Marianne Vos from Babyloniënbroek lets the World Cycling Cycling in Rwanda. That reports national coach Laurens ten Dam on Monday afternoon. Visma-Lease a Bike teammate Femke de Vries replaces Vos in Kigali, the capital of the African country where the World Cup is being held.
“Her father was operated on last week,” says Ten Dam. “He was in the hospital. He is doing well under circumstances, but they were very exciting and hectic days for Marianne. I called her this morning and we said together: you stay at home.”
“She is now there for the family, which is much more important than driving your eighteenth World Cup … I have lost count,” he laughs. Vos participated sixteen times in the World Cup and won the race three times, in 2006, 2012 and 2013. No fewer than six times she became second.
Replacement
Ten Dam calls on her teammate Femke de Vries as a replacement. “She’s coming this way today or tomorrow. I want her to have the team as soon as possible.”
“She is the woman in shape, with a second place in the round of the Ardèche. But Marianne Vos cannot necessarily be replaced. So I don’t want Femke to get into those shoes. I don’t want to impose that pressure on her. But we do have a very strong power.”
In addition to De Vries, the Dutch team for the road race consists of Demi Volling, Anna van der Breggen, Puck Pieterse, Shirin van Anrooij, Yara Kastelijn and Pauliena Rooijakkers.