Vos returns to cyclo-cross with an impressive comeback: "Glad I was able to work my way to the front"
Cyclocross
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Follow us on GoogleThe Besançon World Cup race was almost entirely centered around Marianne Vos’s long-awaited return to cyclo-cross. The 37-year-old legend made an immediate impact with an impressive comeback performance. Ultimately, she crossed the finish line in fifth place after an exciting duel with Zoe Bäckstedt in the final lap.
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"I'm quite happy," Vos shared afterward in a flash interview. "It was definitely a tough race, but I was glad I could work my way forward in the pack. You don’t really know what to expect beforehand. I tried to move up to around tenth place, then sixth or seventh. When I got to around fourth or fifth, it became really challenging. I fought all the way to the finish, and I’m satisfied with today’s race."
Because she had to start in 33rd position, a victory was virtually out of the question from the outset. However, she managed an impressive comeback to move up the field, though it took a toll on her. "It’s an incredibly demanding course where you have to stay sharp all the time. There’s little room for recovery. You’re either pushing or running uphill, and the downhill sections are extremely slippery. I could feel that my energy was running low in the last few laps."
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Minor mistakes decide battle with Bäckstedt: "I was just really tired"
That fatigue ultimately cost Vos the duel with her young British rival. At one point, the Dutch rider seemed to break away, but Bäckstedt caught up again. What happened? "Nothing," Vos laughed. "I was just really tired. When you’re tired, your coordination suffers, so my last lap wasn’t the best. But it was a fun race with Zoe Bäckstedt." What comes next for the Visma | Lease a Bike rider remains to be seen. "First, I’ll recover from this, train well again, and then it’s on to the next cross."
Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- - I’m still learning how cyclocross works: when he says he messed up the start at the Europeans, can a bad start really make that much difference?patriciaw14-11-2026
- - Love that he’s honest about the pressure. Hopefully he can carry this form through the winter.lindae14-11-2026
- - Beating different competition is the key now. Nys is already in the mix, and Van der Poel could make the next step a much tougher one.jennifer1914-11-2026
- - About time—Mason’s been knocking on the door for years. That Niel win could really open things up for him.cadencekingm14-11-2026
- I’m still learning how cyclocross works—does leading the Superprestige mean Mason is top of that race series, rather than the World Cup? Either way, winning in Belgium sounds like a massive result.cadencekingm13-11-2026
- Calling Onley a contender for an overall Tour win already feels a bit premature, especially after the injury setbacks. Still, the depth of talent is exciting.robert6513-11-2026
- Great to see Dickson’s route from triathlon to the WorldTour getting recognition. Scottish cycling has plenty to be proud of, and the 2027 Grand Départ could give the next generation a real lift.patriciaw13-11-2026
- The article makes a good case for clubs and small teams doing the groundwork, rather than one big development pipeline. Thornley’s Vuelta time trials were seriously impressive too; missing a stage win by two seconds is brutal.davidm13-11-2026
- Mason winning in Niel is huge—beating that kind of Belgian field in the mud takes serious class. The Kelvingrove World Cup could be an unforgettable homecoming.breakawaybikerd13-11-2026
- I’m not sure how WorldTour licences work—could these reports affect whether the team gets one next year, or is that decision based on other criteria?velodromevirtuoso113-11-2026
