Marianne Vos underlined her ability yesterday when she triumphed in the women’s Flèche Wallonne for the fourth time in her career. The Dutchwoman became the first to do so and, at just 23 years of age, there’s no reason to believe that she won’t continue to dominate the race for many years to come.
“The tactics were to keep the race in control with the team,” she told VeloNation afterwards. “From the last few times here on the Mur, I know that when I am good, I have a chance. I felt good in the race and when we passed the Mur for the first time, I said to my teammates,’ let’s do it, I think I can make it.’ So they kept it together and when we ended up at the foot of the Muur, there was some speed by the other girls. Emma Johansson attacked and I got her wheel, then I started to sprint.
“It is amazing to win this kind of race for the fourth time. Maybe I can’t believe it now. It is Fleche Wallonne and everybody wants to win a race like this. I know this is a race that suits me and I was really focussed, really wanting to win for the fourth time. You have to be there, to do it at the right moment. But if you are good here, and you are in position on the climb, then you know you only have to push hard to the finish. There are no tactics at all, just keep pushing.”
The success saw her take over the World Cup leader’s jersey from her team-mate Annemiek van Vleuten by 27 points. She was clearly proud to hold the lead, but said afterwards that she would not defend it in the next event.
Vos explained that because of her hectic schedule, she needed to take a break from competition, and consequently had decided not to travel to the next round, the Tour of Chongming Island
“I hope Annemiek takes it next time in China. I won’t be there…that’s a shame, as I am in the jersey now. Of course it’s great, I won it three times, and it says something about my all-round capacity, and also about racing from the beginning of the season until the end.
“My season is from the cyclo-cross season, then I went to the track season and the Classics. I have to take a break somewhere, otherwise I won’t be in shape at the worlds, so it will be in May.”
With next season being Olympic year, the stakes are even higher and the season more crammed. As a result, she confirmed that she would rethink things and might have to make sacrifices in terms of some of her normal events. That raises the possibility that she will have a reduced cross and/or track season.
“It is difficult, next winter I have to make choices. With the Olympics, there is so much more pressure and I have to be fresh and focused,” she said.
Watch the video above for Vos' full press conference.