Marianne Vos wins her first race since comeback from injury
Three-time world champion Marianne Vos marked her comeback from injury with a win at the Pajot Hills Classic on Wednesday
Marianne Vos took her first victory since September 2014 on Wednesday, triumphing in the Pajot Hills Classic in Belgium in just her second race of the season.
The prolific Dutch rider took the majority of the 2015 season off after suffering multiple injuries and fatigue and made her comeback at the Drentse Acht van Westerveld on March 13.
To win the Pajot Hills Classic she had to overcome some strong opponents, including Rabo-Liv teammate and former world champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans) and Jolien d'Hoore (Wiggle-High5).
Britain's Dani King finished 12th, ahead of Ellen Van Dijk and Elisa Longo Borghini.
Dani King shows us her scars
"I'm very happy with this victory after a difficult period, this at least shows that I'm back on the right track," Vos said after the race.
The sprint was initially meant to see Ferrand-Prevot as the protected rider for Rabo-Liv, but Vos explained that she saw a gap with 220m to go and the French national champion could not keep her wheel.
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Easing herself back into the season, Vos is not included in the RaboLiv team for the Women's Tour of Flanders, which she won in 2013. Ferrand-Prevot and Anna van der Breggen highlight the six-strong team for the Classic.
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Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.