Annemiek van Vleuten has joined Belgian Girls’s WorldTour staff 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 staff’s administration group. The previous two-time world champion will work instantly 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 couple of years of her profession.
“When Philip Roodhooft approached me about becoming a member of Fenix-Deceuninck, I used to be stunned however shortly impressed by the professionalism and their dedication to each efficiency and the human aspect of the game,” she mentioned.
“I’m excited to contribute to the expansion of this gifted staff. All through my profession, I realized the worth of reflection and bettering by means of trial and error, and I hope to assist speed up this course of for the athletes right here. This new position is a unbelievable problem that completely aligns with my ambition to develop as a coach.”
Throughout her prolonged 16-year profession Van Vleuten gained virtually all of biking’s main prizes. On prime of profitable the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift and two highway world titles, she additionally gained the Giro Donne on 4 events and La Vuelta Femenina. She additionally gained two editions of the Tour of Flanders, Strade Bianche and Liège–Bastogne–Liège.
Whereas her former rival Anna van der Breggen is about to return to WorldTour racing subsequent 12 months, Van Vleuten instructed 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 give up at simply the fitting time,” Van Vleuten instructed Biking Weekly. “I do not miss it. I have never regretted quitting even for a single day, not even after I see such stunning moments or individuals profitable.”
She added: “Being on the opposite aspect feels actually good.”
Fenix-Deceuninck additionally introduced that Fenix would proceed to again the staff till no less than 2027, and that they might be working with NXTG to convey extra expertise by means of their growth system. NXTG has been aligned with AG Insurance coverage-Soudal’s growth squads.
