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Le Samyn des Dames
Preview |
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The spring classics continue with
Le Samyn with the event the second in the season long Lotto
Cycling Cup.
With Strade Bianche on the weekend as the first race in the
Women's World Tour the field is not as strong as we had last
weekend but expect some hard fought racing. Defending champion
Chantal Blaak is here with her Boels Dolmans squad, Wiggle
High5 also send a team and are joined by other UCI teams
including Hitec, Tibco, Cylance and UnitedHealthcare.
2014 Results
1 BLAAK Chantal
2 VAN DER BREGGEN Anna +0
3 JOHANSSON Emma +0
4 HOSKING Chloe +0
5 D'HOORE Jolien +0
6 MOOLMAN-PASIO Ashleigh +0
7 PIETERS Amy +0
8 KNETEMANN Roxane +0
9 GUARNIER Megan +0
10 CECCHINI Elena +0
Past Winners
2015 Chantal BLAAK
2014 Emma JOHANSSON
2013 Ellen VAN DIJK
2012 Adrie VISSER
The Route
The race can be split in to two parts first a long opening
62.6km section before two laps of a 25.1km loop.
Some minor undulation on the opening second before an uphill
drag to the finish as they start the two finishing circuits.
The finishing circuits are where the main action should take
place with four cobbled sections and two climbs over the lap.
Cobbles
Rue du Vert Pignon at 67.7km (1.4km)
Côte de la Roquette 74.6km
Chemin de Wihérie at 75.7km (400m)
Rue de Belle Vue 85km
Climb
Côte de la Roquette 74.6km
Côte d Audregnies 81.7km
The Contenders
Start list available
here
Chantal Blaak and Boels Dolmans
After winning last year expect to see Blaak determined to take
a second win here. Started her season strongly with fourth
place on stage one of the Ladies Tour of Qatar. Won the sprint
for second at Omloop het Niewsblad behind her solo teammate
Lizzie Armitstead. Always performs well in the classics and
with the form she is in heads in as the favourite.
In Christine Majerus and Megan Guarnier the team has two
riders who can play either a support role or be aggressive and
chase victory themselves.
Emma Johansson and Wiggle High5
The team has a number of options to play including 2014 winner
Emma Johansson. The Queen of consistency Johansson has had a
solid start to the season finishing 10th at Omloop het
Niewsblad and 15th at Omloop van het Hageland. Excels in the
classics and in her final full season will be chasing a win
and there is no better place to start than on Belgium roads.
Packs a quick finish and the uphill ramp to the line gives her
a big advantage.
Wiggle High5 also has Amy Pieters a very similar rider to
Johansson as another option but in the event of a sprint
expect to see the team turn their attention to Lucy Garner.
One of the top sprinters in the peloton and after some injury
issues has returned to her best.
Shelley Olds
While Olds might not have won on the weekend and fifth at
Omloop het Niewsblad and fourth at Omloop van het Hageland
shows she is on form and close to the win. One of the top
sprinters in the peloton but lacks that top end speed of some
of the pure sprinters. The race finishes with an uphill ramp
and Olds will have the advantage over some of the pure
sprinters here. Wins are often hard to come by but is normally
around the mark. Handles the cobbles and climbs well and if
she is approaching the line in a select group will be hard to
beat.
Floortje Mackaij
The 20 year old had a great season last year including winning
Gent-Wevelgem and a stage of the Lotto Belgium Tour. Is made
for these sort of races and has will continue to improve.
Finished 12th at Omloop het Niewsblad and 16th at Omloop van
het Hageland on the weekend in a sign she is on great form.
Don't be surprised to see her inside the top 10 here.
Lauren Kitchen
After finishing 28th at Omloop het Niewsblad Kitchen improved
to 17th at Omloop van het Hageland. Had an excellent season in
2015 but the majority of her wins came in Asia. A strong rider
who continues to develop but doesn't appear to be on winning
form quite yet.
Sofie de Vuyst
Finished 38th and 21st at Omloop het Niewsblad and Omloop van
het Hageland respectively not the results you might have
expected and a sign she is yet to return to her 2013 form. A
strong classics rider and in this field expect to see her
closer to the top 10.
Keep an eye on Evie Richards of the Great Britain National
team. Finished in the front group at Omloop van het Hageland
on the weekend in just her second ever road race.
Other names to watch: Roxane Fournier, Kelly Druyts and Emily
Collins. |
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