Nearly a month to the day after her horror crash at the Olympic Games, which left her hospitalised for several days, Annemiek van Vleuten stormed to victory in her first race back.
Van Vleuten crashed heavily on the final descent of the Rio 2016 road race, leaving her with three spinal fractures, severe concussion and an enforced stay in a local hospital.
But the 33-year-old has bounced back to winning ways by dominating the 4.3km prologue at the start of the Lotto Belgium Tour to win by a full seven seconds.
It’s fair to say her impressive win went down well with cycling fans, who were left stunned by her horrific accident in Rio.
Amazing!!! Congratulations to @AvVleuten WINNING her first race back at the #LottoBelgiumTour 🏆🎖👏🏻🚴🏻💨 https://t.co/5rx23EzQGk
— ORICA-SCOTT (@OricaScott) September 6, 2016
What a way to return to racing after Rio. Congratulations @avvleuten https://t.co/ak6q1riDl4
— Anthony McCrossan (@antmccrossan) September 6, 2016
Think anybody who saw Annemiek van Vleuten crash her bike in Rio will be delighted – and surprised – to hear this https://t.co/O1KzyaZs3i
— Ken Foxe (@kenfoxe) September 6, 2016
Holy moly @AvVleuten winning prologue #LottoBelgiumTour by SEVEN seconds!! What a comeback! Such an inspiration to us all! 💪🏼💪🏼
— AmandaSpratt (@AmandaSpratt) September 6, 2016
The win is Van Vleuten’s fourth against the clock this season, including the Dutch National Championships time trial in June.
Van Vleuten takes a seven second lead into the final three stages of the race, which features a finish in Geraardsbergen on the final day.
