Ellen van Dijk wins Tour of Flanders World Cup

Ellen van Dijk (Boels Dolmans) soloed to an impressive victory at the women’s Tour of Flanders. Her teammate Lizzie Armitstead beat Emma Johansson (Orica-AIS) in the sprint behind to give the Dutch team a 1-2.

Van Dijk went on the attack with 27 kilometres remaining, just before Kruisberg and used her time trialling skills to keep the chasers at bay. The reigning world time trial champion hit a speed of 55 kph as she powered to her first victory of the year. A number of riders tried to catch her, including Tiffany Cromwell (Specialized-Lululemon) and compatriot Lucinda Brand (Rabo Liv).

Armitstead’s second place is her third podium of the year, from three world cup races, and will keep hold of the lead in the competition.

"Those last kilometres were really hard," Van Dijk said to the UCI. "I still can't believe I did it. I wanted to win three races in my career: the world title, the Tour of Flanders and the Olympics. Now only one remains."

Although there were a number of attacks during the 139.6km race, the women's field stayed largely together, at least at the front of the race. The first hour saw numerous crashes, sending riders such as Amanda Spratt (Orica-AIS) and Rikke Lønne of Team Rytger to the hospital as rain and nerves made the racing dangerous.

Gracie Elvin (Orica-AIS) and Valentina Carretta (Alé-Cipollini) had a go, but could not gain even half a minute on the field, and while Carretta tried again with Lucinda Brand (Rabo-Liv), as the race hit the critical final kilometers the peloton was still intact.

The decisive moment came when van Dijk attacked on the Kruisberg with 26km remaining, and quickly built up an advantage, the world individual time trial champion clearly capable of riding alone to the finish.

"It was our team tactics played out to perfection. I would go first and we would have Lizzie (Armitstead) behind me. It was from the book," van Dijk said.

Specialized-Lululemon's Tiffany Cromwell tried to go across, but was caught by the chase on the Oude Kwaremont. With only one climb to go, the Paterberg, Van Dijk's lead grew to 38 seconds.

As Van Dijk continued to build her lead, Armitstead, Emma Johansson and Elisa Longo Borghini left the field behind but were never able to close on the powerful Dutch rider. Once the Paterberg was behind her, Van Dijk made easy work of the final 13km to the line.

"It hurt, but when with a few kilometres to go I had a tailwind I knew I could win. And if you know your teammate is behind you, you can go just a little bit faster," Van Dijk said.

For Armitstead it's the third podium place in a row this season. After her victory in Drenthe she came in second both today as in Trofeo Binda. "Ellen worked hard for me in the previous races. That's the beauty of this sport. We are a team I was really emotional when she won," Armitstead said. She now leads the World Cup with 320 points to Johansson's 240. Van Dijk moved into fourth, just 15 points behind Anna van der Breggen (Rabo-Liv).

Rabo-Liv claimed the sprint classification lead with Iris Slappendel and the best young rider's jersey by Pauline Ferrand-Prevot. Van der Breggen moved into the lead of the mountains classification.

