Marianne Vos is set to make her much-anticipated return to cyclocross at the UCI Cyclocross World Cup in Besançon on Sunday, 29th December. The Dutch rider last competed in the discipline nearly two years ago, at the World Cup in Benidorm in January 2023. The eight-time world champion will contest three races this season, with her sights set on a possible World Championship appearance.
National coach Gerben de Knegt confirmed Vos’s inclusion in the Dutch team for the Besançon race, describing her return as a boost for the women’s field. “It’s great to welcome Marianne back to cyclocross,” he said. “She wants to get a taste of the discipline again and will decide after this French race whether she will target the World Championships later this season.”
Back in October, Vos was unsure whether she would return to cyclocross this winter, citing the challenge of balancing her off-road ambitions with preparations for the road season. “We’ll evaluate what the best decision will be, also with the road season in mind,” she said at the time. “I love cyclocross, but you have to make the right choice. It’s just a really enjoyable discipline, but there’s also the matter of preparing for the road. It’s quite difficult.”
Vos’s calendar will include the Dutch National Championships in Oisterwijk in early January, followed by World Cup events in Benidorm on the 19th January and Hoogerheide on the 26th. Her team director, Jan Boven, revealed that Vos’s ultimate goal is to arrive at the World Championships in Liévin in top form. “We’ve really focused on the World Championships, and her aim is to be in great condition for that race,” he explained.
Discussing her race programme, Vos highlighted the balance between performance and enjoyment. “The cyclocross races on my calendar fit well with my road training. I’ve also chosen races that I particularly enjoy,” she said. “It’s important that the events align with my schedule and give me the opportunity to perform and have fun. That way, I can challenge myself while recovering properly between races.”
The Dutch team for Besançon will be without two of its usual stars, Puck Pieterse and Annemarie Worst. Pieterse has opted to skip the French race due to the busy festive schedule, while Worst is recovering from two fractures in her hand sustained during a crash at the Zonhoven World Cup. However, Mathieu van der Poel will be on the start line in Besançon, adding further interest to the event for cyclocross fans.
