Femke Gerritse powered to victory at the Volta NXT Classic Women on Saturday afternoon, taking a clear sprint win in Eijsden ahead of compatriots Meike Uiterwijk Winkel and Lonneke Uneken. Riding for the Dutch national team rather than SD Worx-Protime, the 23-year-old claimed her second win of the season after also taking Omloop van het Hageland earlier in the spring.
The women’s edition of the race was at 1.2 status and so couldn’t have Women’s WorldTour teams racing. A loophole or two allowed a Dutch National Team featuring WWT riders and a couple of riders who are part of WWT teams racing ‘down’ with their linked Development teams. Still, the final saw a sizeable front group battle it out for the win after a fast and aggressive finale.
“It was hectic in the final, but I felt strong and knew I had to finish it off,” Gerritse said after the race. “This victory means a lot to me.”
Gerritse now follows her SD Worx teammate Femke Markus, who won last year’s edition of what was formerly known as the Hel van het Mergelland. It adds her name to a list of recent winners that also includes Demi Vollering and Mischa Bredewold.
Attacks fly but sprint proves decisive
A large group of around 50 riders entered the final 25 kilometres together, suggesting a wide-open finish was ahead. The decisive split came on the final ascent of the Savelsbos climb, which saw the group whittled down to around 25 riders.
Several riders tried to escape before the finish, particularly on the approach to Mesch. Danique Braam of Hess Cycling Team launched a solo move in the closing kilometres, but she was reeled in just before the line. Anne Knijnenburg also tried to go clear.
A crash just ahead of the turn onto Diepstraat marred the final run-in, but the sprint still played out from a sizeable bunch. Gerritse opened her sprint early and had no challengers, crossing the line with several bike lengths in hand over Meike Uiterwijk Winkel of Bepink-Imatra-Bongioanni and Lonneke Uneken of VolkerWessels.
2025 Volta NXT Classic result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Main photo credit: George Deswijzen
