Annemiek van Vleuten Adapts to Rwanda‘s Challenge Ahead of Elite Women’s World Championships Road Race
(Kigali, Rwanda) – As the UCI Road World Championships unfold for the first time on African soil, reigning time trial silver medalist Annemiek van Vleuten is carefully calibrating her approach to the demanding Kigali course. Despite the challenges of altitude, heat, and air quality, the Dutch powerhouse appears to be finding her rhythm as she prepares for Saturday’s elite women’s road race.
Van Vleuten secured a strong second place in the individual time trial, finishing behind new world champion Marlen Reusser of Switzerland and ahead of Demi Vollering. She acknowledges the initial difficulties posed by the Rwandan conditions, but reports positive adaptation.
“Slowly I am getting better with the heart rate, which was not the case in the time trial yet,” Van Vleuten explained. “I hope it’s a bit of an advantage for us to have arrived early, and for everyone who did the time trial. I can feel slowly that I’m adapting better and better.”
A Grueling Season, But Prepared for Rwanda
This year has been particularly taxing for Van Vleuten, including participation in all three Grand Tours. However, she emphasizes the importance of strategic recovery and rebuilding.
“I came out of the Tour pretty good. The last day went well,” she said. “The recovery took some time, but that was the same for everyone. It was a week of 28 hours of very hard racing, so I think that was a new highlight for me that I had not done before.”
She benefited from a dedicated recovery period following the Tour de France, allowing her to prepare specifically for the unique demands of the Rwanda Worlds. The team prioritized her recovery, providing valuable time to rebuild her form.
Course Breakdown & Tactical Expectations
The elite women will face a challenging 164.4km course comprised of 11 laps of a 15.1km city circuit.The route features a notable 3,350 meters of elevation gain, peaking at 1,493 meters.
Key climbs include:
* Côte de Kigali Golf: 800 meters at 8.1% elevation gain (mid-circuit)
* Côte de Kimihurura: 1.3km at 6.3% elevation gain (close to the finish at the Kigali Convention Center)
Van Vleuten observed the under-23 women’s race, won by France’s Célia gery in a sprint finish, and anticipates a different dynamic in the elite race. She believes the increased number of teams and stronger riders will lead to a more tactical and aggressive contest.
“No,I don’t think so,” Van Vleuten stated,referencing the under-23 race.”You could see the bunch was already reduced. We have more teams and with more players. You can see it was a hard race, and the door was open at the back. I expect we have more riders to try something and to try to make a breakaway.It will be a bit more attacking.”
Looking ahead: The elite women’s road race promises a thrilling spectacle. Van Vleuten, along with a strong field of contenders, will need to navigate the challenging course and employ smart tactics to claim the coveted rainbow jersey.
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