Annemiek Van Vleuten convinced she ‘can improve’ as she rides out career in rainbow jersey

Annemiek van Vleuten says she still has targets in her last year before retiring from cycling, but admits her disbelief at some of the things she has achieved in her career.

The 40-year-old is taking her leave from the sport when she is right at the top, having last year won the Tour de France Femmes, the Giro Donne and the road race at the World Championships.

Van Vleuten is likely to feature again when women’s cycling’s biggest prizes – the three Grand Tours – are handed out later this year, as she brings the curtain down on a glittering career that has done so much for the profile of the sport.

“It’s the best way to end my career, in the world champion jersey this year,” Van Vleuten told Eurosport’s The Cycling Show.

“It helps a lot with the motivation to train, with enjoyment, my mother loves it because she can recognise me a bit better on the television!

“I’m really the person that always looks forward, sometimes I need to force myself a little bit to re-enjoy some moments and realise what you achieved.

“I’m a little bit more aware that it’s a really special job I do, and it’s ending.

“I’m still convinced that I can improve a little bit, I have still some targets and especially some goals to improve myself.

“My driving force has never been winning; that’s always the cherry on the cake.

“For me it’s only disappointing when I’m not part of the group that is going for the win, so for me the achievement is to be there in the right time, to fight for the win, to be part of the game and to be part of the entertainment for the people that are watching.”

“I knew that I had one shot. If you have one shot, one opportunity – then you should take it.

“When I passed the finish line, I was still like ‘this cannot be true’.

“I was so focused on the world championships, and then you break your elbow and still win it.

“The whole year was incredible and unexpected, and that actually makes it more beautiful.”

– – –