Anouska Koster wins Kreiz Breizh Elites Féminin with solo effort

Anouska Koster 2024 Kreizh Breizh Elite Feminin

The Kreiz Breizh Elites Féminin held today, saw a thrilling contest over 137.8 km from Callac to Pontrieux in Brittany. The race, characterised by its hilly terrain and eight laps around Pontrieux, was marked by a series of attacks and strategic manoeuvres.

The race began with a high pace as riders sought to establish early breakaways. Despite numerous attempts, the peloton remained largely together, navigating the challenging course with determination. The final lap, however, proved decisive.

Anouska Koster of Uno-X Mobility made her move on the last climb of the day. Timing her attack perfectly, Koster broke away from the peloton just before the top of the climb, creating a significant gap. Her powerful descent and sustained effort kept her ahead of the chasing group.

Behind her, the peloton fought to close the gap, but Koster’s lead was unassailable. She crossed the finish line solo, celebrating her first UCI victory since 2019’s Tour de l’Ardeche – a gap of almost 5 years.

Alice Wood of Human Powered Health finished second, winning the bunch sprint behind Koster. The 29-year-old Briton, in her final season as a professional, executed a strong sprint to secure her place on the podium. Marta Jaskulska of Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team took third, with Karlijn Swinkels of UAE Team ADQ finishing fourth.

Reactions from the riders

“We were very well in the race with the team. We were always present in the right leading groups. That was already fantastic and that in a well-attended race with many strong teams,” Koster recounted. “On the last climb, I chose the right moment to go and created a gap there.”

“After that I didn’t look back and gave it my all. The descent was still difficult, but I felt really good and felt that I still had power in my legs. At 500 metres I looked back and then I knew that it was in. That was a great feeling and I could already cheer before the finish.”

Reflecting on her victory, Koster added, “It has been 5 years since my last big victory. So of course I am very happy with this victory, not only for myself but also for the team. It gives a great feeling to win for Uno-X Mobility, especially after such a strong team performance as today.”

Alice Wood expressed her joy at finishing on the podium, stating, “I’m really happy to get on the podium. It’s been a long time so it’s nice to get what could be my last podium.”

Wood had to adapt her strategy in the closing stages of the race. “It wasn’t the plan for me to sprint so I had to adapt. I had to be confident in myself which is something I struggle with. I was on my own in the final and managed to make sure I was in a good position to be able to sprint. I started early to ensure I had the best chance and was surprised when no one came around me.”

Human Powered Health’s strong presence was highlighted by Wood, who said, “It was a tough race with a lot of attacks and climbs which the girls controlled well.”

Karlijn Swinkels, who finished fourth, credited her teammate Mikayla Harvey for her support. Harvey’s efforts positioned Swinkels well for the final sprint, showcasing the teamwork within UAE Team ADQ.

2024 Kreizh Breizh Elites Féminin result

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