Van Vleuten ready to defend her title

ANNEMIEK van Vleuten won’t be weighed down by the number one race bib as she goes out to defend her crown in today’s women’s Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.

The 35-year-old will have a massive target on her back given her performance in 2017, but it’s something she is happy to deal with over the 113km race.

“It’s special to wear number one,” van Vleuten said.

“It won’t make any difference. People know me in the peloton so it won’t make much difference.

“I expect some action in the first part of the race. There might be some more action than last year.”

Van Vleuten will again be a leading contender in the world-class field set to contest today’s race and the inclusion of the Challambra Crescent climb will play perfectly into her hands. The MitcheltonScott veteran thrives on an incline and the punchy Highton hill will test the women’s field.

“I’m very happy they also put the world championship climb in it. The final is even nicer,” van Vleuten said.

“It makes the final a little bit harder. It’s a steep, punchy climb.

“A harder race is better for me.”

Victory in last year’s race was the catalyst for a career- best season in the saddle for van Vleuten. She went on the claim the Holland Ladies Tour, La Course by Le Tour de France, Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria in Spain and was crowned world and national champion in the time trial.

Van Vleuten started 2018 with a sixth-place finish at the Tour Down Under and is still building fitness towards the track world championships.

It means van Vleuten won’t be 100 per cent ready for today’s race, but she is confident she still has the fitness to put in a strong performance.

“If I was targeting (the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race) I would have started training earlier,” she said.

“So I’m not at my best levels, but I still have a strong team which will help me.

“I am targeting it a little bit more than last year because I am bib number one. I want to defend my title.”