Marianne Vos and world champion success go hand in hand. The Dutchwoman has won a record nine road race Worlds medals and is a favourite to add a tenth to her collection and a possible fourth career rainbow jersey in the elite women’s road race in Wollongong, Australia on Saturday.
A rainbow jersey would also be the second of 2022 for the 35-year-old who ended an eight-year drought to claim an eighth cyclo-cross world title in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Between 2007 and 2011 when Vos collected five straight silver medals at the road Worlds, she was also clean sweeping the cyclo-cross Worlds, winning gold between 2009 and 2014.
And just like in 2006, 2013, and 2014, Vos could again do the double and win the cyclo-cross and road race world titles in the same season.
“In a World Championship there are so many things that can happen and the only thing I have been trying to do is prepare as best as possible to be ready, and I think I am,” Vos told Cyclingnews at the Dutch team’s hotel in Sydney.
Vos has already tasted success at an Australian Worlds when she earned the silver medal at the 2010 World Championships in Geelong behind winner Giorgia Bronzini. But Vos isn’t seeking vengeance 12-years on.
“No, it doesn’t feel like that, definitely. That was quite a while ago. I have good memories of being in Australia riding and racing and it is good to be back,” she said.
Bronzini is one of four different Italian riders to claim the rainbow jersey ahead of Vos and the only rider to have done so twice, on consecutive occasions in 2010 and 2011. Marta Bastianelli in 2006, Tatiana Guderzo in 2009, and Elisa Balsamo last year in Flanders are the other riders to achieve this feat. So, it is little surprise the azzurri are one of the teams to watch for Vos.
“Italy has a very strong team and a very strong block but it is not that we only look to Italy,” she said. “There are so many riders on different teams that are strong, and also different individuals that are strong. So for us we don’t look only to one rider or one team.
“Of course we want to use our strengths in the best possible way and we don’t underestimate any other team.”
Laughing off the favourite status bestowed on her by the UCI social media channels, Vos added there are many riders the governing body could highlight.
“I think this course, there are so many possible scenarios. If you look at the profile, it is very interesting,” Vos said. “There are so many different types of riders who can…
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