Marianne Vos misses the podium at National Cyclo-cross Championships: "My tank was running on empty"

Visma | Lease a Bike couldn’t rely on Fem van Empel for Sunday’s Dutch Cyclo-cross Championships in her home province, but another Brabant native, Marianne Vos, was present. However, Vos was unable to compete for her eighth national title, finishing off the podium in fourth place. The muddy conditions in Oisterwijk didn’t suit her, as she admitted afterward.

"It was really tough," said Vos in an interview on the website of her team Visma | Lease a Bike. She had a strong start but quickly saw Puck Pieterse pull away. "Initially, I tried to close the gap to the front. But once Puck established a real lead, it was pretty clear who was going to win."

Vos eventually had to let Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado go as well and was overtaken by Denise Betsema in the final lap, leaving her in fourth place. "My tank was running on empty when I couldn’t keep up with Alvarado anymore. My pace dropped too much after that. Then you get overtaken, and fourth place it is," she said, accepting the result.

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Vos enjoyed Oisterwijk: "It was tough, but I had fun'

Despite the challenge, Marianne Vos enjoyed the cyclo-cross race on home soil. "It was a very beautiful race. Today was mostly about suffering, but I also really had fun. That’s something I’ll carry with me into the coming weeks. This is another great cross to add to the list," Vos concluded.

The Visma | Lease a Bike rider is now heading back to Spain, where she will also race in Benidorm on Sunday. One week later, Vos will compete in Hoogerheide, likely wrapping up her cyclo-cross season at the World Championships in Liévin, France.

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