Vos: the Perfect Year

Marianne Vos (Netherlands) (Image credit: Luc Claessen)

Dutch rider Marianne Vos (Team DSB Bank-Ballast Nedam) surprised the world and herself with winning performances throughout the 2006 season. Her dual world titles in road and ‘cross would have been capstones in any veteran racer’s successful season, but they stand out as unusually impressive for a first-year senior.

When asked about her success in 2006, the unassuming Vos replied, "I didn’t expect it for this year. This was my first year in the elite category. Last year, I was still a junior, mostly racing one-day races. [This year] I thought I would start low and work my way up. I figured I’d try to stay in front in national-level races, and race internationally with the goal of gaining some experience. But I had a really good season and started to win in April. "I didn’t expect to be European, national, and world champion so soon."

Only 19-years-old, Vos has shown the world a near-perfect transition from junior to senior ranks. What drives this young Dutch racer to success? Cyclingnews caught up with Vos, also a university student in biomedical science, between ‘cross victories at Koppenberg in Belgium and the World Cup #4 in Treviso, Italy, to discuss how she got into racing, her career going forward, and how she balances racing and school.