Marianne Vos appears ready to put up a fight at the Cyclocross World Championships: "I am fourth now, but that does not say everything"

Cyclocross
Tuesday, 21 January 2025 at 09:00
mariannevos

Many would know Marianne Vos as a road peloton legend, but it should not be forgotten that the 37-year-old Dutchwoman is also an eight-time cyclocross world champion. Vos took the last of her titles in 2022 and afterwards gradually disappeared from the cross scene to focus more on the rapidly growing quality of the women's road cycling.

And so it came as quite a surprise when she declared attack on ninth world title this winter after nearly two full years without any starts on the muddy courses. The World Cup Benidorm was only Vos' third cyclocross start this winter, but she is yet to finish outside the top-5. Nevertheless she hasn't conquered the podium either as fourth place was her maximum in Benidorm.

However, there was no disappointment afterwards. "I am happy with the feeling in this cross and with where I am now. I am fourth now, but that does not say everything. You cannot compare crosses with each other, but I am happy with the feeling," Vos told WielerFlits after the Spanish "criterium cross".

In general, Vos is satisfied with how the race went, but does she also believe in a ninth World Championship title? "Gosh, well... I think you can see that Fem van Empel has everything under control," she refers to the course of the race in Benidorm when her younger teammate and current World champion showed no signs of weakness as she dominated the race. "And also that Lucinda Brand is in good shape. Puck Pieterse was not there and Ceylin (del Carmen Alvarado, ed.) definitely belongs there too."

"They have been in charge for a long time for a reason. Behind them, things are close together and perhaps - on a good day - you can do well," Vos concludes, hinting that her more realistic ambition is to go for a top-5 result, maybe a podium - rather than to fight for the rainbow.

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