Pieters wins Ronde van Drenthe

Dutchwoman Amy Pieters continued the Women's WorldTour winning streak for Boels Dolmans when she won the sprint of some 30 riders after a hard-fought race at the Ronde van Drenthe. Alexis Ryan (Canyon-SRAM) finished second and Chloe Hosking (Alé Cipollini) was third. Strade Bianche winner Anna van der Breggen remains the UCI Women's WorldTour leader due to her 21st place.

A peloton of 134 riders from 23 teams started the 157km race that included several cobblestone sections, four ascents of the short-but-steep VAM-berg, and wind-exposed roads. Louise Norman Hansen (Team Virtu Cycling) and Annelies Dom (Lotto Soudal Ladies) got away in the first kilometres, but their breakaway was cut short after 20 km when they were misled by a police motorbike.

The cobblestone sections began soon afterwards, featuring the round, often slippery cobbles special to Drenthe. Racing single-file across the cobbles at high speed, the peloton split into several small groups. The gaps were small, and the groups merged and split again a number of times.

Things got back together after the sixth cobblestone section on the way to the VAM-berg. But the 380-metre, 9 per cent climb up a landfill site again split the race into four groups that chased each other around the 7km circuit around the climb. On the final ascent Anouska Koster (WaowDeals) attacked; she was joined by Christine Majerus (Boels Dolmans) and Sarah Roy (Mitchelton-Scott) on the descent, but the trio was reeled in quickly.

Two of the three remaining cobblestone sections were cut as they were in too bad a shape to be raced, shortening the race by about three kilometres. Margarita Victoria Garcia (Movistar Team Women) went solo and kept a slender advantage for some time before she too was caught. A crash in a slippery turn brought down world champion Chantal Blaak (Boels Dolmans) who eventually abandoned, and in the confusion after the crash Mitchelton-Scott put the hammer down into the last cobblestone section.

On the last 30 kilometres, there were attacks or feints by many riders at the front of the peloton, trying to get away in smaller moves or just to make the race hard to tire the sprinters. The final 15 km on two laps of a finishing circuit in Hoogeveen were particularly hard with an almost-continuous flurry of attacks. Gracie Elvin (Mitchelton-Scott) was prominent in closing down a number of moves. Then the Australian went on the attack herself, opened a small gap of less than 10 seconds, but was caught at the start of the final lap.

Although there was no shortage of attacks on the final lap, including a dangerous move by Pieters, Kirsten Wild (Wiggle High5), Lisa Brennauer (Wiggle High5), Floortje Mackaij (Team Sunweb, and Soraya Paladin (Alé Cipollini), the race eventually came down to a sprint. A crash with three kilometres to go took out Lotta Lepistö (Cervélo-Bigla), and going into the final turn Tiffany Cromwell (Canyon-SRAM) led out the sprint.

