Lorena Wiebes has clinched her second European Championships road race title in an emphatic fashion, sprinting to victory after a tightly controlled race by the Dutch team. The 162 km race from Heusden-Zolder to Hasselt saw Wiebes hold off Italy’s Elisa Balsamo and Poland’s Daria Pikulik to claim the gold.
The Dutch squad expertly guided Wiebes through the final stages, setting up a dramatic showdown with Balsamo’s Italian team. Despite some disruptions in the final kilometres, Wiebes maintained her composure and launched a devastating sprint in the last 200 metres, leaving no doubt about her dominance.
A well-managed race from the Dutch squad
The Netherlands took command of the race early on, positioning themselves at the front of the peloton as the riders tackled the six cobbled sectors and categorised climbs, including the Kolmontberg and Zammelenberg. Multiple attacks came from the likes of Spain and Belgium, with Nikola Noskova of the Czech Republic making the first serious move of the day. She briefly led the race after an earlier fall but was brought back by the peloton ahead of the crucial cobbled sectors.
Spain’s Mireia Benito also made a break, gaining a 25-second advantage at one point. However, her efforts were neutralised as the Dutch squad reeled her in on the approach to the final lap. The peloton, now reduced in numbers, remained tightly packed as the riders entered the last 30km.
Late attacks fail to derail Dutch control
Sara Martin of Spain launched a final attack inside 30 km, pushing her lead to nearly 30 seconds, but the Dutch, determined to keep the race together for a sprint, brought her back with just 12 km to go. The final kilometres saw a surge from the French and Italian teams, but it was clear that the race would come down to a battle between Wiebes and Balsamo.
In the closing moments, Italy’s sprint train took over, positioning Balsamo perfectly. Wiebes, however, stayed calm despite losing her lead-out in the chaos. She latched onto the Italian train before unleashing her sprint from 200 metres out, powering past her rivals to cross the line several bike lengths ahead of Balsamo and Pikulik.
Wiebes praises her team’s efforts despite final kilometre chaos
After the race, Wiebes reflected on the chaotic finish, crediting her team for keeping the race under control. “We were always in control,” she said. “It was a super hard race, and we did a fantastic job as a team. The final was a bit hectic, but we stayed calm. I knew I had to follow Italy, and it worked out perfectly in the end.”
Karlijn Swinkels, who was supposed to lead Wiebes out in the final sprint, admitted that things didn’t go exactly as planned. “We got a bit boxed in towards the end,” she told Sporza. “But we knew Lorena just needed to be in the right position, and when we saw the Italian train, we made the decision to follow. It was the right choice.”
Mischa Bredewold, last year’s European champion, played a crucial role in the Dutch team’s efforts. “We wanted to make the race hard, and we did,” she explained. “I’m happy Lorena could finish it off. I had a good day, but I wasn’t at my very best towards the end, so I tried to disrupt Italy’s rhythm, and it worked out.”
Pikulik celebrates podium finish after a long season
Daria Pikulik, who finished third, expressed her satisfaction with her performance. “This is my first podium in a European road race, and I’m really happy,” she said. “It’s been a long season with a lot of highs, but to finish with a medal here is really special.”
The race saw the Netherlands continue their dominance in the European Championships, taking their sixth consecutive elite women’s title and their eighth in nine years, with Wiebes once again proving to be the strongest sprinter in the peloton.
2024 Women’s European Championships Road Race result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Main photo credit: Cor Vos
