Marianne Vos will not take part in the Road World Championships in Rwanda this week, with Dutch national coach Laurens ten Dam confirming on Monday that the three-time world champion has withdrawn due to family circumstances. Vos’ Visma | Lease a Bike teammate Femke de Vries will replace her in the line-up for Kigali.
“Her father had surgery last week and was in hospital,” Ten Dam explained. “He is doing well given the circumstances, but it has been very tense and hectic days for Marianne. I spoke with her this morning and together we decided she should stay home.”
Vos’ absence ends an extraordinary run of appearances at the World Championships. Since her debut in 2004 she has raced 17 editions, missing only 2025 and 2018, winning three times and finishing on the podium a remarkable nine times. Her first world title came in Salzburg in 2006, though she then endured five consecutive silver medals before reclaiming gold in 2012 and 2013. Her last victory in Florence marked her third title, while her most recent podium was a second place in Leuven in 2021.
“She is there now for her family, that is much more important than riding her 18th Worlds,” Ten Dam said.
In her place, De Vries will join the Dutch team in Kigali after impressing in recent weeks, most notably finishing second overall at the Tour de l’Ardèche. “She is the rider in form right now,” Ten Dam added. “Of course, Marianne Vos cannot truly be replaced, and I don’t want to put that pressure on Femke. But we are bringing in a very strong rider.”
