Lorena Wiebes and Team DSM double-up with powerful RideLondon Classique sprint win

Controlling from the start with the GC leader’s jersey, the team did a brilliant job to ensure no dangerous groups escaped and instead one lone rider hit out. Riding well as a unit, Wiebes took more bonus seconds at the intermediate sprints after strong lead outs from the team and all eyes in the peloton turned to the punchy finale when the break was caught. Other squads threw the proverbial punches but the team were always able to react, and coming into the flamme rouge it was still all together. In a carbon copy from yesterday, Charlotte Kool brought Wiebes forward before she unleashed a dominant sprint to cross the line, making it two out of two for her and Team DSM at the race; building on that GC lead ahead of tomorrow’s final stage.

“We did a really good job as a team,” smiled Wiebes after the finish. “All the time we were in the front, stayed with each other and communicated really well. We took some seconds in the sprints, behind Ewers who was ahead for a long time. We controlled it at the front and Franzi did a really good job at that. After we passed the finish line for the first time we were in a good position for the climb. Megan did a really good job of reacting to the dangerous attacks. On the final climb, Pfeiffer positioned me and I could follow the best there and Charlotte was there in the final to set me up. I think we did a really good job as a team today and I’m super happy to finish it off for them. We’re looking forward to tomorrow and going for it one more time here to get the best result possible.”

Team DSM coach Pim Ligthart added: “Today was the hardest day on paper. We had it pretty well under control with the team all day and Lorena could already take four bonus seconds during the stage which was nice. In the final the other teams gave us a hard time by attacking a lot but the team managed it well. In the last lap we had to improvise a little bit as we were down to three after the work we put in earlier. Lorena was strong and had some super assistance from Pfeiffer and Charlotte on that last lap, with Charlotte putting her in a good position to sprint. I think again it was another really good job by the team and we’re excited to continue that on the final stage.”