Lorena Wiebes of SD Worx-Protime secured a commanding win at the one-day Altez GP Oetingen p/b Lotto, signalling het good form going into the top-tier cobbled Classics later this month. It’s a 2nd win in the race for the 2022 winner.
Wiebes launched a decisive late-race attack on the main ascent, Bergstraat, fracturing the peloton and then sprinting to victory ahead of a five-rider group in Oetingen. Thalita de Jong of Lotto Dstny Ladies clinched second place, while Josie Nelson of Team dsm-firmenich-PostNL rounded off the podium in third.
The race unfolded with a relentless pace over the 119.3km course in Oetingen. The route comprised two main circuits, each featuring three challenging ascents including Congoberg, Rensberg, and Oetingen. The final 12km circuit saw the peloton complete five laps, each involving a climb up Bergstraat followed by a brief descent to the finish line.
A breakaway trio, including Christine Majerus (SD Worx-Protime), Franziska Koch (dsm-firmenich-PostNL), and De Jong, emerged halfway through the race.
Teams UAE Team ADQ, Fenix-Deceuninck, and later Visma-Lease a Bike controlled the peloton, keeping the breakaway’s advantage under a minute. As SD Worx-Protime launched attacks, a front group separated from the main field, with a chase group forming containing Wiebes, Chantal van den Broek Blaak (both SD Worx), Nelson, and others.
The chase group caught the breakaway with 20km remaining, and Majerus initiated an attack into the Kasseide cobbled sector. The race regrouped before the final lap, with Visma-Lease a Bike and Lotto Dstny Ladies leading the field onto the last circuit.
SD Worx-Protime positioned themselves for a bunch sprint, while Team dsm-firmenich-PostNL also vied for position in the finale. Wiebes seized the opportunity on the final climb of Bergstraat, launching her late-race attack over 2km from the finish line, splitting the field behind her.
A select group formed at the front, including Wiebes, De Jong, Nelson, and Uno-X Mobility riders Maria Giulia Confalonieri and Marte Berg Edseth. Despite Uno-X Mobility’s efforts to lead out the reduced group for Confalonieri, Wiebes emerged victorious in the sprint to the finish line.
De Jong Reflects on Impressive Second Place
Thalita de Jong put on an impressive performance to secure second place in the GP Oetingen today, acknowledging Wiebes as the superior sprinter. “She’s obviously the best sprinter in the world, so I’m more than satisfied with this result,” said a delighted de Jong.
De Jong spent over 60 kilometres in the breakaway, showing her strength throughout the race. Despite being caught with 15 kilometres to go, de Jong remained vigilant, positioning herself well for the sprint. “I felt really strong today and could even position myself well at the front after that long breakaway. I just kept believing,” she commented.
De Jong’s consistent top-ten finishes in recent weeks, including a fifth place in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, highlight her strong form. “I rode a very active race, put myself in a good position, managed to win the Proximus mountain prize along the way, and was in the right place at the right time,” she added.
Josie Nelson’s Third-place Finish
Josie Nelson displayed determination and strength in today’s GP Oetingen, contributing to a dynamic race with her team’s aggressive tactics. “We went into the race today with the plan to really get stuck into it and make it a hard day by attacking at any opportunity, and the girls did a really good job with this,” Nelson remarked.
Franziska Koch initiated a breakaway early in the race, setting the tone for an action-packed day. Despite being caught by the peloton, Nelson remained focused and proactive, eventually joining a group of ten riders that gained a gap on the climb.
Nelson’s strategic positioning and strong sprint secured her third place on the podium, capping off a day of hard work by her team. “I’m happy I could finish off a day of hard work by the girls with a podium!” she exclaimed.
2024 GP Oetingen result
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