With a tailwind, Pieters launched early, with 350 metres to go. Only Ryan could stay in her wheel, but Pieters held on all the way to the line to take a Dutch home victory. Chloe Hosking came from behind Marianne Vos (WaowDeals) to round out the podium. With a 21st place behind her Boels Dolmans teammate, Anna van der Breggen keeps the lead in the UCI Women's WorldTour classification ahead of the Trofeo Alfredo Binda next Sunday.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Amy Pieters (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam4:06:44
2Alexis Ryan (USA) Canyon // Sram RacingRow 1 - Cell 2
3Chloe Hosking (Aus) Ale Cipollini0:00:01
4Marta Bastianelli (Ita) Ale CipolliniRow 3 - Cell 2
5Marianne Vos (Ned) Waowdeals Pro Cycling TeamRow 4 - Cell 2
6Coryn Rivera (USA) Team SunwebRow 5 - Cell 2
7Arlenis Sierra (Cub) Astana Women's TeamRow 6 - Cell 2
8Roxane Fournier (Fra) Fdj Nouvelle - Aquitaine FuturoscopeRow 7 - Cell 2
9Floortje Mackaij (Ned) Team SunwebRow 8 - Cell 2
10Ellen Van Dijk (Ned) Team SunwebRow 9 - Cell 2
11Jolien D'hoore (Bel) Mitchelton ScottRow 10 - Cell 2
12Sofia Bertizzolo (Ita) Astana Women's TeamRow 11 - Cell 2
13Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Canyon // Sram RacingRow 12 - Cell 2
14Lisa Brennauer (Ger) Wiggle High5Row 13 - Cell 2
15Simona Frapporti (Ita) Hitec Products - Birk SportRow 14 - Cell 2
16Valerie Demey (Bel) Lotto Soudal LadiesRow 15 - Cell 2
17Janneke Ensing (Ned) Ale CipolliniRow 16 - Cell 2
18Malgorzata Jasinska (Pol) Movistar Team WomenRow 17 - Cell 2
19Demi De Jong (Ned) Lotto Soudal LadiesRow 18 - Cell 2
20Eileen Roe (GBr) Wnt Rotor Pro Cycling Team0:00:09
21Anna Van Der Breggen (Ned) Boels Dolmans CyclingteamRow 20 - Cell 2
22Emilia Fahlin (Swe) Wiggle High5Row 21 - Cell 2
23Jeanne Korevaar (Ned) Waowdeals Pro Cycling TeamRow 22 - Cell 2
24Christine Majerus (Lux) Boels Dolmans CyclingteamRow 23 - Cell 2
25Elisa Balsamo (Ita) Valcar PbmRow 24 - Cell 2
26Lauren Kitchen (Aus) Fdj Nouvelle - Aquitaine FuturoscopeRow 25 - Cell 2
27Mieke Kröger (Ger) Team Virtu CyclingRow 26 - Cell 2
28Danielle Rowe (GBr) Waowdeals Pro Cycling TeamRow 27 - Cell 2
29Ganna Solovei (Ukr) Parkhotel Valkenburg0:00:13
30Julie Leth (Den) Wiggle High5Row 29 - Cell 2
31Ann-Sophie Duyck (Bel) Cervelo - Bigla Pro Cycling Team0:00:15
32Soraya Paladin (Ita) Ale CipolliniRow 31 - Cell 2
33Riejanne Markus (Ned) Waowdeals Pro Cycling TeamRow 32 - Cell 2
34Lisa Klein (Ger) Canyon // Sram RacingRow 33 - Cell 2
35Romy Kasper (Ger) Ale CipolliniRow 34 - Cell 2
36Julia Soek (Ned) Team Sunweb0:00:18
37Roxane Knetemann (Ned) Ale Cipollini0:00:22
38Sarah Roy (Aus) Mitchelton Scott0:00:25
39Jessica Allen (Aus) Mitchelton ScottRow 38 - Cell 2
40Moniek Tenniglo (Ned) Fdj Nouvelle - Aquitaine Futuroscope0:01:57
41Clara Koppenburg (Ger) Cervelo - Bigla Pro Cycling Team0:02:06
42Emma Cecilie Norsgaard Jørgensen (Den) Cervelo - Bigla Pro Cycling TeamRow 41 - Cell 2
43Gracie Elvin (Aus) Mitchelton Scott0:02:28
44Kirsten Wild (Ned) Wiggle High5Row 43 - Cell 2
45Georgia Williams (NZl) Mitchelton ScottRow 44 - Cell 2
46Maaike Boogaard (Ned) Btc City Ljubljana0:03:16
