Marianne Vos rules out cyclo-cross programme in 2023 after surgery

Jumbo-Visma's Marianne Vos is back riding her bike after undergoing iliac artery surgery, but has ruled out a cyclo-cross racing programme this winter as she instead works towards a 2024 return.

After struggling with pain and lack of power during the 2023 season, Vos underwent iliac artery surgery in August to attempt to alleviate the effects of iliac endofibrosis, a relatively common issue among professional cyclists.

Vos had already undergone iliac artery surgery in 2020 and in February of this year, but continued to struggle through the summer.

“Five weeks post-surgery, happy with the progress and back on the road,” Vos wrote in an Instagram post on Sunday, along with a photo of her back aboard her Cervélo and riding on open roads in the Netherlands.

“During the first 5 weeks of rehabilitation I was not allowed to do physical activity,” she continued. “Since this week I am back on the bike for a 1-hour ride every other day and this may gradually increase in time & intensity over the upcoming 3 weeks towards every day 2 hours in the 8th week.

“Although I definitely made the best of my time off the bike, I look forward and feel curious to get back in training.”

Whilst the surgery in August put a definitive end to Vos’ road season, some may have hoped she could make a return to cyclo-cross racing, in which she is a former world champion.

However, the 36-year-old confirmed that no such off-road return was currently on the cards, instead focusing on her road form ahead of the new season.

“Last week I sat together with my new coach Rutger Tijssen [Jumbo-Visma women’s general manager] to make a plan regarding 2024. The first and main focus will be building a solid base, which means no CX races planned.”

Amid rumours of a Jumbo-Visma and Soudal Quick-Step merger, the Jumbo women’s team seems to be planning to continue as normal next year, making some big changes to their set-up and bringing in new staff for 2024. Several riders have been confirmed to be departing the team, but Marianne Vos will remain as one of the Dutch squad’s core riders, alongside Anna Henderson and Riejanne Markus.