Drenthe/Drentse 8 Review

Mar 14
cyclical

Two hard races, multiple ascents of the VAMberg, and two worthy winners on a big weekend in the Netherlands.

Winning in the rainbow jersey is always special, but it makes the rest of your year in the world champion’s bands a lot easier if you nail a big triumph early in the season. On board her tricked-out Specialized, Amalie Dideriksen took the pressure off herself by scoring a World Tour victory in the Ronde van Drenthe.

Three of the eventual top four were in a move which developed on sector six of the seven cobbled sections in the race, after a relatively calm and controlled opening to the race – due, in part, to the decent, windless, weather conditions.

Ellen Van Dijk (Sunweb) chased down a move from Orica-Scott’s Jessica Allen to open a half-minute gap off the final assault of the VAMberg, but a Boels Dolmans-powered chase shut things down. Eventually, Lucinda Brand (Sunweb), Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle High5) and Canyon-SRAM’s Elena Cecchini escaped and maintained a tenuous lead over the chasers.

They were never really out of sight, but after Longo Borghini’s pre-emptive attack had been closed down in the last kilometer, Dideriksen disposed of Cecchini and Brand for the win.

The next day’s action again included the VAMberg and saw a bigger group sprint taken out by Alé Cipollini’s Chloe Hosking. So many eyebrows were raised when the Australian opted for a move away from Wiggle High5 for a new challenge at the Italian squad, but things are paying off … so far.

As bitter experience has taught a number of female riders, taking on a contract with an Italian team doesn’t always mean that all the equations balance. Hosking, though, has the strength of character and the winning mentality to overcome challenges that may be beyond riders without a similar resume.

Lotte Kopecky (Lotto Soudal) came second ahead of Dideriksen to round out the podium, but there was major daylight between the Australian and the rest.

The World Tour circus rolls on to Italy and the Trofeo Alfredo Binda on March 19th.