Retired Dutch Cycling Great Annemiek van Vleuten Returns to the Saddle for Mallorca 312 Gran Fondo

Retired Dutch cycling legend Annemiek van Vleuten is set to make a comeback to the cycling scene this weekend in the Mallorca 312, one of Europe’s biggest Gran Fondos. The 41-year-old, known for her aggressive solo attacks during her career, will be joining over 8,000 amateur cyclists in this closed-roads event that attracts enthusiasts from all over Europe.

Van Vleuten, who retired last year after a successful career that saw her win numerous titles, including the Olympic time trial, is looking forward to a more relaxed ride this time around. She will be riding the full 312 km distance, while others may opt for shorter routes of 225km and 167km.

“It’s super nice to be back on the island where I trained so much during my career,” Van Vleuten said at the official presentation alongside cycling greats Vincenzo Nibali and Alberto Contador. “The shape is not there anymore, and I’m happy not to have the pressure of preparing for races. It’s a different life now, and I ride my bike twice a week.”

Van Vleuten’s impressive career includes victories at major races like the Tour de France Femmes and the Giro Donne. She also recently won the time trial at the Tokyo Olympics and was the runner-up in the road race.

For fans of the sport, seeing Van Vleuten back on the bike will surely be a treat, even if she’s not planning any peloton-shredding attacks this time around. As she gears up for the Mallorca 312, the cycling world eagerly awaits her return to the saddle.