Phenomenal Annemiek van Vleuten.
At 39, the Dutchwoman achieved the feat of becoming world champion in road cycling despite her broken right elbow, this Saturday in Wollongong (Australia).
The star of women's cycling, winner of the three grand tours of the season, was injured in a fall at the start of the mixed relay on Wednesday.
This Saturday, Van Vleuten escaped from a group of a dozen riders less than a kilometer from the finish to win ahead of Belgian Lotte Kopecky and Italian Silvia Persico.
The Frenchwoman Juliette Labous finished in seventh place.
Unable to dance due to pain
With this second world title, after that of 2019, the Dutchman completes, at almost 40 years old, a triumphant season which saw her win the three Grand Tours, of France, Spain and Italy.
"
I can't believe it, I'm waiting for someone to pinch me
," she reacted.
In wet conditions, she relied on all her science and experience.
Unable to put herself in the dancer's shoes due to the pain, she was dropped several times in the hill of the Wollongong street circuit.
She came back each time without panicking.
And when her chasing group joined the five breakaways shortly before the red flame, she suddenly emerged from behind to leave "
in postman
", still sitting on her saddle, less than a kilometer from the finish. .
The Dutchwoman made her science of the race speak in the final.
WILLIAM WEST / AFP
"
I expected to be caught up with but no one managed to come back
," she said, quite astonished, joined after the finish line by her teammates who also couldn't believe it. .
"
It was hell, I had to do the whole race sitting on my saddle, my legs were exploding on the climbs but I managed to survive
," she added.
For the overpowering Dutch team, now victorious in five of the last six editions of the road race, it is a second triumph in these Worlds after Ellen van Dijk's success in the time trial last Sunday.
