Annemiek van Vleuten says that she is in better shape than she has ever been going into a World Championships and believes she is a podium contender in both the time trial and the road race. Van Vleuten currently sits well clear of Dutch compatriot Anna van der Breggen in the world standings after a season that has reaped large reward
“I’m really focused on both. I think that I am a medal contender in both,” Van Vleuten told Cyclingnews. “I was also in top shape in Qatar last year, but I think that this year I’m in even better shape. Especially as I went to altitude. Before, I was at a good level, but after three weeks at altitude camp I was at an even higher level.
“For sure, it has been a dream for me to win a World Championship one time, and I think that maybe this year that I am really close or I can be really close. I’m going well, and the course suits me.”
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Van Vleuten has long been a rising star in women’s cycling, but last year saw her jump onto the world scene when she endured a horrific accident during the Olympic road race when it seemed that she might be on her way to victory. Since that incident, she has gone from success to success, taking nine victories thus far, including the recent dominant win at the Boels Rentals Ladies Tour and on the Col d’Izoard at La Course. The Rio Olympic Games and the form she had then marked a turning point in her career, but it no longer has an impact on her performances.
“This has no relation to Rio, but I think that this has been the most beautiful year,” said Van Vleuten. “In the end, I think that this year has been a better season than I’ve ever had before. It’s unbelievable. It’s not that I think that I’ve changed anything major, but I’m going really well this season. Not only as a climber, like I did in Rio last year, but I’ve also been performing well in the time trials.”
The Boels Ladies Tour at the start of September marked the final pre-Worlds race for Van Vleuten. Prior to that, she headed to Italy for a three-week training camp at altitude, tackling the likes of the Stelvio and the Gavia. After a heavy month-long block, Van Vleuten has been spending the last couple of weeks at home trying to keep the legs ticking over but not going too deep before the big day.
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