Today the Flanders Diamond Tour was on the programme, a race in the Lotto Cycling Cup. This race, over 136 kilometres, was previously attributed to the sprinters. Lorena Wiebes (Team DSM), Elisa Balsamo (Valcar – Travel & Service), Maria Bastianelli (Alé BTC Ljubljana) and Jolien D’hoore were named as the big favourites .
The peloton was complete for almost the entire race. Silke Smulders (Lotto-Soudal) managed to escape in the final, but was taken back eight kilometres from the finish. Team DSM, Team SD Worx, Parkhotel Valkenburg and Valcar Travel & Services then kept the pace high, so that escapes were impossible.
In the run-up to this bunch sprint it was hectic in the peloton. Lorena Wiebes proved to be the fastest, while Jolien d’Hoore on behalf of Team SD Worx finished sixth.
After the finish, sports director Jack Seehafer reacted: “Both Jolien D’hoore and Roxane Fournier crashed but were able to finish the race. It’s not the result we wanted and hoped for, but all should be good going to the nationals next week.”
Photo credits: Getty Sport