- I can not believe it's true.
There is so much upside down in a sports career.
But adversity makes happiness so much greater when it occurs.
This would have been great even without the crash in Rio, but this makes the story very special, says van Vleuten.
Emma Johansson was especially pleased with van Vleuten's victory.
- Now I think she is about to avoid being known for the crash in the Olympics and instead be mentioned as the miracle woman who won the World Cup, says SVT's expert Emma Johansson, who was closest to van Vleuten at the accident site a mile before the finish in the Olympics. the race.
The Dutchwoman was knocked out when the pursuers passed on their way to the medals.
- When we passed van Vleuten we said we would drive for her and the first thing I did when we were at the finish was the first thing I did to go to the Dutch team and find out how it went for Annemiek, explains Johansson who was second after Anna van der Breggen in the race.
In tears after the triumph
van Vleuten was barely behind early leading countrywoman Anna van der Breggen until the first half but pulled away in the downhill run towards the end and sat smiling in the leadership chair after making a triumphant gesture.
When the victory was over, van Vleuten burst into tears and hugged van der Breggen at the podium.
Below, the mother stood documenting the tears with her mobile phone.
After the competition, mother and daughter hugged.
- You do not think it's true.
Now we forget that crash in the Olympics and I almost feel like starting cycling again, says a moved Johansson of the emotional resolution.
No Swedes participated in the race.