Liv Racing looks back on a more than successful Tour de l’Ardèche in France. In the final stage Jeanne Korevaar rode to second place after breaking away with later stage winner Lucinda Brand and Lucy Kennedy. The mountain and combination jersey of Pauliena Rooijakkers were not in danger anymore. Rooijakkers finished fourth in the general classification, Korevaar sixth.
“It was a fairly short stage with two longer climbs. On the first long climb there were already several attacks. Our goal was to be in the breakaway. The first attacks from the competitors on the first climb were countered. Halfway up that climb, Lucinda Brand and Lucy Kennedy got away. I managed to close the gap with them. Fortunately for us, the peloton did not react and let us go”, says Jeanne Korevaar.
“We gave it full throttle. Our goal was to make the gap as big as possible. That was especially good for me, because I was the best placed rider of the three. That way we wanted to put pressure on GC leader Leah Thomas and Movistar. We hoped as a team to turn the general classification upside down. Not necessarily with me, but also with Pauliena Rooijakkers, who was close in the standings and felt good. Our biggest gap was two minutes. That did surprise me. It then became clear that we could ride for the stage win, although our lead dwindled on the second long climb. In the final, Lucinda Brand was the strongest.”
Korevaar looks back positively on the seven days in the Ardèche. “I have fought at the front all week. That gives me confidence. My sixth place in the general classification was also a positive surprise. The general classification was not a goal in itself. And of course I have had a busy month with many races. So I can only be satisfied with the level I achieved. Now it’s all about recovering and working towards Paris-Roubaix.”
Debut for Ayesha McGowan
For Liv Racing, the Tour de l’Ardèche was an extra special race. American Ayesha McGowan was part of the line-up for the first time. In the sixth and penultimate stage she was part of the decisive breakaway. In that stage she finished seventh.
Photo credits: Cor Vos