Lorena Wiebes triumphed in the final stage of the 2024 Baloise Ladies Tour, securing her fifth stage win out of six and clinching the overall title. The Dutch sprinter displayed unmatched speed, crossing the line several bike lengths ahead of her closest competitors.
Wiebes’ victory on the 116.9km stage around Deinze was a masterclass in sprinting. Despite overcast skies and challenging winds, she remained unchallenged. As the peloton approached the final kilometres, the teams of EF Education-Cannondale and DSM-Firmenich PostNL were poised for a mass sprint. However, a misalignment in their lead-outs on the final bend allowed Wiebes to break free and dominate the finish.
In a tightly controlled race, several attempts to break away were made. On the fourth of seven laps, seven riders, including Alison Jackson and Christine Majerus, managed a 20-second gap. Yet, the peloton, driven by SD Worx-Protime and DSM-Firmenich PostNL, reeled them in, leaving the race wide open for a sprint finish.
Scarlett Souren launched a solo attack in the penultimate lap, building a 30-second lead. With 13.5km remaining, the peloton closed in, led by the teams of SD Worx-Protime and DSM-Firmenich PostNL. Souren, refusing to be caught, accelerated, and was joined by five others, including Megan Jastrab and Marie Schreiber. Their effort was short-lived as the peloton, driven by a relentless pace on the flat roads, absorbed them with 5km to go.
In the final sprint, it was Wiebes who prevailed, once again proving her dominance. No one else was even close to being in the photo finish and Wiebes actually opened up a 2-second gap on her rivals. Lotta Henttala finished second, while Charlotte Kool took third. Pfeiffer Georgi secured second place overall, with Thalita De Jong completing the podium.
Reflecting on her victory, Wiebes expressed her satisfaction, saying, “I had great support from my team throughout the tour, and I’m thrilled to have won five stages and the overall title.”
This victory adds to Wiebes’ impressive tally in the Baloise Ladies Tour, having won the prologue, the first stage, and two stages on Saturday. She now looks ahead to the Olympic road race in Paris on 4th August, carrying significant momentum from her performance in Belgium.
2024 Baloise Ladies Tour Stage 6 result
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2024 Baloise Ladies Tour GC result
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Main photo credit: Goyvaerts – Gmax Cycling Agency
