"We could have done things differently" - Marianne Vos' chances of world title partly crushed by compatriot Demi Vollering

The Netherlands found themselves in a great situation into the final lap of the race but came out of it without a medal. Although Marianne Vos didn't have the best climbing legs, because of her early attack she was actually in a strong position to win the race... But the many attacks in the final kilometers made it impossible, and this included Demi Vollering's moves.

Vos was in a group of four entering the final lap with a minute over the peloton and had Riejanne Markus pace in the group for her. It was an almost ideal situation for the veteran, a former World Champion who found herself again in a position to do it. The gap was enough to go over the two main climbs still in the front of the race, with the main favourites behind arriving in very small groups.

"We could have done things differently indeed. I knew it would explode from behind. Up until a certain point, that was a good situation for us. When we are ahead, you know that you are putting pressure on the competition. That would be good for Demi," Vos says. 

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But Vollering wanted the title as well, and as has happened before in World or European championships, riders of the same team race for themselves. Vollering could not outsprint her rivals at the finish line in Zurich, and so she attempted to attack several times on the many small climbs. Her attacks dropped Vos, who wouldn't be able to return to the head of the race ahead.

In the end Vollering was the team's best, in fifth place. “That’s also the game. Of course we are disappointed too. We didn’t come here to fall off the podium. We did everything we could. In hindsight, you might have done it differently. That’s for sure". Vos was eighth at the finish line, sprinting in the first chasing group over a minute behind the winning group where Lotte Kopecky raised her arms in glory.

“I didn’t have legs left. The moment Demi goes and there are six gone, then it’s fingers crossed and hoping that it will work out. If you start analyzing, we will definitely see that there are points where we could have done it differently".

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"One thing is for sure: we fought all day" - Demi Vollering and Netherlands bring great legs but take no medal after Zurich tactical blunder

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