In addition to a prologue and time trial, the women’s team will be presented with four stages in the Simac Ladies Tour. “These are nice stages in which we can use our strong points”, sports director Marco Postma says. “Marianne is our leader, but as a team we have more trump cards to play. We will race aggressively and create and take chances where we can. We have a group of strong riders who can do well in the flat second and fourth stage, but who can also stand their ground in the tough and hilly stages. As a team we are really looking forward to this beautiful Dutch race. Everyone is motivated to show themselves in their own country.”
Karlijn Swinkels is also looking forward to racing in her own country. “The Simac Ladies Tour is always one of the best races of the year. There is a stage for every type of rider. A prologue, a time trial, a number of sprints and the necessary altitude metres. That makes it super nice. I am looking forward the most to the prologue and the last two stages. They offer many opportunities because it involves a lot of twisting and turning. Above all I think we will be at the start with a complete team, so that we can compete for the prizes in each stage.”
After the Olympic Games and a training camp at altitude, Marianne Vos will also make her appearance in the stage race. “It’s nice to race in the Netherlands again. And the stage schedule is very varied. There are good opportunities to show ourselves as a team and try to go for a stage win. I just got back from altitude training and it is nice to go into a race with the team again. I am really looking forward to it.”
Besides Vos and Swinkels, the selection for the Simac Ladies Tour consists of Teuntje Beekhuis, Anouska Koster, Pernille Mathiesen and Romy Kasper.
Following the Dutch race, Team Jumbo-Visma Women will appear at the start of GP de Plouay on Monday. In the French one-day race the yellow-black formation is represented by Anna Henderson, Aafke Soet, Amber Kraak, Riejanne Markus, Nancy van der Burg and Julie Van de Velde.