Marianne Vos scored the first podium of the 2021 season for her and her new women's team, Jumbo-Visma, at the Gilbermeer Cross on Saturday in Belgium. The Dutch rider said she now feels more confident heading into the UCI Cyclocross World Championships in Ostend, Belgium, on January 30-31.

"I'm happy to get my first podium of the season," Vos said after the race in the sand and snow. [It's also the first podium for the team. It's my first podium for the team as well. Unfortunately, I made a big mistake on the last lap in the sand and lost a little time after that. Everything is getting better and it's a good confidence boost for the World Championships in Oostende."

Vos finished third in the Gilbermer Cross behind World Cup series leader Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions) and Denise Bessema (Pauwels Sauzen Bingoel). [However, world champion Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin Phoenix) and former world champion Sanne Canto (Ico Cleran) avoided the starting line.

They are expected to clash in the final round of the World Cup on January 24 in Ovelaise, and Brandt has already secured enough points to win the series title. She is one of the favorites to win the Dutch world title.

Vos made her debut in a Jumbo-Visma kit at the World Cup in Hulst earlier this month. She started the cyclocross season in Essen on December 22 and raced in Herentals on December 23 and Dendermond on December 27.

Vos is a seven-time cyclocross world champion and always in the spotlight, winning titles in 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, but she has defending champion Alvarado, Brand, Betsema, and Annemarie Worst, but the final Dutch team selection has yet to be announced.

Due to COVID-19 health restrictions, the World Championships will only be held in the U23 and elite categories; the U23 men and elite women will race on Saturday, January 30, and the U23 women and elite men on Sunday, January 31. Fans will not be allowed to watch the races.