She is seen by many cycling enthusiasts as the best cyclist of all time. Marianne Vos (38) from Babyloniënbroek rode three days in the yellow jersey during the Tour de France Femmes last week, but was already the day after the last stage in France at the turn of the Kaai in Roosendaal. She won the couple time trial with Thijmen Arensman and became second in the road race. “My secret? That’s not there,” she says laughing.
The turn of De Kaai had a field of participants with appealing names on Monday with both men and women. For the men, Thijmen Arensman was the crowd puller, but the loudest cheers sounded for Marianne Vos. On Sunday she drove the last stage of the Tour de France Femmes, the round in which she won two stages and drove three days in yellow.
“I gained very nice memories this round. It was so cool to experience. The public interest was fantastic, France was upside down. Whether I have ever thought about the win in the Tour? No, I have to be realistic. There are others who are much more suitable for that.”
Despite her busy schedule, she wanted to come to the turn of the quay. She won the criterion five times in the past. In 2006 her first victory was. “I couldn’t have mentioned the year exactly, but I always like to come here. This time it is again very nice to be in Roosendaal.”
“With this atmosphere I quickly kicked through it.”
After winning in the couple time trial with Thijmen Arensman, she started on the road game, lost the sprint to Lorena Wiebes. “Because of the fatigue, I had to income the first rounds, but with this atmosphere I quickly kicked through it.”
Vos will certainly not do it calmly in the coming period. This Thursday she is already leaving for the mountains for an altitude training. “That is a matter of gently rebuilding and quietly coming into the rhythm for the next block competitions. Those are not the most famous competitions, but then the championships wait. A nice prospect.”
“I still have very nice goals.”
A lack of motivation can never be at Vos. Despite its impressive CV with, among other things, Olympic and world titles, the Brabantse remains hungry for more success. “I just like to do this and then you have to hope that health cooperates. I still have very nice goals and work with a great team.”
