Annemiek Van Vleuten (Nederland Bloeit) completed her set of podium places at the Drenthe races with a solo victory in the Novilon Eurocup Ronde van Drenthe. Third in Thursday’s Drentse 8 van Dwingeloo, and second in yesterday’s World Cup race, Van Vleuten escaped the rest of the front group to win alone. The chase group behind the Dutchwoman saw a battle between probably the two fastest women right now, with Ina Teutenberg (HTC-Columbia) beating Kirsten Wild (Cervélo TestTeam) in the battle for second, 21 seconds later.
Marianne Vos (Nederland Bloeit) and Emma Johansson (RedSun Cycling) completed the group with third and fourth.
On a very windy day in eastern Netherlands, pressure from Cervélo and HTC-Columbia split the field early on; so much so that there were only 29 classified finishers. An attack from Sarah Düster (Cervélo TestTeam) on the final ascent of the short, steep VAM-berg pulled a group of six riders clear, consisting of: Düster, Van Vleuten, Teutenberg, Wild, Vos and Johansson. With the strongest teams in the race represented, there was no way that the peloton would be able to pull them back.
As they approached the finish Van Vleuten attacked and with no cohesive chase, and with Vos disrupting behind for her, she managed to build a race-winning lead and crossed the line alone. Düster was distanced on the way to the finish and the other four sprinted for second place.
Charlotte Becker (Cervélo TestTeam) led the next group home 1’29” behind Van Vleuten
Result
1. Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned) Nederland Bloeit
2. Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Ger) HTC-Columbia @ 21s
3. Kirsten Wild (Ned) Cervélo TestTeam
4. Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit
5. Emma Johansson (Swe) RedSun Cycling
6. Sarah Düster (Ger) Cervélo TestTeam @ 31s
7. Charlotte Becker (Ger) Cervélo TestTeam @ 1’29”
8. Vicki Whitelaw (Aus) Lotto Ladies
9. Grace Verbeke (Bel) Lotto Ladies
10. Ellen Van Dijk (Ned) HTC-Columbia