Marianne Vos looks forward to Strade Bianche: "The white roads make my heart race"

Marianne Vos will make her season debut on Saturday at the Strade Bianche. The Dutch rider from Visma | Lease a Bike has had a long winter without any cyclocross races, but she is fully ready. "The nerves are back for the first race of the season, and the final preparations are done," she says.

Vos chose not to race cyclocross this winter due to her father's health. For the road season, the Dutch rider was able to prepare well, including a training camp at altitude in February. That’s when she realized she was excited to race again. "The winter wasn’t ideal, but I’m looking forward to it again and I really feel ready. The entire team is doing well too."

"Strade Bianche may have a short history, but if you look at the start list, everyone wants to perform well here. When you see the beautiful photos of the white, dusty roads and the finish in Siena... it gets your heart racing. To be able to race here is of course wonderful."

Vos and Ferrand-Prévot are complementary
Whether Vos, who has finished multiple times in the top 10 in this race, is actually going for the win in Siena is still uncertain. The course has, on paper, become much tougher and the Dutch rider has Pauline Ferrand-Prévot as a teammate. "But we complement each other well," she says. "We are complementary and I’m happy to have her on the team."

"I don’t think the race has gotten any easier," Vos continues. "The finale stays pretty much the same. So I expect a similar race scenario as in previous years; you always see that this race really takes a toll on the legs towards the finale."

"It won’t be just about Demi Vollering and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot on Saturday. There are more women ready for this race, like Elisa Longo Borghini. She will also want to perform well in her home country."