Annemiek van Vleuten on why her 'driving force has never been winning' as she tackles final season in cycling

Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) insists her “driving force has never been winning” despite her incredible palmarès, as she reflected on her legacy at Warner Bros. Discovery's start of season cycling launch event. The Dutchwoman, 40, will bow out from the peloton at the end of the season after an astonishing career that has seen her win practically every major title.

Ad Her historic 2022 saw her win the inaugural Tour de France Femmes, a third Giro Donne crown and, most importantly to her, a second world road race title – just three days after fracturing her elbow. CyclingExclusive: Van Vleuten is 'not unbeatable' – Blythe24/02/2023 AT 11:23 “If you're a cyclist, you know how nice it is to wear that World Championship jersey for one year. So to quit in the World Championships jersey and not wear it for the next year, it's the best way for me to end my career in the jersey this year,” she said.

“It helps a lot with motivation to train. It helps with enjoying [racing]. My mother loves it because she reckons she can recognise me a little bit better on the television.

“For me, it's the best race to win because you can get the present to wear the World Championship jersey for the whole of next year.” Van Aert will 'regret' letting team-mate win – Merckx and Boonen wade in Van der Poel on wild attacks, Tour hopes and Van Aert rivalry Van Vleuten is still chasing a first win in 2023, with her next opportunity coming on Sunday at the Tour of Flanders, where she won in 2011 and 2021. However, she said she was simply happy to be in the mix for victory, rather than being preoccupied with the top step on the podium. “My driving force has never been winning.