47Anouska Koster (Ned) Waowdeals Pro Cycling Team0:03:18
48Marjolein Van 'T Geloof (Ned) Lotto Soudal LadiesRow 47 - Cell 2
49Sara Mustonen Lichan (Swe) Experza - FootlogixRow 48 - Cell 2
50Ilona Hoeksma (Ned) Parkhotel ValkenburgRow 49 - Cell 2
51Margarita Victo Garcia Cañellas (Spa) Movistar Team WomenRow 50 - Cell 2
52Katarzyna Pawlowska (Pol) Team Virtu CyclingRow 51 - Cell 2
53Emilie Moberg (Nor) Team Virtu CyclingRow 52 - Cell 2
54Rozanne Slik (Ned) Fdj Nouvelle - Aquitaine Futuroscope0:03:23
55Marit Raaijmakers (Ned) Parkhotel ValkenburgRow 54 - Cell 2
56Susanne Andersen (Nor) Hitec Products - Birk SportRow 55 - Cell 2
57Alba Teruel Ribes (Spa) Movistar Team WomenRow 56 - Cell 2
58Aude Biannic (Fra) Movistar Team Women0:03:30
59Christina Malling Siggaard (Den) Team Virtu Cycling0:03:32
60Pernille Mathiesen (Den) Team SunwebRow 59 - Cell 2
61Chantal Blaak (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam0:03:40
62Alison Jackson (Can) Team Tibco - Silicon Valley BankRow 61 - Cell 2
63Nicole Steigenga (Ned) NetherlandsRow 62 - Cell 2
64Danique Braam (Ned) NetherlandsRow 63 - Cell 2
65Danielle Christmas (GBr) Bizkaia Durango - Euskadi MuriasRow 64 - Cell 2
66Lourdes Oyarbide Jimenez (Spa) Movistar Team Women0:03:43
67Nina Kessler (Ned) Hitec Products - Birk SportRow 66 - Cell 2
68Esther Van Veen (Ned) Parkhotel ValkenburgRow 67 - Cell 2
69Marta Cavalli (Ita) Valcar PbmRow 68 - Cell 2
70Monique Van De Ree (Ned) Waowdeals Pro Cycling TeamRow 69 - Cell 2
71Elise Maes (Lux) Wnt Rotor Pro Cycling TeamRow 70 - Cell 2
72Chantal Hoffmann (Lux) Lotto Soudal LadiesRow 71 - Cell 2
73Charlotte Bravard (Fra) Fdj Nouvelle - Aquitaine FuturoscopeRow 72 - Cell 2
74Chiara Consonni (Ita) Valcar PbmRow 73 - Cell 2
75Chanella Stougje (Ned) Parkhotel ValkenburgRow 74 - Cell 2
76Amalie Dideriksen (Den) Boels Dolmans CyclingteamRow 75 - Cell 2
77Thea Thorsen (Nor) Hitec Products - Birk SportRow 76 - Cell 2
78Jelena Eric (Srb) Cylance Pro Cycling0:03:45
79Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Cylance Pro CyclingRow 78 - Cell 2
80Alice Barnes (GBr) Canyon // Sram Racing0:03:49
81Trixi Worrack (Ger) Canyon // Sram RacingRow 80 - Cell 2
82Christa Riffel (Ger) Canyon // Sram RacingRow 81 - Cell 2
83Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) Hitec Products - Birk SportRow 82 - Cell 2
DNFSkylar Schneider (USA) Boels Dolmans CyclingteamRow 83 - Cell 2
DNFMartina Alzini (Ita) Astana Women's TeamRow 84 - Cell 2
DNFAmiliya Iskakova (Kaz) Astana Women's TeamRow 85 - Cell 2
DNFJeydy Pradera Bernal (Cub) Astana Women's TeamRow 86 - Cell 2
DNFNatalya Saifutdinova (Kaz) Astana Women's TeamRow 87 - Cell 2
DNFEugenia Bujak (Slo) Btc City LjubljanaRow 88 - Cell 2
DNFAnastasiia Iakovenko (Rus) Btc City LjubljanaRow 89 - Cell 2
DNFCorinna Lechner (Ger) Btc City LjubljanaRow 90 - Cell 2
DNFUrska Pintar (Slo) Btc City LjubljanaRow 91 - Cell 2
DNFMia Radotic (Cro) Btc City LjubljanaRow 92 - Cell 2
DNFLotta Pauliina Lepistö (Fin) Cervelo - Bigla Pro Cycling TeamRow 93 - Cell 2
DNFNicole Hanselmann (Swi) Cervelo - Bigla Pro Cycling TeamRow 94 - Cell 2
DNFHolly Breck (USA) Cylance Pro CyclingRow 95 - Cell 2
