Surprise!!! Marianne Vos returns to cyclo-cross after almost two years, World Championships likely main goal

The KNWU announces The Cannibal's return to the field on its website. "It is nice to welcome Marianne back in cyclo-cross," says Dutch national coach Gerben de Knecht. "She wants to get a taste of this discipline again in Besançon and, depending on her performance in this French race, will partly determine whether she will possibly ride the World Championships later this season." The cyclo-cross World Championships will take place in Liévin. The women's cyclo-cross race is scheduled for February 1.

De Knecht is pleased with the timing of Vos' return. "As a result, we have added a top rider among the women, where for once we have to do without Puck Pieterse (skipping this race) and Annemarie Worst (hand fracture) on this occasion," he explains. "These two riders have a dedicated personal starting spot, so I cannot replace them." Vos will be assisted by Lucinda Brand, world champion Fem van Empel and Ceylin Alvarado, among others.

"In the men's race, we are again looking forward to Mathieu van der Poel, who again made a special impression on Sunday," the national Dutch coach said. "For those who still doubted it, he performed excellent again." In France, the world champion will be in the company of Lars van der Haar, Pim Ronhaar, Ryan Kamp, Mees Hendrikx, and Corné van Kessel.