Manon Bakker : "I notice that the good feeling is starting to come back"

Crelan-Fristads rider Manon Bakker concluded the year with a bronze in the Exact Cross Loenhout.

She has established herself as one of the peloton's most valuable riders after a great performance in the last cross. “The last few weeks, I notice that the good feeling is starting to come back,' Bakker told In de Leiderstrui.

She looks back on her performance. “It rained a lot, but the course is not as bad as I expected. I think mainly the wind will play a big role. The course suits me. Especially those two bars just before the finish, I really like that. Then I can really make the most of the advantage I have with jumping the bars.”

Aspiring to compete in World Championships, she worries whether she will make the cut. “You just never know if you will be allowed to go. That is one thing. You only hear that just before the World Championships actually take place. Of course, you really work towards the WC,” said Bakker.

As for her goal in 2023, she remains focused on the cross but will also ride a few road races. “Everything revolves around the cross. I do enjoy riding on the road, but preferably not too much. I am also the type of rider who gets few chances in road cycling. A Roubaix is also only once a year. And those are just the races I really need to do well in. I also like fan races. But there are only a few. So I prefer to focus completely on the cross every year,” concluded the Dutchwoman.