In last year’s very tough edition, Vos finished sixth on the iconic Piazza del Campo in Siena. After the past cross season and a successful altitude training camp in Tenerife, Vos is looking forward to her first race on the road again. “Last weekend I followed the races and it started itching to be there again. The preparation has been good and I am looking forward to it. Although you always have to wait and see where you stand at the first race. Strade Bianche is in any case a race that appeals to me. It is a tough course with a beautiful setting. It is nice to be here and to have already done a recon together."

Race coach Marco Postma: “Marianne’s first races so soon after the cross season are not among her main goals. For that reason, both Marianne and Riejanne will be our protected riders Saturday." Postma emphasizes that the focus for the team in the coming races is still on further refining the teamwork and communication among themselves. "That went very well in the first races, but there is still much growth to be achieved. We saw during today’s recon that the gravel strips were in good shape. Our goal is to be at the front of the race as a team before the start of each strip. Especially sector five will be a decisive stretch towards the final. Luckily everyone is in good shape and that gives a lot of confidence.”

After Strade Bianche, the Healthy Aging Tour is on the women’s team’s program. While this stage race through the Netherlands was cancelled last year due to the corona crisis, this year the race will return as a three-day race at closed circuits. The final stage takes place on a course on and around the VAM-Berg in Wijster, where the last Dutch National Road Race Championship was also held.