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Molecaten Drentse Acht van
Westerveld
Preview |
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After the opening classics week
in Belgium and Strade Bianche racing returns to the
Netherlands for the first time in 2015 the trio of races
around the Boels Rental Ronde van Drenthe World Cup. First up
is the Molecaten Drentse Acht van Westerveld. Last year the
race was all set up for a bunch sprint before Chantal Blaak
put in a late attack to hold off the chase. Two time Junior
World Champion Lucy Garner won the bunch sprint ahead of
Lizzie Armitstead.
Legendary sprinter Ina-Yoko Teutenberg won the race three
times in a row between 2008 and 2010 while Marianne Vos is
also a multiple winner.
2014 Results
1 Chantal BLAAK
2 Lucy GARNER +8
3 Elizabeth ARMITSTEAD +8
4 Barbara GUARISCHI +8
5 Emma JOHANSSON +8
6 Amy PIETERS +8
7 Trixi WORRACK +8
8 Emilia FAHLIN +8
9 Chloe HOSKING +8
10 Maria Giulia CONFALONIERI +8
Past Winners
2014 Chantal Blaak
2013 Marianne Vos
2012 Chloe Hosking
2011 Marianne Vos
2010 Ina-Yoko Teutenberg
2009 Ina-Yoko Teutenberg
2008 Ina-Yoko Teutenberg
2007 Regina Schleiger
The Route
Profile (Shows only 1 lap of finishing circuit)
After several races for the punchier riders the sprinters are
likely to be back in the picture here with the race normally
ending in a bunch sprint.
The race starts off Dwingeloo for two laps of a counter
clockwise lap. Just before the end of the second lap riders
turn away from Dwingeloo for five laps of a 7.4km finishing
circuit.
The Contenders
Start list available
here Provisional only
Chantal Blaak and Lizzie Armitstead
Blaak is the defending champion after a strong attack inside
the closing kilometres to solo to the line. A strong start to
her European season finishing fourth at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
before winning the uphill sprint at Le Samyn. On good form and
will be looking to take a second win on Dutch roads. Knowing
Lizzie Armitstead is one of the quickest in the field expect
to see Blaak on the attack.
Two stage wins and the overall in Qatar, won the bunch sprint
at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad before finishing second at Strade
Bianche. Had the year of her career last year but wins were
still hard to come by. Last year was lacking the finishing
speed of old but seems to have improved there. Boels Dolmans
have been dominant this year so far and with two riders on
form expect to see them prominent again.
Barbara Guarischi and Velocio-Sram
Made the move to Velocio-Sram over the off season giving the
team a sprinter for the first time since the retirement of
Ina-Yoko Teutenberg. Third in the bunch sprint last year just
missing the podium. Finished 2014 strongly with stage wins at
La Route de France and Trophée d'Or Féminin and picked up
where she left off with third on the final stage of the Ladies
Tour of Qatar.
The always consistent Tiffany Cromwell has had a solid start
to the season seventh in Qatar and fifth at Omloop Het
Nieuwsblad. Has been working on her sprint the past 18 months
and continues to improve. Not able to match the pure sprinters
but from a select group is dangerous.
Loren Rowney packs a quick finish and has started the year
strongly finishing third overall at the Santos Women's Tour.
Could sprint to a strong finish but likely to provide a strong
leadout for Guarischi.
Emma Johansson and Orica-AIS
There is never a race when Emma Johansson cannot be considered
a contender. Strong across the entire year and is already
producing results in 2015. Fifth in Qatar had a rare result
outside the top 10 at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad before finding the
podium at Le Samyn des Dames. Johansson was fifth here last
year but unless the race is hard it is not one that is perfect
for her. After a mechanical took her out of contention at
Strade Bianche expect her to bounce back here. A strong
finisher but is not a pure sprinter.
Melissa Hoskins makes her European debut for 2015 after being
back on the bike for just over a week after winning the team
pursuit at the Track World Championships. Don't expect too
much but has in the past made a quick transition between the
track and road. Will come in with confidence having had a
strong start to the year. Including a maiden individual
National title, first senior World title and two stages at the
Santos Women's Tour where she beat Giorgia Bronzini. If she is
going well could surprise everyone but her main targets are
later in the season.
Classics speciallist Loes Gunnewijk in her last season is
always one to watch in the spring classics.
Chloe Hosking, Girogia Bronzini and
Jolien D'hoore
Wiggle have a very strong team and three on form sprinters.
Chloe Hosking won the opening stage of the Bay Crits before
finishing second overall in Qatar. Has had the best start to a
European season to date finishing 12th at Omloop Het
Nieuwsblad and fourth at Le Samyn des Dames. When on form
Hosking has one of the fastest finishers in the peloton and
even beat Kirsten Wild last year EPZ Omloop van Borsele.
Jolien D'hoore is a rider who seems to be able to step off the
road on to the track and perform and vice versa. Missed a
medal in the omnium at the but it was another step up for her
after an early season sixth place overall in Qatar. Just days
after Track Worlds finished 33rd at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad but
was quickly flying with fitth at Le Samyn before winning from
a break at Omloop van het Hageland with strong support from
Hosking.
For Bronzini is it only her second race in Europe after Strade
Bianche but took two wins in Australia in January and was
reasonably strong in Qatar. The dual World Champion on the
road is always a name to watch but with two other riders on
form might work for one of them.
Kirsten Wild
Wild as a renewed focus on the track heading towards Rio 2016
and the race marks her first race on the road for 2015 after
claiming the bronze medal in the omnium at the Track World
Championships in late February. It is a race she has never won
before but is well suited to. Her road form will be
interesting to see but when she is on form is incredibly hard
to beat in a bunch sprint.
If Wild is not yet at her best Lauren Kitchen is a rider who
could challenge. The new Oceania Champion has a quick finish
especially if it has been a hard race.
Lucinda
Brand
With Marianne Vos and Pauline Ferrand-Prevot and now no Anna
Van der Breggan, other riders have an opportunity to shine.
Lucinda
Brand won the Energiewacht Tour and final World Cup round GP
de Plouay-Bretagne last year from a solo break. Likes to
attack but was sprinting better than ever in Qatar with three
top six finishes.
Maria Giulia Confalonieri
The 21 year old Italian could be a surprise packet here after
rounding out the top 10 in 2014. Bronze medallist in the
Italian Championships was a big improver last year. Don't be
surprised to see her inside the top 10.
National Team United States
The US National team has multiple cards to play. Criterium
specialist and sprinter Coryn Rivera could be a surprise
packet here. Has spent little time racing in Europe but the 22
year old is a star on the rise. Alexis Ryan is another name to
keep an eye on.
Other names to watch: Ellen Van Dijk, Roxane Knetemann, Joelle
Numainville, Kelly
Druyts, Arianna Fidanza, Emilia Fahlin, Eileen Roe, Pascale
Jeuland and Roxane Fournier.
Update: Shelley Olds, Anna Van der Breggan were down to start
but will not be riding. |
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