Annemiek van Vleuten admittedly had a difficult start to the 2023 season - her final year of racing before retiring - but after winning La Vuelta Femenina in May and 'recharging her batteries' at an altitude training camp, the three-time winner is gearing up for her last assault on the Giro d'Italia Donne and, two weeks later, the Tour de France Femmes.
By most riders' standards, a fourth place in the Volta Valenciana and Strade Bianche would be solid spring results, but in 2022, Van Vleuten won two Classics, the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France Femmes and Vuelta Femenina and the world title. Understandably, having to wait until May for a first success could be frustrating.
