Marianne Vos leaves the world cup cross in Hoogerheide on a high. She finished 4th after a decisive sprint on Sunday afternoon. It was her first performance after her absence during the past couple of weeks due to illness.

"I was no where 2 weeks ago, and now I'm back. It indicates that I do not have to get my mind off the world championship", says Marianne who was already 7 times cyclo-cross world champion.

At the same time, Marianne is realistic. In the final part, a couple of riders dropped out for different reasons. "Going into the final lap, I was at place 9", she says. "Maybe this 4th place gives a somewhat distorted picture."

Closing the gap
Sanne Cant, who won the world cup cyclo-cross, finished 51 seconds ahead of Marianne. Also numbers 2 and 3, Eva Lechner and Evie Richards, stayed out of reach. "It remains to be seen if I can still close the gap", she says.

"I have really suffered today. During the cross, I was thinking to myself: this is what I need. The intensity of a cross is so high, no training can match that. My body has to get used to this again."

Selection
National coach Gerben de Knegt will reveal his selection for the world championship later today, at which time Marianne will find out officially if she makes the team next weekend.