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Ronde van Gelderland
Preview |
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After a weeks break since the
opening European stage race of the season Energiewacht Tour,
racing continues in the Netherlands for Ronde van Gelderland.
The race is made for the sprinters and often ends in a bunch
sprint but this is the Netherlands and a select group
contesting the finish is also not out of the question.
Kirsten Wild has won the past two years and is looking to make
it three in a row for four wins total. Last year a select
group of 13 contested the finish with Wild beating out Jolien
D'hoore and Melissa Hoskins for the win.
2014 Results
1 Kirsten WILD
2 Jolien D'HOORE +0
3 Melissa HOSKINS +0
4 Thalita DE JONG +0
5 Emma JOHANSSON +0
6 Annemiek VAN VLEUTEN +0
7 Elisa LONGO BORGHINI +0
8 Roxane KNETEMANN +0
9 Nina KESSLER +0
10 Anna VAN DER BREGGEN +0
Past Winners
2014 - Kirsten Wild
2013 - Kirsten Wild
2012 - Suzanne de Goede
2011 - Ina-Yoko Teutenberg
2010 - Kirsten Wild
2009 - Ina-Yoko Teutenberg
2008 - Anne Samplonius
2007 - Marianne Vos
2006 - Bertine Spijkerman
2005 - Suzanne de Goede
2004 - Leontien Zijlaard-van Moorsel
2003 - Yvonne Troost-Brunen
The Contenders
Start list available
here
Kirsten Wild
A late start to her road season after refocusing on the Track
ahead of Rio 2016. Won gold in the scratch race and bronze in
the omnium at the Track World Championships in February.
Returned to the road winning Novilon Eurocup and picked up a
stage at the Energiewacht Tour last week. Shouldn't be
discounted in a sprint but doesn't seem to be as unstoppable
as she has in previous years.
Jolien D'hoore and Giorgia Bronzini
During the off season Wiggle Honda assembled the best sprint
train in the peloton with the recruitment of Jolien D'hoore
and Chloe Hosking. The trio of Bronzini, D'hoore and Hosking
has proven to be nearly unstoppable this year and Bronzini and
D'hoore are sure to be in action here. D'hoore has won Omloop
van het Hageland, Boels Rental Ronde van Drenthe, a stage of
Energiewacht Tour and second at Ronde van Vlaanderen. While
Bronzini took out Acht van Westerveld.
In the final kilometres at Boels Rental Ronde van Drenthe
their train was on display and nobody had any answer to them.
When you add in Emilia Fahlin, Eileen Roe and Ronde van
Vlaanderen winner Elisa Longo Borghini it is a very strong
team.
Melissa Hoskins
Team Pursuit World Champion Melissa Hoskins has been riding
herself in to form the past month and made the elite selection
on the penultimate stage of the Energiewacht Tour. The only
rider from Orica-AIS in the group, Hoskins was distanced when
attacks started and had no support. Finished on the podium
last year and is looking to go better than that this year.
Picked up two stage wins at the Santos Women's Tour beating
Bronzini.
Rabo Liv
What can Marianne Vos do in her first race of the year? Has
lost her Road and Cyclocross World titles in the past year and
despite injury early in the season will want to get off to a
good start. Roxane Knetemann was strong at the Energiewacht
Tour finishing ninth overall.
Lucy Garner and Amy Pieters
The dual Junior World Champion took a win at the Tour of
Chongming Island in her first year as a professional in 2013.
A consistent season last year with numerous podium finishes. A
knee injury kept her out of a number of early season races but
will be looking to get her season off to a fresh start here.
Boels Dolmans
Without Lizzie Armitstead for a sprint the team is likely to
be aggressive and it has the riders to pull off a strong
result. Chantal Blaak had a strong opening week in Belgium
with top 10 finishes in the three opening one day races
including winning Le Samyn. Packs a decent finish from a
select group but will want to avoid a bit sprint. Has been in
the top 10 on three occasions, with her best result second in
2012 from a select group of six.
If it does come down to a sprint look
towards two time Junior World Champion on the road Amalie
Dideriksen who won the sprint from the main chase group at
Acht van Westerveld and Novilon Eurocup. Also the current
Junior Scratch Race World Champion.
Barbara Guarischi
Barbara Guarischi gives Velocio-SRAM an option it hasn't had
for a few years, that of a pure sprinter. Finished second on
the opening road stage of the Energiewacht Tour just missing
out to Jolien D'hoore. Made the front group when the race
split on subsequent stages but couldn't hold the pace of the
big favourite when they upped the pace. If she can keep
herself well positioned will be a name to watch in the sprint.
Christina Siggaard and Molly Weaver
Matrix Fitness is steadily moving up the results sheet with
Christina Siggaard and Molly Weaver the riders who have been
producing the best results so far. Siggaard has four top 20
finishes at Omloop van het Hageland, Cholet Pays de Loire
Dames, Gent-Wevelgem and most recently Grand Prix de
Dottignies.
Weaver picked up a strong top 10 result for the team at Cholet
Pays de Loire finishing in the front group. The team works
well together and continues to build confidence with each
race.
Elena Cecchini and Amy Cure
Italian Champion Elena Cecchini continues to post top 10
result after top 10 result. Opened her season with sixth at
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and has been top 10 in every race since
other than Boels Rental Ronde van Drenthe (14th) and Novilon
Eurocup (DNF). Finished fifth at Ronde van Vlaanderen at the
start of the month. Would probably prefer a harder course but
expect another top 10 result.
Dual Track World Champion Cure is still easing in to her road
season but when on form has proven she can compete with the
best.
Bigla
Bigla is still without their sprinter Shelley
Olds who crashed out of Boels Rental Ronde van Drenthe. Vera Koedooder is
another rider with an injury impacted start to the season.
When you think of riders constantly on the attack Koedooder is
one of them. The tactic often sees her pick up a couple of wins
a year as once she has a gap is hard to catch. Don't discount
Iris Slappendel either.
Former World Cup winner Annemiek van Vleuten finished sixth
last year and is a rider on form. Has finished third at
Molecaten Drentse Acht van Westerveld, 4th Ronde van
Vlaanderen and several other top 10 finished. A decent sprint
from a select group and is another rider who can be expected
to go on the attack.
Other names to watch: Emma Johansson, Janneke Ensing, Nina
Kessler, Lauren Kitchen, Loren Rowney, Tiffany Cromwell, Laura
Trott and Sara Olsson. |
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