Van Vleuten curses ‘easy' Flanders

Dutchwoman takes good form into the Ardennes

Annemieke Van Vleuten said Sunday’s edition of the Tour of Flanders was raced too easy after she was beaten to victory by Marta Bastianelli.

Speaking at the finish the Dutchwoman said: “Last year I was super happy with third place; now I’m disappointed to be second. I’m slightly better than last year but in the end the race was not hard; there were too many teams who have a sprinter and wanted a conservative race.”