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Women's WorldTour Ronde van
Drenthe
Preview |
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The Women's World Tour continues
with the Ronde van Drenthe in the Netherlands. Jolien D'hoore
returns with her Wiggle High5 squad that has four of the top
10 last year including runner up Amy Pieters and former winner
Emma Johansson.
While Wiggle High5 are clearly the team to beat world champion
Lizzie Armitstead will have something to say about it as she
hopes to make it three from three in 2016 and extender her
series lead. The likes of Rabo, Canyon SRAM, Orica-AIS and
Bigla all have strong teams that will hope to impact the race.
2015 Results
1 Jolien D'HOORE
2 Amy PIETERS +0
3 Eleonora VAN DIJK +0
4 Lucinda BRAND +0
5 Chloe HOSKING +0
6 Tiffany CROMWELL +0
7 Elizabeth ARMITSTEAD +3
8 Emma JOHANSSON +3
9 Marta TAGLIAFERRO +3
10 Barbara GUARISCHI +3
Past Winners
2015 - Jolien D'hoore
2014 - Elizabeth Armitstead
2013 - Marianne Vos
2012 - Marianne Vos
2011 - Marianne Vos
2010 - Loes Gunnewijk
2009 - Emma Johansson
2008 - Chantal Beltman
2007 - Adrie Visser
The Route
In traditional Dutch style the course is almost completely
flat with one notable exception the manmade VAMBerg. At 380m
it is short but it is steep as well with an average gradient
of 9.7% having started off at 14%
The first ascent comes after just 10.2km and is unlikely to
play a major impact in the race but the two ascents in the
final 40 kilometres are likely to present opportunities. The
Second climb comes with 35.7km to go and the third and final
just seven kilometres later with 28.6km remaining.
With nearly 30 kilometres to go the final time over the
VAMBerg there is time for the sprinters to regroup but if the
right combination is able to escape they could stay away to
contest the finish.
The Contenders
Start list available
here
Jolien D'hoore and Wiggle High5
If you look at the top 10 from last year four of the top 10
ride for Wiggle this year. Defending champion Jolien D'hoore
comes in looking to make it two in a row and runner up Amy
Pieters has joined the team giving them another strong option.
Sprinter Chloe Hosking (fifth last year) and 2009 winner Emma
Johansson (eighth last year) give the team options. That is
before you add Giorgia Bronzini and Elisa Longo Borghini who
are both very capable.
For D'hoore it will be her first road race of the season
following the Track World Championships where she finished
fourth in the scratch race and sixth in the omnium. Showed
last year she is arguably the best sprinter in the world at
the moment but can get over the hillier terrain as well. With
less than a week since the Track World Championships can she
perform on the road immediately. If she is delivered to the
line the way she was last year will be hard to beat.
While many eyes will be on the defending champion they have
other cards to play with Emma Johansson and Elisa Longo
Borghini capable of launching long range moves. While in a
sprint Bronzini, Hosking and Pieters could just as easily wind
up on top.
Lizzie Armitstead and Boels Dolmans
Armitstead is two for two this season including winning the
first Women's World Tour event last weekend Strade Bianche.
Going for three in a row and based on her current form she
could well do it. The past two years have seen Armitstead
develop in to the best one-day rider in the world culminating
in her world title at the end of last year. While she would
probably prefer a hillier course expect her to attack and try
and break the group. Short steep climbs like the VAMBerg suit
her perfectly. Even if it comes back to a sprint Armitstead
will still be one of the top riders to watch with her quick
sprint.
Chantal Blaak finished second to Armitstead at Omloop Het
Nieuwsblad before winning Le Samyn des Dames. A strong rider
for the classics with a strong sprint but will need to try and
eliminate the sprinters if she wants to win. With Armitstead
don't be surprised to see Blaak go on the attack forcing
others to chase while Armitstead sits on.
Watch for Nikki Harris who has been strong in her first full
season and while is likely to play a support role is a
wildcard.
