The first edition of the women’s Scheldeprijs was one to remember. Rozemarijn, Britt, Maud, Mylène, Charlotte and Emily woke up to snow. During the race it was cold, windy but mostly dry. The race split in the first kilometres but after contender Emma Norsgaard dropped from the first group with a mechanical, the first group was quickly brought back. There were breakaway attempts but the race ended in the expected bunch kick.
Charlotte finished in tenth place:
It was a hectic day. The wind didn’t play a huge role. Mylène, Britt and I barely missed the first group in the first split. The second time we were in the first group but everything came back together. There wasn’t much action on the local laps. In the final I crashed due to a stupid manoeuvre. Emily was super strong in bringing me back. In the final three kilometres it was utter chaos. The girls tried everything but it was really hard. Mylène really tried hard to position me but it was so hectic in the final. I was a bit far in the sprint but I got tenth in the end. Considering my form of previous races I am happy with this result.”
Emily Wadsworth was important in bringing Charlotte back. The British rider experienced an eventful ride with crashes, mechanicals and a sprint lead-out in just one race:
The race was carnage. Me and Charlotte crashed but I brought her back. I tried to position at the front. The was our first time in a hectic bunch sprint and I think we did a good job.
Unfortunately there was also bad news. Our rookie Maud Rijnbeek crashed and broke her right collar bone. It’s yet to be determined whether she needs surgery or not.
Results:
1. Lorena Wiebes (DSM)
10. Charlotte Kool
25. Mylène de Zoete
89. Emily Wadsworth
95. Britt Knaven
