"I'm going to participate and have a nice photo with Alejandro Valverde" - Annemiek van Vleuten will roll out to the Gravel World Championships in 'tourist mode'

Annemiek van Vleuten, despite the fact that she has already stopped cycling, will still participate in the World Championships at the beginning of October. The Movistar rider will compete in the Gravel World Championships in Veneto, Italy, on Saturday, October 7, the day before her 41st birthday.

"In a crazy mood I said 'yes' to that," laughs Van Vleuten in corvesation on the AD podcast In Het Wiel.

"The team liked it, the sponsors liked it and I also found it funny to participate," said Van Vleuten, who recently ended her road career in the Simac Ladies Tour. A new career in clay is out of the question. "I have no ambitions in a clay court career, so I think I will end it here."

Van Vleuten will also not return from her 'cycling retirement' for the Gravel World Championships. "I'm going to ride this in my retirement. I'm not prepared for it and I'm not going to train for it. I'm going to participate and have a nice photo with Alejandro Valverde," she jokes about her former teammate at Movistar. "It's a bit part of my farewell tour. I threw the ball up myself and it was immediately headed in by the team. Before I knew it I was registered. Especially if it is in Italy, I am open to that."