"It was great to be able to compete for the title": Marianne Vos just misses out on her second gravel rainbow jersey

The women's race at the 2025 Gravel World Championships in Limburg was swarming with home country representants, all aiming to do one thing - win the rainbow jersey. Among them was also defending champion Marianne Vos who came close to winning for a second year in a row. The 38-year-old was always in the center of action, but unable to get rid of the only rival she didn't want to have tag along - Lorena Wiebes.

The run up to the race wasn't smooth for the Dutch cycling legend. Concerned by her father's health issues, Vos gave up on a road World Championships participation in Kigali and only signed up for the gravel race on a whim.

"In terms of preparation, the last few weeks have been far from ideal, and I only just decided to participate, but it's a World Championship in my home country, and I'm happy to be here."

"Gravel is an emerging discipline, and I love that people of different levels come together here," she explained her choice to start in Limburg. "This discipline has a bright future ahead of it."

The race offered a fascinating battle with Orange jerseys in the center of attention. There have always been multiple compatriots of Vos at the front and the star herself caused several selections in the group on the Limburg hills. "The strongest rider in the race? I don't know, but I tried. I didn't have the strength left to make a difference. Then you know it's going to be tough. But yeah, it was definitely a beautiful race."

It was Vos' compatriot and cyclocross rival Shirin van Anrooij who managed to separate herself from main group with 10 kilometers to go and immediately gained an interesting lead as favourites behind looked at each other. Marianne Vos only had her eyes for Lorena Wiebes and viceversa. The lone Italian Silvia Persico was not going to relay either and the remaining Dutch ladies had not much left in their tanks.

The cards were laid out perfectly for Van Anrooij. If only the Czech rider Julia Kopecky who so happens to be trade teammate of Lorena Wiebes wasn't in the group as well. "I have to say that most of the work was done by the Czech rider, who was very strong," Vos said, referring to the 21-year-old's incredible effort. Kopecky kept the gap under 20 seconds the entire finale, leaving the door open for Wiebes and Vos.

But it was another Dutch jersey that put the final nail in the coffin for Van Anrooij. "Yara Kastelijn then came over with an attack, and the gap closed. Of course, you know there's a lot of Orange, and that's different from other races," said Vos. "But ultimately, you want the Dutch team to win." And that's what happened.

In the final sprint, there was no doubt about who is the fastest woman in the peloton. Vos could only salut to Wiebes who was in a league of her own in the last meters. "It was great to be able to compete for the title. Of course, you know it's going to be tough when Lorena is still in the race so deep in the final, although it could have gone either way with Shirin's strong attack. Ultimately, silver was the best I could have achieved," she realized.