Canyon SRAM
A team with six options to play. Tiffany Cromwell had a strong
Australia summer and showed she is back to her old form with a
third place finish at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. For years it was
said Cromwell couldn't sprint but that is something she has
been working on and has improved. Not going to trouble the
pure sprinters but can win from a select group. Her last six
results here have been 11, DNF, 14, 9, 12 and 6 in a sign the
race is one suited to her.
Italian Champion Elena Cecchini has big hopes for this season
and after competing at the Track World Championships is back
on the road looking for success. A strong rider who handles
the classics well and packs a strong finish. Will be looking
to improve on her 14th of last year but might have to support
Cromwell.
Lisa Brennauer and Alena Amialiusik will be strong cards for
the team to chase or make moves themselves. Alexis Ryan in her
first season on a European team has been impressive and Trixi
Worrack never a name to discount.
Lucinda Brand
After finishing sixth at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, and fifth at
Omloop van het Hageland expect the Dutch Champion to be
challenging for the win on home roads. Just missed the podium
last year in fourth and will want to correct that this time.
Packs a strong finish from a more select group and will need
to find a way to escape without the sprinters.
Anna Van der Breggen is another card for the team to play with
her attacking style.
Orica-AIS
Dutch powerhouse Annemiek Van Vleuten has finished in the top
10 on three occasions including second in 2010 and will be
hoping to take her first win in Orica-AIS colours. 12th at
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, 6th at Omloop van het Hageland and 7th
at Strade Bianche show she comes in with good form. Packs a
good finish but expect to see her attack up the VAMBerg and
try and go solo or with a small group.
Gracie Elvin has been on excellent form since arriving in
Europe on the attack at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Omloop van
het Hageland and while she may not have come away with a
result expect her to try the tactic again knowing she has some
strong options behind. Lizzie Williams and Loren Rowney both
pack a strong sprint and will be names to watch at the finish.
Lauren Kitchen
Kitchen picked up 2016 where she left off last season with
fifth at the national championships and sixth at the Santos
Women's Tour before she returned to Europe with a stop through
Qatar. After strong results at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and
Omloop van het Hageland Kitchen finished ninth at Le Samyn and
ninth again last weekend at Strade Bianche. A rider who was
dramatically improved the past 12 months and with the ability
to climb well could be in the mix.
Shelley Olds and Valentina
Scandolara
Olds has twice finished in the top 10 including third two
years ago and will be hoping to repeat that performance again.
Olds is always consistent as we see with the results. Had a
very busy start to the year with second at the Santos Women's
Tour, 11th in Qatar before fifth and sixth respectively at
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Omloop van het Hageland. Climbs well
for a sprinter as 17th last week at Strade Bianche shows.
While she is often in contention she lacks that top speed the
pure sprinters have. If she hopes to beats the likes of
D'hoore and Armitstead will need for everything to go 100%
right.
Scandolara is a rider who likes to attack and will be a
valuable rider for the team. Don't be surprised to see the
Italian go on the attack looking to shake the race up. Her
track background gives her a quick sprint who can finish it
off in a select group sprint.
Leah Kirchmann
After riding predominantly in the United States Kirchmann has
made the move to Europe with Liv Plantur this year and has
already impressed. In her first European race of the season
she finished fourth at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad before finishing
the podium in second at Omloop van het Hageland the following
day. A strong showing with 10th at Strade Bianche shows she is
a rider for the one-day classics. Rode the race back in 2010
and 2011 with a DNF and 85th respectively but with the form
she has been showing expect a big improvement on that.
Lotta Lepisto
While the champion of Finland hasn't finished the past two
years don't discount her because of that. 2015 saw big
improvements from Lepisto particularly in some of the harder
races. Packs a quick finish from a select group and was
beating the likes of Emma Johansson in sprint finishes. If she
can get over the VAMBerg the final time with the front group
expect to see her in contention for a strong result, maybe not
the podium but a top 10 is defiantly possible.
Marta Bastianelli
The former world champion Bastianelli took something of an
upset win at Omloop van het Hageland at the end of February
and will be hoping to sprint another surprise.
Other names to watch: Roxane Fournier, Coryn Rivera, Eugenia
Bujak, Floortje Mackaij and Joanne Kiesanowski. |
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