Blanka Vas: ‘I hope the course of the World Championships is fast, muddy & technical’

Blanka Vas: ‘I hope the course of the World Championships is fast, muddy & technical’

31/01/2025

Linked cyclists Blanka Vas

Blanka Vas: "It was great to be able to experience that feeling of winning again. Triumphing in a cyclocross can't be compared to anything. You have to fight really hard for it. It's just epic to win a real mud cross like that. You have to be technically strong, physically fit, mentally unbreakable and fight really hard for it. And of course you have to be fast and explosive. Actually, you have to be all-round top to win a cyclocross. That I managed to do it again last weekend after 3 seasons, means a release. I feel liberated. Funnily enough, I don't feel any more pressure, on the contrary, I can work towards the World Championships in peace. I know the form is good. And I have tanked a lot of confidence and motivation from Maasmechelen and Hoogerheide."

"I am the underdog in Liévin, but I will fight to the finish line. My peak comes just at the right time. What it would mean for me to become world champion? I can't put that into words. I came to Belgium as a young girl without speaking the language to focus on cross. Cyclocross plays an incredibly important role in my career. I was able to sign with Team SD Worx-Protime thanks to my results in cross. Of course everyone dreams of that rainbow jersey, but it would mean the world to me to become champion."

"I do think the course suits me. It has tricky short hills for which you have to be explosive. Hopefully it will be muddy with a still some hard underlayer so you can ride. A fast, technical and tricky course is what I'm hoping for. Normally it will be freezing on Friday night, so there will be mud anyway on Saturday. I'm not the favourite, but on a good day there might be a lot I can do as an underdog."

"I am happy that I will be at the start in my best form. Because I don't have the best memories of the world championships over the past three years. Last year I was also second in Hoogerheide, but a COVID infection threw a spanner in the works. Two years ago I got sick in January and I also missed the World Championships in Fayetteville due to a COVID infection. I have been avoiding everyone for the past few days and I am happy to be healthy and in good shape to contest a World Championship. I feel I made strides last season. Marie Schreiber and me have spent a whole winter pulling ourselves up to each other and motivating each other. I hope the cross season may end with a nice World Championships for both of us," Blanka Vas said.

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