses and maybe ride a fixed classification.”

Vas had enormous potential coming into the season, specially as Fem van Empel, Puck Pieterse and Shirin van Anrooij took the step to rule over the winter. Vas failed to take that step however, and has struggled to achieve big results throughout the years as she faced illnesses throughout the winter.

“There is nothing structurally wrong. She has trained hard and is also working hard to get better. But if you are sick in an important period, there is a conditional relapse," Boom continued. "Because of this she also misses the rhythm of riding a cross every week. It is also extremely difficult with the presence of Van Empel, Pieterse and Van Anrooij. If you don't take the step yourself, or don't have the condition, it will also play in your head. And then you are further away from home.”

Vas won the Nacht van Woerden and the National Championships this year, however a lower level in comparison to last season. She finished on the podium of the European Championships however has since not been able to finish on the podium of a race alongside the big guns.

“It is also important that riders can create a feeling of home in the world in which they have to perform. It is important to limit travel movements as much as possible. We are now looking at what we can do about it," Boom explains. "You would actually like Blanka to be able to be here [in Belgium] in the winter, that you just have a house where you can stay in as standard. That would be the best.”