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Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Eleonora Van Dijk (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team3:47:50
2Elizabeth Armitstead (GBr) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team0:01:01
3Emma Johansson (Swe) Orica - AISRow 2 - Cell 2
4Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Hitec Products0:01:03
5Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling TeamRow 4 - Cell 2
6Anna Van Der Breggen (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling TeamRow 5 - Cell 2
7Liesbet De Vocht (Bel) Lotto Belisol LadiesRow 6 - Cell 2
8Megan Guarnier (USA) Boels Dolmans Cycling TeamRow 7 - Cell 2
9Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Specialized - LululemonRow 8 - Cell 2
10Evelyn Stevens (USA) Specialized - LululemonRow 9 - Cell 2
11Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Fra) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team0:01:10
12Lucinda Brand (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team0:01:16
13Kirsten Wild (Ned) Team Giant-Shimano0:01:21
14Jolien D'hoore (Bel) Lotto Belisol LadiesRow 13 - Cell 2
15Trixi Worrack (Ger) Specialized - LululemonRow 14 - Cell 2
16Charlotte Becker (Ger) Wiggle HondaRow 15 - Cell 2
17Elena Cecchini (Ita) Estado de Mexico FarenRow 16 - Cell 2
18Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Wiggle HondaRow 17 - Cell 2
19Malgorzta Jasinska (Pol) Alé CipolliniRow 18 - Cell 2
20Sofie De Vuyst (Bel) Futurumshop.Nl - ZannataRow 19 - Cell 2
21Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) Hitec ProductsRow 20 - Cell 2
22Carmen Small (USA) Specialized - LululemonRow 21 - Cell 2
23Amy Pieters (Ned) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 22 - Cell 2
24Lauren Komanski (USA) USA National TeamRow 23 - Cell 2
25Roxane Knetemann (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling TeamRow 24 - Cell 2
26Rossella Ratto (Ita) Estado de Mexico FarenRow 25 - Cell 2
27Chantal Blaak (Ned) Specialized - LululemonRow 26 - Cell 2
28Irene San Sebastian Lasa (Spa) Bizkaia - Durango0:02:32
29Joanne Hogan (Aus) Bigla Cycling TeamRow 28 - Cell 2
30Claudia Häusler (Ger) Team Giant-Shimano0:02:33
31Olga Zabelinskaya (Rus) RusVelo0:04:16
32Kaat Hannes (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Pro - Duo0:04:17
33Maaike Polspoel (Bel) Team Giant-Shimano0:04:19
34Amélie Rivat (Fra) Vienne FuturoscopeRow 33 - Cell 2
35Lisa Brennauer (Ger) Specialized - Lululemon0:05:01
36Kim De Baat (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg Continental TeamRow 35 - Cell 2
37Sarah Roy (Aus) Vienne FuturoscopeRow 36 - Cell 2
38Christine Majerus (Lux) Boels Dolmans Cycling TeamRow 37 - Cell 2
39Romy Kasper (Ger) Boels Dolmans Cycling TeamRow 38 - Cell 2
40Lauren Kitchen (Aus) Hitec ProductsRow 39 - Cell 2
41Grace Verbeke (Bel) Futurumshop.Nl - ZannataRow 40 - Cell 2
42Eugenia Bujak (Pol) BTC City LjubljanaRow 41 - Cell 2
43Vera Koedooder (Ned) Bigla Cycling TeamRow 42 - Cell 2
44Susanna Zorzi (Ita) Astana Bepink Womens TeamRow 43 - Cell 2
45Martina Ritter (Aut) BTC City LjubljanaRow 44 - Cell 2
46Esra Tromp (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg Continental TeamRow 45 - Cell 2
47Chiara Pierobon (Ita) Top Girls Fassa BortoloRow 46 - Cell 2
48Maria Adele Tuia (Ita) Servetto FootonRow 47 - Cell 2
49Mascha Pijnenborg (Ned) Futurumshop.Nl - ZannataRow 48 - Cell 2
50Alexandra Burchenkova (Rus) RusVeloRow 49 - Cell 2
51Annelies Dom (Bel) Futurumshop.Nl - ZannataRow 50 - Cell 2
52Katarzyna Pawlowska (Pol) Boels Dolmans Cycling TeamRow 51 - Cell 2
53Pascale Jeuland (Fra) Vienne FuturoscopeRow 52 - Cell 2
54Audrey Cordon (Fra) Hitec ProductsRow 53 - Cell 2
55Elena Kuchinskaya (Rus) RusVeloRow 54 - Cell 2
56Emilia Fahlin (Swe) Wiggle HondaRow 55 - Cell 2
57Iris Slappendel (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling TeamRow 56 - Cell 2
58Elena Berlato (Ita) Alé CipolliniRow 57 - Cell 2
59Peta Mullens (Aus) Wiggle HondaRow 58 - Cell 2
60Taryn Heather (Aus) Bigla Cycling TeamRow 59 - Cell 2
61Shara Gillow (Aus) Orica - AISRow 60 - Cell 2
62Alice Maria Arzuffi (Ita) Astana Bepink Womens TeamRow 61 - Cell 2
63Gracie Elvin (Aus) Orica - AISRow 62 - Cell 2
64Valentina Carretta (Ita) Alé CipolliniRow 63 - Cell 2
65Lauren Hall (USA) USA National TeamRow 64 - Cell 2
66Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Estado de Mexico Faren0:05:05
67Chloe Hosking (Aus) Hitec ProductsRow 66 - Cell 2
68Sara Mustonen (Swe) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 67 - Cell 2
69Latoya Brulee (Bel) Futurumshop.Nl - Zannata0:05:53
70Inga Cilvinaite (Ltu) RusVelo0:06:41
71Jacqueline Hahn (Aut) Bigla Cycling TeamRow 70 - Cell 2
72Anna Sanchis Chafer (Spa) Wiggle HondaRow 71 - Cell 2
73Floortje Mackaij (Ned) Team Giant-Shimano0:07:10
74Lara Vieceli (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini RoxRow 73 - Cell 2
75Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) Team RytgerRow 74 - Cell 2
76Alexis Ryan (USA) USA National TeamRow 75 - Cell 2
77Polona Batagelj (Slo) BTC City LjubljanaRow 76 - Cell 2
78Anna Potokina (Rus) Servetto FootonRow 77 - Cell 2
79Amy Cure (Aus) Lotto Belisol Ladies0:07:13
80Maura Kinsella (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit StrategiesRow 79 - Cell 2
81Lieselot Decroix (Bel) Lotto Belisol LadiesRow 80 - Cell 2
82Bianca Van Den Hoek (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg Continental Team0:08:21
83Anna Zita Maria Stricker (Ita) Astana Bepink Womens TeamRow 82 - Cell 2
84Sheyla Gutierrez Ruiz (Spa) LointekRow 83 - Cell 2
85Charlotte Bravard (Fra) Vienne FuturoscopeRow 84 - Cell 2
86Jessy Druyts (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Pro - Duo0:09:57
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GPM 1 Leberg
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Roxane Knetemann (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team6pts
2Shara Gillow (Aus) Orica - AIS4Row 1 - Cell 3
3Anna Van Der Breggen (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team2Row 2 - Cell 3
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GPM 2 Paterberg
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Eleonora Van Dijk (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team6pts
2Emma Johansson (Swe) Orica - AIS4Row 1 - Cell 3
3Elizabeth Armitstead (GBr) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team2Row 2 - Cell 3
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Sprint
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Eleonora Van Dijk (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team6pts
2Elizabeth Armitstead (GBr) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team4Row 1 - Cell 3
3Emma Johansson (Swe) Orica - AIS2Row 2 - Cell 3
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Mountains classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Anna Van Der Breggen (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team8pts
2Eleonora Van Dijk (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team6Row 1 - Cell 3
3Amy Pieters (Ned) Team Giant-Shimano6Row 2 - Cell 3
4Roxane Knetemann (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team6Row 3 - Cell 3
5Alena Amialiusik (Blr) Astana Bepink Womens Team6Row 4 - Cell 3
6Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) Hitec Products4Row 5 - Cell 3
7Emma Johansson (Swe) Orica - AIS4Row 6 - Cell 3
8Shara Gillow (Aus) Orica - AIS4Row 7 - Cell 3
9Kirsten Wild (Ned) Team Giant-Shimano2Row 8 - Cell 3
10Elizabeth Armitstead (GBr) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team2Row 9 - Cell 3
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Sprint classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Iris Slappendel (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team12pts
2Anna Van Der Breggen (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team8Row 1 - Cell 3
3Eleonora Van Dijk (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team6Row 2 - Cell 3
4Carmen Small (USA) Specialized - Lululemon6Row 3 - Cell 3
5Malgorzta Jasinska (Pol) Alé Cipollini4Row 4 - Cell 3
6Elizabeth Armitstead (GBr) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team4Row 5 - Cell 3
7Eleonora Van Dijk (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team2Row 6 - Cell 3
8Romy Kasper (Ger) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team2Row 7 - Cell 3
9Emma Johansson (Swe) Orica - AIS2Row 8 - Cell 3
10Maaike Polspoel (Bel) Team Giant-Shimano2Row 9 - Cell 3
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Teams classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Boels Dolmans Cycling Team574pts
2Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team471Row 1 - Cell 3
3Orica - AIS240Row 2 - Cell 3
4Specialized - Lululemon175Row 3 - Cell 3
5Hitec Products144Row 4 - Cell 3
6Team Giant-Shimano142Row 5 - Cell 3
7Alé Cipollini91Row 6 - Cell 3
8Astana Bepink Womens Team85Row 7 - Cell 3
9Lotto Belisol Ladies66Row 8 - Cell 3
10Wiggle Honda50Row 9 - Cell 3
11Estado de Mexico Faren47Row 10 - Cell 3
12RusVelo46Row 11 - Cell 3
13BTC City Ljubljana18Row 12 - Cell 3
14Vienne Futuroscope10Row 13 - Cell 3
15Top Girls Fassa Bortolo8Row 14 - Cell 3
16Futurumshop.Nl - Zannata2Row 15 - Cell 3

 

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Born in Ireland to a cycling family and later moved to the Isle of Man, so there was no surprise when I got into the sport. Studied sports journalism at university before going on to do a Masters in sports broadcast. After university I spent three months interning at Eurosport, where I covered the Tour de France. In 2012 I started at Procycling Magazine, before becoming the deputy editor of Procycling Week. I then joined Cyclingnews, in December 2013.

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