Dutch champion beats sprint rivals once more on penultimate stage
Marianne Vos (Nederland Bloeit) won the fifth, and penultimate stage of the Profile Holland Ladies Tour between Nuenen and Gerwen in a bunch sprint. The Netherlands champion beat big Dutch rival Kirsten Wild (AA Drink-Leontien.nl) and German champion Ina Teutenberg (HTC-Highroad) at the end of the 113.7km stage.
“Winning is always beautiful,” said Vos at the finish. “But this is also the last race that I will ride before the World championships in Copenhagen. Tomorrow we will ride in Limburg [on the final stage], where I expect a lot of attacks, but this was the last chance to test my sprint finish one more time.
“The test was successful and that gives me confidence on the way to the Worlds.”
Unlike every stage to date, the fifth stage was not to see a long breakaway as the peloton kept things under control. There was an attempt to get away to win in the closing kilometres from Sandra van Veghel (SRAM-WV Eemland), but her move was hauled back with eight kilometres to go.
Led out by Nederland Bloeit teammate Annemiek van Vleuten, Vos was once again the strongest in the sprint, finishing well clear of Wild and Teutenberg. Van Vleuten herself held on to take fourth place, with World champion Giorgia Bronzini (Italian National Team) in fifth. The five leaders’ sprints caused them to pull clear of the peloton, creating a four-second gap to sixth place Martine Bras (Dolmans Landscaping).
With yet more time bonuses, as well as that four-second gap, Vos further extends her lead over Swedish champion Emma Johansson (Hitec Products-UCK) to 1’01” with only Sunday’s hilly stage between Bunde and Berg en Terblijt to come.
Result stage 5
1. Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit
2. Kirsten Wild (Ned) AA Drink-Leontien.nl
3. Ina Teutenberg (Ger) HTC-Highroad
4. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Nederland Bloeit
5. Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Italian National Team
6. Martine Bras (Ned) Dolmans Landscaping Team @ 4s
7. Alona Andruk (Ukr) Diadora-Pasta Zara
8. Nicole Cooke (GBr) MCipollini-Giambenini
9. Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Lotto Honda Team
10. Joelle Numainville (Can) Tibco-To the Top
Standings after stage 5
1. Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit
2. Emma Johansson (Swe) Hitec Products-UCK @ 1’01”
3. Kirsten Wild (Ned) AA Drink-Leontien.nl @ 1’09”
4. Ina Teutenberg (Ger) HTC-Highroad @ 1’22”
5. Chloe Hosking (Aus) HTC-Highroad @ 2’45”
6. Chantal Blaak (Ned) AA Drink-Leontien.nl @ 2’46”
7. Sarah Düster (Ger) Nederland Bloeit @ 3’25”
8. Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Nederland Bloeit @ 3’54”
9. Lisa Brennauer (Ger) Hitec Products-UCK @ 3’57”
10. Lucinda Brand (Ned) AA Drink-Leontien.nl @ 5’08”