Annemiek van Vleuten has joined Belgian Girls’s WorldTour crew Fenix-Deceuninck as a efficiency mentor, it was introduced on Friday.
The 42-year-old retired from skilled biking on the finish of the 2023 highway season after a glittering profession however will return to the game after only a 12 months away from racing as a part of the crew’s administration group. The previous two-time world champion will work straight with riders like Puck Pieterse, and Pauliena Rooijakkers, who completed third in the latest version of the Tour de France Femmes.
A press launch from Fenix-Deceuninck mentioned that Van Vleuten’s huge experience will assist “information riders to attain their full potential.”
Van Vleuten mentioned that she had been weighing up shifting into teaching for the previous few years of her profession.
“When Philip Roodhooft approached me about becoming a member of Fenix-Deceuninck, I used to be shocked however shortly impressed by the professionalism and their dedication to each efficiency and the human facet of the game,” she mentioned.
“I’m excited to contribute to the expansion of this proficient crew. All through my profession, I discovered the worth of reflection and enhancing by way of trial and error, and I hope to assist speed up this course of for the athletes right here. This new position is a incredible problem that completely aligns with my ambition to develop as a coach.”
Throughout her prolonged 16-year profession Van Vleuten received nearly all of biking’s main prizes. On prime of profitable the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift and two highway world titles, she additionally received the Giro Donne on 4 events and La Vuelta Femenina. She additionally received two editions of the Tour of Flanders, Strade Bianche and Liège–Bastogne–Liège.
Whereas her former rival Anna van der Breggen is ready to return to WorldTour racing subsequent 12 months, Van Vleuten advised Biking Weekly on the Tour de France Femmes that she has now “closed that chapter” and is unlikely to ever return to aggressive motion.
“I stop at simply the precise time,” Van Vleuten advised Biking Weekly. “I do not miss it. I have not regretted quitting even for a single day, not even after I see such lovely moments or individuals profitable.”
She added: “Being on the opposite facet feels actually good.”
Fenix-Deceuninck additionally introduced that Fenix would proceed to again the crew till at the least 2027, and that they might be working with NXTG to convey extra expertise by way of their improvement system. NXTG has been aligned with AG Insurance coverage-Soudal’s improvement squads.
