- Home
- Sports
- Miscellaneous
- 'Little bit tired' Van Vleuten shrugs off Olympics jet lag for San Sebastian triumph
'Little Bit Tired' Van Vleuten Shrugs Off Olympics Jet Lag For San Sebastian Triumph
Muhammad Rameez Published July 31, 2021 | 11:06 PM
Annemiek van Vleuten shrugged off jet lag and a 10,000km journey from Japan to win the San Sebastian classic on Saturday, just three days after capturing an Olympic gold medal
San Sebastian, Spain, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st Jul, 2021 ) :Annemiek van Vleuten shrugged off jet lag and a 10,000km journey from Japan to win the San Sebastian classic on Saturday, just three days after capturing an Olympic gold medal.
"With the jet lag, I felt a bit more tired," said the 38-year-old Dutch star who was crowned time-trial champion in Tokyo only on Wednesday.
She then took a 12-hour flight back to Europe where she honoured a commitment to race for her Spanish Movistar team, who are based in the Basque region.
The gutsy rider went solo from 10km out to win by almost a minute.
"This is my first txapela," she said of the traditional Basque beret awarded to the winner of the classic in only its second women's edition.
"I was so tired and jet-lagged, I couldn't sleep much during the last two days," she admitted of the long haul back from Tokyo.
She and her team did, however, have time to ride over the course in advance.
"More than a win by me, it's more of an amazing victory from the whole Movistar Team," she said generously.
"I was never in any trouble. I didn't know how the jet lag would be but I wanted to win here for my team.
"It was a hard race as everyone raced quite well, and the rain made it harder. With the jetlag, I felt a bit more tired, so it was extra hard. But if the team is working so hard, I have to finish it off." Van Vleuten could have won two golds in Tokyo had it not been for an embarrassing gaffe in the road race.
Crossing the line she thought she'd won gold and celebrated by punching the air in delight.
In fact, the race had been won by Austrian amateur Anna Kiesenhofer who had escaped earlier and been forgotten about.
There was no doubt, however, about victory in Wednesday's time trial at the Fuji International Speedway.
Van Vleuten delivered a dominant performance to finish almost a minute ahead of the sliver medal winner.
Recent Stories
Mired in crisis, Boeing reports another loss
Session Awarding Ceremony 2024 held at Cadet College Muzaffarabad
Austrian ski great Hirscher to make comeback under Dutch flag
Pakistan, Japan agrees to convene 'Economic Policy Dialogue'
FM Dar conveys deepest sympathy on torrential rains devastation in UAE
Spain PM Sanchez says weighing resignation after wife's graft probe
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results - 1st update
Long-lost Klimt portrait auctioned off for 30 mn euros
Osaka seals first win on clay since 2022 in Madrid
Earthquake jolts Karachi
Sindh minister orders operation after attack on police in Ghotki
TikTok to fight US ban law in courts
More Stories From Sports
-
Austrian ski great Hirscher to make comeback under Dutch flag
7 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results - 1st update
7 hours ago -
Osaka seals first win on clay since 2022 in Madrid
7 hours ago -
Watford hire Cleverley as permanent boss
7 hours ago -
Karachi, Lahore, Multan win matches of National Women’s Cricket Tournament
8 hours ago -
No communication gap among players, asserts Babar Azam
8 hours ago
-
Bracewell looks ahead to Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan
8 hours ago -
Bolt named ICC Men’s T20 WC 2024 ambassador
9 hours ago -
Kewell's Yokohama beat Ulsan to reach Asian Champions League final
10 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results
10 hours ago -
Advisor Sports hands over Rs500,000 to prominent Martial Art Athlete Irfan Mehsud
10 hours ago -
Muhammad Rizwan, Mohammad Irfan Khan ruled out of T20I series against New Zealand
11 hours ago