Shirin van Anrooij has set her sights firmly on the heart of the cyclo-cross season and a home World Championships in Zeeland after making her long-awaited comeback in the Tábor World Cup. The 23-year-old returned to the discipline for the first time in almost two years and rode to an impressive 16th from the very back of the grid, instantly lifting her into contention for stronger results in the weeks ahead.
Her appearance in Tábor marked the end of a long and complicated recovery. A narrowed iliac artery forced surgery in late 2024 and wiped out her previous winter entirely, while the year before had already been disrupted by external factors. Speaking to NOS on the eve of her return, she kept her expectations measured. She simply wanted to rediscover the rhythm of cross and make enough ground to escape the final start row. “I want to enjoy it and find the feeling of cross again,” she said. A top-16 was her target, and she delivered it on the line.
The race itself showed trademark Van Anrooij resilience. From the seventh and final row, she surged from 36th after the opening lap to finish 16th, collecting the UCI points she needed to move to row two for the next World Cup in Flamanville. For a rider returning from such a long absence, it was a significant shift in momentum.
A short early block before turning to training
Van Anrooij will complete the opening trio of World Cups in Tábor, Flamanville and Terralba before switching briefly to road-team duties with a training camp in Spain. That means Namur is not on her programme, allowing her to train uninterrupted ahead of the most important stretch of her winter.
Her intention is to arrive with building form for the Christmas and New Year block, where classic sand courses like Koksijde and Zonhoven are marked in bold. After nearly two years away from the mud, she wants to grow each week and sharpen the technical instincts that once made her one of the most formidable young riders in the sport.
Photo Credit: GettyHulst takes centre stage
Everything, however, is building towards early next year and a World Championships on home ground in Hulst. For the rider from Goes, the symbolism is powerful. The last time the Worlds came close to home, in Hoogerheide, she won the U23 title. Now the rainbow jersey will be contested in her own province.
“It was already very special to win so close to home in Hoogerheide,” she reflected before Tábor. “But now a World Championships in my own province – that is really cool.” The support, the familiarity and the sense of place all form part of her motivation as she works her way back to top condition.
Photo Credit: David PintensA rebuilt foundation for the winter ahead
The upgrade to row two in Flamanville will make a tangible difference. Under UCI rules, World Cup standings dictate start order, placing the top eight on the front row and the next eight behind them. Her Tábor result gives her space to fight for bigger results immediately, rather than spending precious minutes fighting through traffic.
Her return also strengthens a women’s field that has been stretched by injuries and absences through the early part of the season. With Van Anrooij back, the dynamic at the front of races is already shifting, and her steady rebuild promises to add another major protagonist to the winter narrative.
Her next test comes on Sunday in Flamanville. This time, she will take her place on the second row, with the rhythm of cross beginning to return and the horizon of Hulst growing steadily closer.
