Born: 1987 (‘s-Hertogenbosch, North Brabant)
Marianne Vos is a Dutch multi-discipline cyclist, known for her exceptional achievements in road racing, cyclo-cross, and track racing. Born on May 13, 1987, in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, North Brabant, Vos has become one of the most successful and influential female cyclists in history.
Vos developed a passion for cycling at a young age, inspired by her older brother who was already involved in the sport. Starting her career at just six years old, Vos initially trained with her brother’s team before eventually being allowed to participate in races herself. She also dabbled in speed skating and inline speed skating, but it was in cycling where she truly excelled.
In 2002, at the age of 15, Vos made her mark by winning two national championships and finishing second in another. She became the Dutch mountain biking champion and also claimed victory in the national junior road race. The following year, she successfully defended her national junior mountain bike title. Vos showcased her talent in cyclo-cross in 2004, winning her first international race in Gieten and establishing herself as a force to be reckoned with in the discipline.
Vos’s breakthrough moment came in 2006 when she won her first World Championships in both road racing and cyclo-cross, becoming the youngest rider to achieve such a feat at just 19 years old. This remarkable accomplishment would mark the beginning of Vos’s dominance in women’s cycling. Over the course of her career, she would become a three-time World Road Race Champion, clinching the title in 2006, 2012, and 2013. Additionally, Vos has an astonishing eight World Cyclo-cross Championships to her name, winning consecutively from 2009 to 2014 and once again in 2022.
The Olympics also provided a stage for Vos to showcase her exceptional talent. At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, she took home the gold medal in the points race. Four years later, at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Vos added another gold to her collection, this time in the women’s road race. These Olympic victories solidified Vos’s status as one of the greatest cyclists of her generation.
Throughout her career, Vos has achieved numerous victories in prestigious races such as the Giro Donne, Holland Ladies Tour, Ladies Tour of Norway, La Flèche Wallonne, Ronde van Drenthe, Trofeo Alfredo Binda-Comune di Cittiglio, Emakumeen Euskal Bira, and GP de Plouay – Bretagne. She has also topped the points standings in the UCI Women’s Road World Cup five times and the 2019 UCI Women’s World Tour.
Vos’s influence extends beyond her impressive racing resume. She has been a prominent advocate for women’s cycling and gender equality in the sport. As a founding member of Le Tour Entier, Vos played a key role in campaigning for a Women’s Tour de France and pushing for improvements in women’s cycling as a whole.
With her exceptional talent, versatility, and dedication to advancing women’s cycling, Marianne Vos has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the sport. She has drawn comparisons to the legendary Eddy Merckx as the finest cyclist of [her] generation. Vos’s achievements continue to inspire aspiring female cyclists around the world and contribute to the growth and recognition of women’s cycling in general.
Awards:
– 3-time UCI World Road Race Champion (2006, 2012, 2013)
– 8-time UCI World Cyclo-cross Champion (2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2022)
– Olympic Gold Medalist in the women’s points race (2008)
– Olympic Gold Medalist in the women’s road race (2012)
– Various victories in prestigious races such as the Giro Donne, Holland Ladies Tour, Ladies Tour of Norway, La Flèche Wallonne, Ronde van Drenthe, Trofeo Alfredo Binda-Comune di Cittiglio, Emakumeen Euskal Bira, and GP de Plouay – Bretagne.
– First place in the UCI Women’s Road World Cup points standings five times
– First place in the 2019 UCI Women’s World Tour points standings.