Joking about his age after the victory of Liège, Annemiek Van Vleuten said that it was not possible to make a comparison between himself and Alejandro Valverde. Both run with the Movistar Team and both are experiencing their final competitive season, at the end of impressive careers. Two years probably separate them, and necessarily different intensities.But anyone who has followed the Dutchwoman in her training on the Stelvio, her second home, knows very well that she is not afraid of hard work. And that It is no coincidence that he won the Tour de France Women's cycling, with a solo action of 85 kilometers on Saturday's stage to Le Markstein which defeated its rivals
"But that was actually a miracle," she says. "I was sick for the first three days. At a certain point… I couldn't even put my things in my suitcase and my teammates even had to push meIf you can react to a situation like that, everything becomes more special. The way I took the yellow jersey on Saturday was impressive, same thing the next day at the Planche des Belles Filles. Goosebumps, indescribable. This is the Tour. The race I discovered when I was eight years old. While my parents went to the beach, I was glued to the TV cheering on the Rabobank riders."
So far, we've only read positive reviews about the first edition. Are you also convinced?
All the way, it exceeded my expectationsThe organization was the same as the Tour with the men, we have not become an appendageAnd the audience was amazing, there were lines in every village. This is just the beginning of something even more beautiful, as will evolve even more in the years to comeWe have shown that we deserve so much attention. When I won the Tour of Flanders for the first time in 2011, On television they showed exactly one minute of it. We come from far away.
How different is the Tour from the Giro Donne?
The Tour is tougher, with longer routes and a very fast first hour. Now I know what the boys are talking about, they all want to be on the runAt the Giro there are sometimes quieter days, at the Tour you also fight for the other jerseys, if only to be able to wear them even just for one day. The Tour immediately became the largest stage race.
The difference in level between you and the others was overwhelming, did you expect that?
My relationship with cycling is something hugeAnd that comes with age. It's often said that other girls should train as much as I do, but that's impossible. It's a process that takes years. I'm 39 now and I can handle it. Every year I've taken a step forward, to finally be where I am now.The tougher the race, the more I can make a difference.
For next year we are talking about the Alps and the Pyrenees.
It's not about where you race, as long as it's a good race. Of course, an arrival at Alpe d'Huez would be fantastic.But if you find that the difference in level makes it less fun and exciting to watch, then it's better not to do it. It should remain a spectacle, like this week. There's only one time trial left, and then we're at perfection..
Canyon always dreamed of the… yellow bike with men, he found it with women With the Toray M40X fiber, the weight saving is 170 grams. It's the same bike as Van der Poel and Valverde. The Movistar Team bikes are equipped with a Sram groupset The Aeroad CFR maintains aerodynamics and reduces weight The Aeroad CFR for leader Van Vleuten popped up instantly
Canyon always dreamed of the… yellow bike with men, he found it with women With the Toray M40X fiber the weight saving is a good 170 grams The Movistar Team bikes are equipped with a Sram groupset The Aeroad CFR maintains aerodynamics and reduces weight The Aeroad CFR for leader Van Vleuten popped up instantly
Will 2023 really be the last year?
I run for one more season and then it's overI celebrated the victory with pizza and ice cream. I'll make time for my family and do nothing for a whole week. Although I will ride the criterium in Roosendaal in the yellow jersey and a time trial with Mathieu van der Poel. My next goal is the Vuelta.
