Visma-Lease a Bike announced on social media today that team leader Marianne Vos would not compete in the Tour of Flanders this Sunday. Instead, she has prioritised time with her family following the recent death of her father, Henk.
"Marianne Vos will not start in Tour of Flanders as she is staying with her family following the passing of her father last week," the team posted to social media Friday morning.
"We wish Marianne and her loved ones all the strength and support they need during this difficult time."
This past winter Vos, a seven-time cyclo-cross World Champion, elected not to compete in any races, instead focusing on her father's illness and her family.
"It also had to do with health issues in the family, with my father being in hospital. That becomes the main thing you focus on. You want to be there for him," she told Dutch news outlet, NOS, in January.
Vos has had incredible success across multiple disciplines in her 20-plus years as a pro rider, and in 2025 signed a landmark lifetime contract with Visma-Lease a Bike.
She opened her 2026 road season in Italy in March, finishing seventh at her opener at Strade Bianche and then sixth at Trofeo Alfredo Binda. She was a designated starter for Milan-San Remo, but pulled out to spend time with her father and family.
She was also listed on the team roster for Flanders, a race she won in 2013, the same year she won her third World title in the road race. In a team statement, she said she was looking forward to keeping the team's momentum strong in the Classics following Lieke Nooijen's third-place finish in Dwars door Vlaanderen on Wednesday.
The team will be led at Tour of Flanders this Sunday by Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, who finished second last year and has support from Margaux Vigié, Imogen Wolff, Katharina Sadnik, Daniek Hengeveld and Lieke Nooijen.
Everyone at Cyclingnews would like to extend their deepest condolences to Marianne Vos and her family during this difficult time.
Marianne Vos will not start in Tour of Flanders as she is staying with her family following the passing of her father last week.We wish Marianne and her loved ones all the strength and support they need during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/eRZVSumKVhApril 3, 2026
