For CANYON//SRAM Racing it was oh so close at the Womenโs World Tour race, Ronde van Drenthe in the Netherlands. The 155km race ramped up its intensity as the peloton reached the VAMberg for the first of four ascents with 70km to go. The peloton split and came back together several times over the course of the next hour of racing.
After the third climb, a dangerous four-rider move went clear and Sarah Roy was forced to help chase back. Another five-rider break went clear with 30km remaining where Shari Bossuyt and Ella Harris worked hard to bring it back ahead of the final climb. The fourth and final VAMberg caused splits in the peloton with Elise Chabbey in the front group and Sarah in the second. As the two groups came back together, Sarah found an opportunity to go in a four-rider move.
โI had a heavy crash about 7km before the first time over the VAMberg which cost me some energy. I wasnโt sure if Iโd make it back as there were so many splits already but thankfully the headwind slowed the peloton and I was happy to make it back,โ explains Sarah.
โAfter the last time up the climb it split again, and as soon as we came back to the front group I did my best to back (Elise) Chabbey up who was riding well in the front. I covered some moves and the last time was a good one that nearly stayed away to the end. It was a shame to be caught less than 1km from the finish but I think my little group was either a bit tired or happy to back their sprinters coming from behind in the main peloton. The cooperation could have been a lot better. I wasnโt super confident it would stay away because Trek and DSM had missed it but I kept riding so itโs disappointing. Itโs a positive feeling to finish top 10 after all that and my motivation is really high to build on that. We have a great team, so strong and awesome how we back each otherโs moves up so Iโm really looking forward to the next one with this group.โ
While Sarah and her breakaway companions were caught with around 600m remaining. Alice Barnes prepared for the sprint. It was won by Lorena Wiebes (DSM) with Alice finishing sixth and Sarah holding on to take tenth place.
Alice says, โI didnโt feel great today and only made it over the VAMberg one time in the front. I was lucky that the other times we came back. Roy and Elise were our main leaders today so we didnโt chase to bring my group back after the final climb when they were both ahead. The situation for us was good and it almost paid off.โ
โConsidering how I felt I was happy with sixth and that I could be there to back up the team when the break came back which it did very close to the finish. I had to fight and work hard to be in a position to sprint. My sprint wasnโt the best as I went early to get as good a position as possible but didnโt feel like I was ever in contention. Iโm disappointed that I didnโt feel good after how I felt last week as I like this race. For now, itโs time to focus again for Danilith Nokere Koerse on Wednesday,โ adds Alice.