Cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten has been made an honorary citizen of Wageningen. She is the city’s sixth honorary citizen and the first woman to do so. “Perhaps it was about time,” Van Vleuten told Omroep Gelderland.
The 40-year-old sports star is therefore on a list between names such as Prince Bernard and Canadian general Charles Foulkes, who negotiated the German capitulation in Wageningen.
“It is very cool and a great honor to be in that list,” says Van Vleuten. She receives the certificate for her “unsurpassed sports achievements” and “putting the city on the global map”.
Last season
Van Vleuten became Olympic time trial champion in Tokyo in 2021. In 2022 she was the first cyclist to win the Grand Slam: she won the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France Femmes and the Vuelta a España in the same season. She also became world champion on the road.
She is now in her last season as a professional cyclist. This Sunday she will ride the Amstel Gold Race for the last time.
“I feel that everything has been very nice. It is the best conclusion I could wish for by being able to ride my last races in the rainbow jersey. The world is at my feet and I have said no to so many things in recent years have to say. I am very curious where the new chapter will take me.”
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