Team DSM Women’s program produced another scintillating display this afternoon, continuing their good form by taking an exceptional 1-2-5 at GP Eco Struct, with Lorena Wiebes first, Susanne Andersen second and Pfeiffer Georgi fifth.
Taking control of the race from the flag drop, the team ensured a small breakaway escaped before setting tempo in the chasing peloton behind. Riding exceptionally well as a unit, they slowly brought the breakaway back before unleashing an almost picture perfect lead out in the finale, with riders peeling off one-by-one. Coming into the final straight, Wiebes unleashed a vicious kick to the line, with Andersen following closely home in second with Georgi in fifth; rounding out a spectacular day for the team.
Returning to GP Eco Struct after winning the first edition of the race in 2020, the team once again had their sights on a top result and after a brillaint performance by every rider – they did just that, securing a remarkable one-two-five at the finish.
A predominantly flat parcours lay ahead of the riders with laps around the town of Wichelen, which featured a short cobbled section, making up the 123 kilometre long route. A few probing attacks were made at the start of the race before a break of three riders escaped, with Team DSM riding well together, controlling the peloton.
As the kilometres ticked by, the team continued to take the onus at the front of the peloton and started to bring the breakaway back, eating into the two minute advantage they had gained. Despite some nervous moments in the peloton with crashes in the finale, the team’s good positioning saw them come through unscathed and heading into the closing three kilometres the race was all back together, with Esmée Peperkamp, Franziska Koch and Julia Soek all controlling the bunch excellently.
Delivering an almost picture perfect lead out, the team dominated the finale, utilising their strength by stringing the bunch out and peeling off one-by-one. Coming through the technical last corner Lorena Wiebes had the line in her sight, sprinting out of Susanne Andersen’s wheel and taking a brilliant victory, with Andersen holding on for second and Pfeiffer Georgi securing fifth; rounding out a brilliant team performance.
Team DSM coach Bennie Lambregts added: “We followed the plan we had before the race in almost 100 percent the perfect way. We wanted to have a small break, no bigger than four or five riders, and in the end three got away. Esmée controlled the race really well during the earlier parts by her own and we were always in a good position. The whole team were in the lead in the last lap and closed the gap at around two or three kilometres to go to the finish. We then made a really good lead out for Lorena and she could finish it off perfectly. With Susanne coming second too and Pfeiffer in fifth, it shows how good we were today. I think it was an excellent job from the whole team, they were super professional, took control of the race and finished it off really well.”
RESULTS
Pos. Rider Team Time Points
1 WIEBES Lorena Team DSM 3:09:02 40
2 ANDERSEN Susanne Team DSM ,, 30
3 VAN DER HULST Amber Parkhotel Valkenburg ,, 25
