The team says the crossover season didn’t bring Voss what she had hoped. Complaints resulting from narrowing of the pelvic artery prevent Foss from giving the best presentations.

“It’s a pity that things have turned out this way,” Voss says disappointedly. “I wish I could have seen it differently, but treatment and recovery are priorities and hopefully we can start the road season without complaints. Of course I hope the rainbow jersey stays within the team and rests on Wim van Impel’s shoulders next year.”

Voss won his eighth cycling world title last year in Fayetteville, USA.

National team coach Gerben de Knecht understands Voss’ decision to withdraw. “It is a pity that Marianne was unable to reach her high form last year this winter due to an injury and is now unable to defend her world title,” he says. “I totally understand her choosing to focus on the road season now.”

Voss, as world champion, had the right to start in the world championship. “Because her starting place as a defending champion was a specific starting place, I couldn’t take her place by someone else,” explains the national coach. De Knegt selected Fem van Empel, Puck Pieterse, Lucinda Brand, Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, Denise Betsema, Inge van der Heijden, Annemarie Worst and Aniek van Alphen.