Decreased by a fracture following a fall Wednesday, the 39 -year -old Dutchman became world champion for the second time in her career, Saturday in Australia, thanks to an attack in the last kilometer.
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A few minutes after crossing the finish line, she still didn’t believe it. The Dutch Annemiek Van Vleuten won, Saturday, September 24, in Wollongong (Australia), the world cycling championships on women’s road. At 39 years old, she thus puts on her second rainbow jersey (after 2019) and once again demonstrates the superiority of the Netherlands in the peloton: the Dutch won five of the last six editions.
Before arriving in Australia, Annemiek Van Vleuten was an immense favorite. But her victory is an authentic feat, she who was not sure to be able to line up at the start. During the mixed relay on Wednesday, the runner was indeed the victim of a heavy fall shortly after the departure of the event. A visit to the hospital later, the assessment was known: a fracture without movement of the right elbow.
⚠️ Crash for @Avvleuten !! ⚠️
Mechanical Issue Causes Horrible Crash for the Dutch Superstar.
Really disappointing… https://t.co/c1xq9cxncx
Finally aligned, Van Vleuten seemed to be promised a role of luxury teammate for the Netherlands, especially since she struggled to follow the head of the race during the last two laps of the circuit (17 km each ). Taken up for the first time during the penultimate mounted of the Mount Pleasant (1.1 kilometer to 7.7 %, passage to 14 %), she had managed to return with other runners, before being distant again in the same place in the next turn.
a dream season
The case seemed to be heard, and places on the podium then had to be played between the five runners left in front of 7 kilometers from the finish. But, unable to get along, the escapes were taken up one kilometer from the finish. A little behind, Annemiek Van Vleuten had a more difficulty filling out. But the Dutchman did not give her chance: she who confided before the race to have trouble getting into a dancer stood on her pedals to carry a decisive acceleration when making the junction with the leading group, And win in front of the Belgian Lotte Kopecky (2
This feat completed a dream season for Van Vleuten, who had previously dominated the general classification of the three Grand Tours (Tour de France, Italy and Spain) . But while she had largely dominated the Tour de France, especially in the mountains, relegating the second to more than three minutes, her compatriot half vollering, it is in a completely different register that the Dutchman has found a way to win Saturday.
During the last two rounds of circuits made difficult by the rain, the French have not managed to find a place on the podium. Present with the best during the final sprint, Juliette Labous finally finished 7
Tricolor cycling nevertheless won a first medal on these Worlds on Saturday: Eglantine Rayer (18) took the money on the junior race, behind the British Zoé Backstedt.