Marianne Vos passes the torch as she foregoes Cyclocross World Championships

Marianne Vos has been cyclocross World Champion on several occasions, and in early 2023 she looked to add another title to her palmarès but that won't be happening. The reigning World Champion won't be present in Hoogerheide. 

“It is a great pity that things are going this way. I would have loved to see it differently, but treatment and recovery are a priority to hopefully start the road season without complaints," Vos said in a press release. She took the rainbow jersey last year in Fayetteville but was unable to repeat her performance this winter, largely due to a blocking of a pelvic artery.

She rode to victory at the X2O Trofee Kortrijk back in November, but her performances began lowering over the months. With an health issue identified, it has proven to be a bad decision to continue the pursuit of her best form. The Dutch have little to worry about however as Fem van Empel and Puck Pieterse are set to fight for the title. "Of course I hope that the rainbow jersey stays within the team and hangs on Fem van Empel's shoulders next year," he continued.

Team national coach Gerben de Knegt has shared the disappointment, commenting: "It is a great pity that Marianne was unable to reach her high level of last year this winter and is now unable to defend her world title. I fully understand her choice to focus on her road season now. Because her starting spot as defending champion was a named starting spot, I can't have her place filled by someone else."