DNFSheyla Gutierrez Ruiz (Spa) Cylance Pro CyclingRow 96 - Cell 2
DNFMarcella Mahfuz Toldi (Bra) Cylance Pro CyclingRow 97 - Cell 2
DNFGreta Richioud (Fra) Fdj Nouvelle - Aquitaine FuturoscopeRow 98 - Cell 2
DNFLine Marie Gulliksen (Nor) Hitec Products - Birk SportRow 99 - Cell 2
DNFLucinda Brand (Ned) Team SunwebRow 100 - Cell 2
DNFBarbara Guarischi (Ita) Team Virtu CyclingRow 101 - Cell 2
DNFLouise Norman Hansen (Den) Team Virtu CyclingRow 102 - Cell 2
DNFMaria Giulia Confalonieri (Ita) Valcar PbmRow 103 - Cell 2
DNFSilvia Persico (Ita) Valcar PbmRow 104 - Cell 2
DNFIlaria Sanguineti (Ita) Valcar PbmRow 105 - Cell 2
DNFNathalie Bex (Bel) Experza - FootlogixRow 106 - Cell 2
DNFThalita De Jong (Ned) Experza - FootlogixRow 107 - Cell 2
DNFJessy Druyts (Bel) Experza - FootlogixRow 108 - Cell 2
DNFTrine Holmsgaard (Den) Experza - FootlogixRow 109 - Cell 2
DNFAxelle Dubau-Prevot (Fra) Experza - FootlogixRow 110 - Cell 2
DNFAnnelies Dom (Bel) Lotto Soudal LadiesRow 111 - Cell 2
DNFIsabelle Beckers (Bel) Lotto Soudal LadiesRow 112 - Cell 2
DNFGloria Rodriguez Sanchez (Spa) Movistar Team WomenRow 113 - Cell 2
DNFAnne De Ruiter (Ned) Parkhotel ValkenburgRow 114 - Cell 2
DNFLex Albrecht (Can) Team Tibco - Silicon Valley BankRow 115 - Cell 2
DNFEmma Grant (GBr) Team Tibco - Silicon Valley BankRow 116 - Cell 2
DNFShannon Malseed (Aus) Team Tibco - Silicon Valley BankRow 117 - Cell 2
DNFKendall Ryan (USA) Team Tibco - Silicon Valley BankRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFHayley Jones (GBr) Wnt Rotor Pro Cycling TeamRow 119 - Cell 2
DNFNatalie Grinczer (GBr) Wnt Rotor Pro Cycling TeamRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFAafke Soet (Ned) Wnt Rotor Pro Cycling TeamRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFLea Lin Teutenberg (Ger) Wnt Rotor Pro Cycling TeamRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFLoes Adegeest (Ned) NetherlandsRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFMelanie Klement (Ned) NetherlandsRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFEvy Kuijpers (Ned) NetherlandsRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFMareille Meijering (Ned) NetherlandsRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFSandra Alonso (Spa) Bizkaia Durango - Euskadi MuriasRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFLucia Gonzalez Blanco (Spa) Bizkaia Durango - Euskadi MuriasRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFHenrietta Colborne (GBr)Row 129 - Cell 2
DNFCristina Martinez Bonafe (Spa) Bizkaia Durango - Euskadi MuriasRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFAnna Zita Maria Stricker (Ita) Bizkaia Durango - Euskadi MuriasRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFRachele Barbieri (Ita) Wiggle High5Row 132 - Cell 2
DNFLucy Garner (GBr) Wiggle High5Row 133 - Cell 2

Lukas Knöfler started working in cycling communications in 2013 and has seen the inside of the scene from many angles. Having worked as press officer for teams and races and written for several online and print publications, he has been Cyclingnews’ Women’s WorldTour correspondent since 2018.

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