Baloise Ladies Tour: Charlotte Kool wins stage 1 to take control of race lead

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Chiara Consonni and Nienke Veenhoven grab podium spots in fierce sprint in Knokke-Heist

KNOKKE-HEIST, BELGIUM - JULY 17: (L-R) Charlotte Kool of Netherlands and Team Picnic PostNL - Red points Jersey, Nienke Veenhoven of Netherlands and Team Visma | Lease a Bike, Barbara Guarischi of Italy and Team SD Worx - Protime and Chiara Consonni of Italy and Team CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto sprint at finish line to win during the 11th Baloise Ladies Tour 2025, Stage 1 a 127.2km stage from Jabbeke to Knokke-Heist on July 17, 2025 in Knokke-Heist, Belgium. (Photo by Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
Baloise Ladies Tour: Charlotte Kool (Picnic-PostNL) sprints to stage 1 victory (Image credit: Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
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Charlotte Kool (Picnic-PostNL) was the fastest of a bunch sprint to win stage 1 at the Baloise Ladies Tour. The Dutch sprinter capitalised off a perfect lead from her teammates to take the win ahead of Chiara Consonni (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto) and Nienke Veenhoven (Visma-Lease a Bike).

Kool started the day just two seconds behind overnight leader Zoe Bäckstedt (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto) in the general classification. She earned valuable time bonuses at the finish line and so moved into the overall race leader's jersey ahead of stage 2 in Olsene on Friday.

Bäckstedt lined up on stage 1 as the overall race leader, after winning the previous day's prologue, for a 127.2km of flat racing from Jabbeke to Knokke-Heist.

KNOKKE-HEIST, BELGIUM - JULY 17: Charlotte Kool of Netherlands and Team Picnic PostNL celebrates at podium as Purple Leader Jersey winner during the 11th Baloise Ladies Tour 2025, Stage 1 a 127.2km stage from Jabbeke to Knokke-Heist on July 17, 2025 in Knokke-Heist, Belgium. (Photo by Luc Claessen/Getty Images)

Stage 1 winner Charlotte Kool of Picnic-PostNL celebrates at podium as the new Purple Leader Jersey winner (Image credit: Luc Claessen/Getty Images)

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Kirsten Frattini
Kirsten Frattini
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Kirsten Frattini has been the Editor of Cyclingnews since December 2025, overseeing editorial operations and output across the brand and delivering quality, engaging content.

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