Shirin van Anrooij will reduce her cyclocross schedule to better prepare for classics: "I really want to discover what else I can do there"

Shirin van Anrooij was one of the revelations of the cyclo-cross season last season, including three World Cup victories and the U23 world title. However, next winter she will do things differently. She told WielerFlits that she is making significant cuts in her competition program to prepare better for road season and especially the classics.

The Lidl-Trek rider looked back on Saturday afternoon at the European Road Championships with mixed feelings. But anyone who thinks that the 21-year-old Dutchwoman is going on holiday after a long road season - which started in mid-March - is wrong. "I'm not going to do anything for a few days and then I'll start cross-training again. I will start straight away in Beringen. This will be followed by the World Cup in Waterloo. That's because it is at the Trek factory," she laughs.

After that, Van Anrooij will take a break for a well-deserved holiday. "I won't start cross country again until December. Actually, for the first time ever I have a really long off-season and a normal build-up to the road season. This way I want to be able to focus a little more on the classics next year. Is this pre-sorting leading to a complete switch to the road? No, I never think that, to be honest. I took a step on the road this past season. I really want to discover what else I can do there. Then this investment is necessary."

Van Anrooij hopes that her choice will pay off on the road next year. "I will be riding twelve or thirteen crosses this winter. That will be a busy Christmas period and then exactly the right build-up to the World Chamionships in Tábor, to hopefully be very good there. What does Sven think of my plan? He has a bit of mixed feelings, I think. But on the other hand, he understands it very well. He is very happy that I will continue to ride at least a number of races for the team."