"They move on without me and I don't like that" - Realisation of retirement hits Annemiek Van Vleuten hard

Annemiek Van Vleuten will be a notable absentee from the women's World Tour in 2024. The legendary Dutchwoman has called an end to her storied career and the realisation of retirement has hit her hard.

"Since this week I have realised: I am no longer one of the top athletes. They now move on. Without me. And I don't like that very much," the former Movistar Team rider reflects in a candid interview with NRC. "I've sometimes wondered if I would miss all that attention. This season I agreed with myself that I would enjoy photo shoots and media appearances even more. But I soon thought: I don't think I'm enjoying this. Attention was never a driving force."

Instead of being in the media attention, it's rather that feeling of competition and the chance to be a role model for young girls that Van Vleuten will miss most of all. "What I will miss is that I no longer have a stage to inspire people. Like I showed at the World Championship that you can break your elbow on Wednesday and become world champion on Saturday," she explains.

"Thinking in possibilities. That's gone, and I'll miss not being able to be that leading woman anymore,” she continues, before refencing the parts she won't miss. "You want to be good and that causes stress. Every athlete is unsure: have I done enough? Is my weight in order, have I not accidentally gained weight? And then there's the stress of the match itself. I thought that was the worst."

"It got worse for me over the years," Van Vleuten concludes. "That's why this is also a good time to stop. I noticed that my risk appetite went down. Always fighting for your place in the peloton became increasingly distasteful to me. Cycling is a sport of being at the front at the right time. To position yourself well for a narrow road, a climb, you have to take risks. Risks that someone who has not cycled cannot imagine. I've been scared, especially this last year.”