The Baloise Ladies Tour got underway this evening with a fast 3.9 kilometre blast around the streets of Utrecht. Featuring some sharp turns coupled with longer straights, the bunch had to find a good balance between carrying speed through the corners and putting the power down between them.
Everyone in the team set out to do their best time possible, tackling the course at full speed. First down the ramp for the team was Francesca Barale who moved into a provisional second with a time of five minutes and 37 seconds. The team continued to light up the timing charts with both Léa Curinier and Esmée Peperkamp moving into the hot seat when they crossed the line, stopping the clock in five minutes and 25 seconds, and five minutes and 22 seconds, respectively.
Liane Lippert was next down the ramp for the team and she too would move into the top ten with a time of five minutes and 26 seconds while Pfeiffer Georgi, fresh off her British U23 TT title, also stormed around the course; stopping the clock in five minutes and 23 seconds. Last to leave the start house for the team was Lorena Wiebes, and she would put her sprinting prowess to good use, powering around the course and stopping the clock in five minutes and 19 seconds.
With the dust settled and all riders having completed their efforts against the clock, the team ended the stage with an incredible five riders in the top ten; including second and third for Wiebes and Peperkamp respectively, while Georgi moves into the lead of the best young rider competition.