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

Retired Dutch cycling legend Annemiek van Vleuten is set to make a return to the saddle 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 illustrious career, will be joining over 8,000 amateur cyclists in the closed-roads event.

Van Vleuten, who retired last year after a successful career that saw her win every major title in women’s cycling, will be taking a more relaxed approach to the ride. “The shape is not there anymore and I’m also happy that I’m not there anymore and I don’t have the pressure of preparing for races. It’s a different life now, I ride my bike twice a week and tomorrow I hope I make the time cut!” she said at the official presentation.

Despite not being in top form, Van Vleuten plans to tackle the full 312 km distance, while other riders have the option to choose shorter routes of 225km and 167km. The Olympic time trial champion, who won gold in Tokyo and was runner-up in the road race, has an impressive list of achievements, including victories in the Tour de France Femmes and the Giro Donne.

Van Vleuten will be joined by cycling greats like Vincenzo Nibali and Alberto Contador at the event, where she hopes to enjoy the scenery and ride with fellow cycling enthusiasts. It will be a chance for fans to see the retired champion back in action, albeit in a more leisurely setting.