250 wins. 2 hundred and fifty elite highway wins. Let’s take a second to marvel at the milestone reached by Marianne Vos at Dwars door Vlaanderen on Wednesday.
It’s, frankly, staggering. I’ll say it once more for the individuals on the again. TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY WINS. How can we start to fathom such success? Nicely, let me attempt to put it into context.
Vos’s first skilled highway victory got here in 2006 at a minor stage race within the Czech Republic. She was 18 years outdated, Tony Blair was the UK prime minister, and the nation was going wild for Gnarls Barkley’s ‘Loopy’, which was primary within the charts. Lidl-Trek’s Shirin van Anrooij, the rider Vos outsprinted for her 250th cap, had solely just lately turned 4.
From there, as Van Anrooij labored by the varsity years, Vos’s tally began to snowball. She went on to win the highway world title later that yr, and as extra races had been added to her calendar, she ticked off honour after honour.
Her most profitable marketing campaign thus far got here in 2011. Her stats that yr learn 51 races, 31 wins. Now, I’m no mathematician, however that’s a win greater than each different race. Do you suppose she ever bought fed up of podium ceremonies?
Talking after her 250th prime step on Wednesday, Vos saved cool about her achievement. “I’m largely reminded of it by others,” she stated. “It’s not one thing I take into consideration each day.”
Talking of her youthful self, the now 36-year-old stated she “didn’t actually take into consideration” what number of races she would possibly go on to win. “Not for a second did I dare take into consideration milestones,” she stated. “For me, it was all about getting higher and reaching the finals. Reaching my potential. That’s nonetheless what I love to do greatest.”
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Nicely, Marianne, take into account it reached. After which some.
On social media this week, Flanders Classics paid tribute to Vos in essentially the most becoming method doable – with a creepy AI graphic. Elsewhere, Lorena Wiebes celebrated Gent-Wevelgem with a rave, and riders in Spain battled the headwind to finish all headwinds.
1. Just one bicycle owner in historical past has extra wins than Vos – Eddy Merckx has 276 – however the Dutchwoman nonetheless boasts essentially the most wins of any rider who has not served a doping suspension
🇧🇪 #DDV24 Victory 2⃣5⃣0⃣ on the highway. 😳Merely 𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒈! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/T6cVDRSRzXMarch 27, 2024
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2. I guess Vos misses the times earlier than AI
.@teamvisma_leaseabike driving their method into the historical past books like! 🐎🐎 #DDV24 pic.twitter.com/a4yUYZsmYKMarch 27, 2024
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3. I do not converse Dutch, however I can inform that information headline is not good
Van Aert’s crash is the lead story on the TV information in Flanders tonight pic.twitter.com/Be7YEvch0fMarch 27, 2024
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4. Nothing says spring in Flanders like over-produced dance tunes
5. For brand spanking new mom Ellen van Dijk, racing the Classics is a “wellness weekend”
Leaving house nowadays is tough, however this @LidlTrek wellnessweekend really isn’t too unhealthy: ✅ sleep with out getting off the bed 🍼✅ therapeutic massage 💆♀️ ✅ osteo therapy 🤸♀️✅ greatest meals from chef @MirkoSut 👨🍳☑️ racing @GentWevelgem pic.twitter.com/kB3hYwzFJHMarch 24, 2024
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6. Here is an eight-year-old who can trip the cobbled bergs higher than any of us. A future world champion?
7. There are a number of various kinds of riders. There are sprinters, puncheurs, grimpeurs. Ceratizit-WNT’s Aslan is a unique breed – he is a barkeur
Good morning from Ypres 🇧🇪We’re happy to report that staff mascot Aslan has arrived and is prepared for his first race of the season 👊#GW24 pic.twitter.com/kRowi6IUHxMarch 24, 2024
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8. Because the proverb goes, when confronted with a headwind too robust, flip round and go the opposite method
9. The identical applies for crosswinds. Simply ask Geraint Thomas
Good luck to the boys at Gent Wevelgem at the moment. Could the (gale) pressure be with you 🤣💨 By no means residing this one down am I 🤦♂️ #GW24 pic.twitter.com/TVEWcZeYXtMarch 24, 2024
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10. GB para-cyclist Blaine Hunt isn’t any match for Quadzilla
11. It is a double serving to of Blaine this week. Right here he’s cooking up one other world title
12. And eventually, we might like to complete with a tribute to Richard Moore. A legend of biking media, he was the host of The Biking Podcast, and tragically died after reporting on Gent-Wevelgem two years in the past. He was remembered final weekend by buddies who painted his identify on the highway. Missed, by no means forgotten
In loving reminiscence of our nice pal Richard Moore, we painted hisname on the Baneberg of Gent-Wevelgem, the final race he coated. Two years in the past. Endlessly missed. pic.twitter.com/GsR7lghVcnMarch 24, 2024
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