The Classics season came to a close yesterday, but for ORICA-SCOTT’s Dutch star Annemiek van Vleuten it marks the beginning of an new era and an exciting future the women’s peloton.
For the first time in history, Liege-Bastogne-Liege held a race for women and it concluded a comprehensive Spring campaign that included combined men’s and women’s at Liege, Flèche Wallonne, Amstel Gold Race, Tour of Flanders, Gent Wevelgem and Dwars Door Vlaanderen.
Speaking after her gutsy ride in the inaugural women’s Liege-Bastogne-Liege where she finished in a respectable fifth place, Van Vleuten said the inclusion of these prestigious spring races has really been a positive progression for the sport.
“I think it is a big step up for women’s cycling to have these new WorldTour races,” she explained. “It is important for us to have the same WorldTour races as the guys, especially in the spring and I think Amstel Gold Race is the best example of how the races should be.”
Read the full feature here.
|