Shirin van Anrooij had been anticipated to return to racing in Might following iliac artery endofibrosis surgical procedure late final yr, however her Lidl-Trek staff has introduced that given her restoration progress that begin date has been shifted and the 23-year-old will now return to racing at Milan-San Remo Girls.
The Dutch rider pulled the pin on her 2024 season early to unravel what was responsible for ache and energy loss in her left leg, along with her final street race of the season being the Grand Prix de Wallonie in September earlier than present process surgical procedure on October 31.
The expectation was that the multi-discipline rider wouldn’t return to racing for six months, so a begin on Saturday is considerably sooner than anticipated.
“I’m certain everybody can be as stunned as I used to be to seek out out that I can be racing Sanremo Girls on Saturday however, I don’t suppose anybody can be (or might be) as enthusiastic about as I’m about it,” stated Van Anrooij in a staff assertion.
“It’s sooner than we anticipated however my restoration has been going tremendous effectively so this doesn’t really feel rushed, it seems like a pure subsequent step that was taken along with my coach and the efficiency workers of Lidl-Trek.”
The 156km race from Genoa to San Remo marks the return of the Monument to the ladies’s calendar after a two-decade absence, and it’s normally a race that may go well with the 2023 Trofeo Alfredo Binda winner.
“After I obtained the call-up, at first, I actually didn’t know what to suppose,” stated Van Anrooij. “Nervous? Pleased? Excited? Scared? There have been so many ideas and emotions going by way of my mind however, actually, I’ve had a giant smile on my face ever since.
“I simply can’t wait to be again racing, to pin a quantity on a jersey and line up alongside my teammates and there’s something much more particular about it being right here, at Sanremo Girls. It’s unimaginable to be a part of this particular second for the trendy girls’s peloton and, actually, final yr I couldn’t have imagined being right here.”
Anrooij can be lining up in a Lidl-Trek squad that features Elisa Balsamo, who made certain she could be among the many high favourites at Milan-San Remo Girls by as soon as once more successful at Trofeo Alfredo Binda earlier this month. Meaning Anrooij is not going to solely be returning to the fray at a tricky occasion, however one the place the staff can be working laborious to capitalise on their sturdy hand.
“It was a extremely laborious time after my prognosis and the surgical procedure however, I’ve actually been reminded of how a lot I like biking and I do know, although it’s going to be laborious, I’ll get pleasure from each second of the race on Saturday,” stated Van Anrooij.
“We’ve carried out a recon of each Cipressa and Poggio and it was nice to lastly journey up these iconic climbs.
“I do know there isn’t a stress from Lidl-Trek for outcomes this weekend, I simply need to play my half and assist the staff as finest I can.”
It’s not but clear if this implies Van Anrooij may also line up within the upcoming Belgian Classics, or proceed to work in the direction of Might and a block of Spanish stage racing.
