It was 2006 in Zeddam, The Netherlands, and Marianne Vos was a relative unknown, certainly compared to her status now. It was the Cyclocross World Championships, which for Elite Women, had its first edition only a handful of years earlier in 2000. Vos was 18 and was taking on the then veterans of the Elite Women’s field, Germany’s Hanka Kupfernagel, Vos’ countrywoman Daphny van den Brand, Laurence Leboucher of France, Anne Knapp of the US and others.
As we all know, Vos took the first of what currently stands at seven Cyclocross World Championship titles, not to mention a silver and bronze medal as well. She did it out-sprinting Kupfernagel after van den Brand had a mechanical taking her out of the leading trio heading towards the last lap. And a legend, some put Vos as the greatest rider ever, was born.
Enjoy the race and get inspired for the coming cyclocross season. The full race video was published on YouTube by Wesley VDB just last month on June 18, 2016.
