Simac Ladies Tour to be final ride of Annemiek van Vleuten's legendary career

After she revealed on Thursday that the World Championships in Glasgow would not be the final race of her career, the legendary Annemiek van Vleuten has now gone into further details, explaining that the Simac Ladies Tour in September will bring her career to a close.

"My cycling career is almost over, but not quite yet. With the Tour de France behind us, the road race of the world championships in Glasgow is scheduled for Sunday," the 40-year-old writes on her official website. "I close my career with two international multi-day competitions; the Tour of Scandinavia and the Simac Ladies Tour 'in-house'."

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One of the most successful sportswomen of all time, to list all of van Vleuten's achievements would require a whole page of its own. Her highlights though include 103 professional wins with four Rainbow Jerseys - two in the time-trial, two in the road race - and multiple Grand Tours.

"The Tour de France was a goal I really lived towards. Once home you feel a bit like a balloon deflating. I realized that it was the very last goal that I completely committed myself to and worked towards," she continues. "That is something I have always enjoyed doing. Make a plan and try to get my best possible level. I have to say that for the Tour that actually worked out, except that I had something under the members the last two days. The first six days were great."

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"The tears I showed after the final time trial were also because I realized before the Tour that that race was my very last major goal, which I worked towards. I came home with that mix of emotions," van Vleuten explains. "I think it's a nice way to say goodbye, where I can also enjoy it. In the Tour de France you are so focused because you are focused on all kinds of things. That's why I just like to ride two more races that I can enjoy without stress. But first, the World Championship!"

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