National coach offers her a nice farewell, but Laura Verdonschot declines World Championships

Belgium announced its selection for the Cyclo-cross World Championships in Hulst on Monday. The notable absence from the Belgian Cycling World Championship team is Laura Verdonschot. National coach Angelo De Clercq did want to include the retiring rider for Hulst, but Verdonschot herself is not interested.

The Limburg native is currently in her final weeks as a professional cyclo-cross rider. Persistent injuries are forcing her to retire after the winter season. With the Belgian Championships and World Championships still ahead, two memorable cyclo-cross races seemed likely, but her last appearance at the Belgian Nationals ended in sporting disappointment. Verdonschot had to leave the race after only three laps.

The 29-year-old rider from De Ceuster-Bouwpunt does not want to go through that again and is therefore skipping the upcoming World Championships. "After the Belgian Championships, I contacted Angelo to let him know he didn’t have to select me," she told Het Nieuwsblad. "He was planning to do so, to give me a proper farewell."

"If there was still improvement to be expected in my form or feelings, it would be different, but that is simply not the case. I know from experience that at a World Championship, you have to be 110% ready, and I am far from that. I also don’t want to just ride along to increase the size of the group, only to have to abandon after three laps."

Remaining cyclo-cross races
So what now? Does Verdonschot still plan to compete in the remaining races before putting an end to her cycling career? "I still need to discuss that with the team. I will definitely participate in Benidorm (the next World Cup race, ed.) because that training camp was already booked. I would also like to race in Lille and Oostmalle, since those are held close to home."

https://www.wielerflits.be/nieuws/laura-verdonschot-blijft-achter-afscheid-staan-ik-wilde-mezelf-dit-niet-blijven-aandoen/