Lorena Wiebes, the 2022 season's most decorated winner, joined the ranks of top riders who dabble in cyclocross in the off-season, taking part in the Jaarmarktcross Niel on Friday for a change of pace.

The 23-year-old, who moves to SD Worx from Team DSM in January, has won 22 races this year, including a three-day race at the RideLondon Classique and two complete stages at the Tour de France. She told Sporza that she uses cyclocross for "good interval workouts" rather than aiming for top results.

Many road racers have cyclocrossed in the off-season, but it has become more fashionable in recent years, with Wout van Aert, Mathieu van der Poel, and Tom Pidcock making successful cross-to-road transitions. Even two-time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar competed in cyclocross last year.

"It's technical but also explosive. You need to be punchy. It's good to keep up the technique.

But Vives was no novice at this race. I'm not new to cyclo-cross at all," he said. I used to race cyclo-cross when I was younger and that's where it all started. Since then it's been all road races. Last year I raced in the Kortrijk and Boom cyclo-cross races."

Although her performance in Neel was not as dominant as the other Dutch cyclo-cross racers, Vives did put in a respectable performance in 22nd place, 6:23 behind winner Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado.

"I'm glad I didn't get pulled out of the race," Wiebes joked. The last rider to avoid being lapped was another two minutes behind. Fortunately, I was fast enough. It was fun."

We will see the black jersey of Team DSM in a few more cyclocross races before the season is over.

"I want to ride a little more cross this year. Next season I'll be riding for a new team and right now I'm racing with my own equipment."

Her schedule is not yet set.

"I'm still exploring. I want to be in Kortrijk next week. In any case, the new team doesn't mind me riding cross. In looking at the road, this is certainly not a loss."