Marianne Vos underwent surgery for iliac artery stenosis on Thursday and will take 10 days off.

The Dutchwoman has announced that she will not participate in the cyclocross world title defense in Hoogerheide and will undergo treatment before the road season.

Vos has been training in Calpe for the past few weeks for a new campaign and returned to the Netherlands on Tuesday ahead of her surgery. In a social media post, the Jumbo Visma rider was upbeat about his preparations for the season.

"After a productive few weeks on and off the bike in Costa Blanca, I'm on my way home," Vos wrote on Instagram (opens in new tab). [Next Thursday I will undergo treatment on my pelvic artery and then have 10 days of rest. Already looking forward to getting back on the bike for my first race."

Vos has been hampered by iliac artery problems during the cyclocross season, with his victory at the X2O Trofee Kortrijk - Urban Cross in November his only win this winter. after struggling at the World Cup in Benidorm in late January, Vos is now looking forward to the road season Vos decided not to compete in the World Championships in order to focus on his preparations for the road season.

"The CX season didn't go the way I wanted it to. I tried my hardest, but I had problems with my iliac artery and could not perform. My main focus now is to prepare for the road season and to get in shape before I undergo treatment [in mid-February]."