Marianne Vos has added yet another title to her already very full palmares – the 2022 Dutch Gravel Championships. Held over 70 kilometres, Vos took the victory by going solo and finishing half a minute ahead of Moniek Tenniglo in 2nd, with Lorena Wiebes coming in nearly 3 minutes behind for the bronze medal. For Wiebes, it’s the second medal in the national gravel championships after she finished 2nd behind Demi Vollering last year.
The course saw the riders take on laps 10.5km each, with a number of dirt roads and gravel sections. It was also mixed with the odd asphalt road sections for good measure. Plenty of well-known names from road cycling took part, obviously Marianne Vos and Lorena Wiebes but also Sabrina Stultiens and Eva Buurman from Liv Racing Xstra, plus former-pro Moniek Tenniglo.
Not too much happened in the early stage of the race, with the peloton keen to keep a tight rein on proceedings. As the race got to the near halfway point, Vos made her move and attacked. She got a gap quickly and pressed on. Only Moniek Tenniglo was able to keep the gap somewhat respectable but every other rider steadily lost time over the final 35km of racing. At the finish, Vos celebrated with her arms aloft.
“This is beautiful, a Dutch title, There was quite a crowd and there were constant encouragements. Then you should try to keep a steady pace. This Dutch title is very nice, I rode my cross bike today. There are also gravel bikes, but the gravel is a mix of everything. You have different types of bikes that have to handle these surfaces.”
Marianne Vos
Dutch National Gravel Championship 2022 Results
1. Marianne Vos
2. Moniek Tenniglo +32″
3. Lorena Wiebes + 2’53”
4. Tessa Neefjes + 3’59”
5. Iris Offerein +4’17”
6. Eva Buurman +4’17”
7. Sabrina Stultiens +4’18”
8. Marielle Trouwborst +4’18”
9. Martha Maltha +5’35”
10. Kimberly Boven +6’32”
