00:00As they took off from the starting ramp, the chain on her bike slipped,
00:03throwing her off balance and violently slamming her into the pavement.
00:07Oh no!
00:09Huge crush!
00:10Her front tyre exploded and ripped off its wheel,
00:13but as Annemiek Van Vluten sat there in shock,
00:16still trying to understand what had happened,
00:18an excruciating pain shuddered through her arm.
00:21And that's when she realised it wasn't just the bike that was broken.
00:25Annemiek had fractured her right elbow.
00:27She's one of the big favourites for the road race as well.
00:30The elite women's road race,
00:31the race which would crown the 2022 world champion in women's road cycling,
00:36was in three days.
00:37Annemiek thought that her chances of competing in the event
00:40had been completely destroyed, along with her bike.
00:42But when she left the hospital,
00:44Annemiek wasn't ready to give up on the world title just yet.
00:47And sure enough, there she was at the starting line just three days later,
00:52convinced that she could still ride and fight through the pain.
00:55And for the most part, she could,
00:56but as the race continued on, there was one glaring problem.
01:00On the hill climbs, unlike the other riders,
01:02Annemiek couldn't stand up out of her bike seat while pedalling.
01:05Holding herself up like that was impossible with her injured elbow,
01:09so she would have to do the whole race while seated.
01:12Which certainly wasn't the easiest or fastest way to climb the hills.
01:16Annemiek Van Vluten fighting for all she is worth.
01:19As they neared the finish line, Annemiek was hanging on,
01:22but she wasn't in the leading pack.
01:23And as the leaders continued pushing ahead,
01:26she started disappearing into the distance.
01:28Everyone focused on the front group of nine riders
01:31as they came into the final kilometre of the race.
01:34However, while watching the overhead shot of the race,
01:36all of a sudden, a tenth rider appeared.
01:39And Annemiek Van Vluten attacks on the right-hand side.
01:43Van Vluten goes clear, and everybody looks.
01:46Annemiek powered ahead,
01:48and as the other riders started their final frantic sprint to the finish,
01:51they were too late.
01:52Annemiek Van Vluten with the fractured elbow.
01:55Incredible!
01:56Annemiek Van Vluten sub our Winter World title.
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