🇫🇷 #CXWorldCup Very strong fifth place for Marianne today! 🔥
Vos returns to cyclo-cross with an impressive comeback: "Glad I was able to work my way to the front"
Cyclo-crossSunday, 29 December 2024 at 15:34
The Besançon World Cup race was almost entirely centered around Marianne Vos’s long-awaited return to cyclo-cross. The 37-year-old legend made an immediate impact with an impressive comeback performance. Ultimately, she crossed the finish line in fifth place after an exciting duel with Zoe Bäckstedt in the final lap.
"I'm quite happy," Vos shared afterward in a flash interview. "It was definitely a tough race, but I was glad I could work my way forward in the pack. You don’t really know what to expect beforehand. I tried to move up to around tenth place, then sixth or seventh. When I got to around fourth or fifth, it became really challenging. I fought all the way to the finish, and I’m satisfied with today’s race."
Because she had to start in 33rd position, a victory was virtually out of the question from the outset. However, she managed an impressive comeback to move up the field, though it took a toll on her. "It’s an incredibly demanding course where you have to stay sharp all the time. There’s little room for recovery. You’re either pushing or running uphill, and the downhill sections are extremely slippery. I could feel that my energy was running low in the last few laps."
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Minor mistakes decide battle with Bäckstedt: "I was just really tired"
That fatigue ultimately cost Vos the duel with her young British rival. At one point, the Dutch rider seemed to break away, but Bäckstedt caught up again. What happened? "Nothing," Vos laughed. "I was just really tired. When you’re tired, your coordination suffers, so my last lap wasn’t the best. But it was a fun race with Zoe Bäckstedt." What comes next for the Visma | Lease a Bike rider remains to be seen. "First, I’ll recover from this, train well again, and then it’s on to the next cross."
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Groenewegen left Visma, but now faces lead-outs by Van der Poel: "That’s when the glasses fly through the bus"
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Alongside Muys (17) there was also an 18-year-old Danish rider clinging to Pogacar’s wheel during KOM attack: "Toughest kilometers of my life"
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Latest Comments
- Well explained, thanks for the clarity! Daniel DantasDanieldantas20-12-2024
- This is the kind of 'news' that belongs in a cheap tabloid. No matter how boring the offseason gets, nobody wants to read this.
santiagobenites19-12-2024 - I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024 - hahahaha love this shit! I didnt even watched the race, but reading all the gossip articles of how stupid this is!Zatoichi19-11-2024
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024