Armitstead wins Boels Rental Hills Classic
Johansson and Niewiadoma round out podium from breakaway sprint
Lizzie Armitstead won the Boels Rental Hills Classic on Friday in the Netherlands. The Boels-Dolmans rider was a part of a five-woman breakaway that made it over the final ascent of the Cauberg before arriving to the finish line. Last year's winner Emma Johansson (Orica-AIS) was second and Rabo-Liv's Katarzyna Niewiadoma was third on the day.
"After all the work the team did today I just had to win, I would have felt guilty if I had ended second here. It was my first race after a little break in the season, but I felt the legs were pretty good during the race. So I was confident I could win the sprint. Nice for the team sponsors that I won here in their region in the Boels Rental Hills Classic," Armitstead said in a team press release on Facebook.
The Boels Rental Hills Classic offered a 131km course that ventured through the Dutch hills in and around Limburg. The women were tested over 1,500 metres of elevations gain with 15 bergs and two trips up the Cauberg climb before finishing up the Geulhemmerweg.
A seven-rider breakaway formed early in the race to include Katrin Garfoot (Orica-GreenEdge), Danielle King (Wiggle-Honda), Chantal Blaak (Boels-Dolmans), Susanna Zorzi (Lotto-Soudal Ladies), Janneke Ensing (Parkhotel), Sabrina Stultiens (Liv-Plantur) and Thalita de Jong (Rabobank-Liv), which gained three minutes.
A larger chase group of roughly 25 riders formed behind the seven leaders and by the time they hit first ascent of the Cauberg, the groups had merged with 25km to go.
That group dwindled to just five over the second and final trip up the Cauberg to include Armitstead, Johannson and Niewiadoma along with Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle-Honda) and Stultiens, who won the mountain competition. Niewiadoma made several attacks at the base of the last climb to Geulhemmerweg, however, Armitstead was able to respond to all of them and add to that with a winning sprint to the finish line.
Full Results
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Elizabeth Armitstead (GBr) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team | 3:44:37 |
2 | Emma Johansson (Swe) Orica - Ais | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
3 | Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Pol) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
4 | Sabrina Stultiens (Ned) Team Liv-Plantur | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
5 | Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Wiggle Honda | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
6 | Chantal Blaak (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team | 0:00:04 |
7 | Katrin Garfoot (Aus) Orica - Ais | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
8 | Eleonora Van Dijk (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
9 | Amy Pieters (Ned) Team Liv-Plantur | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
10 | Thalita De Jong (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
11 | Jessie Daams (Bel) Lotto Soudal Ladies | Row 10 - Cell 2 |
12 | Janneke Ensing (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg Continental Team | Row 11 - Cell 2 |
13 | Susanna Zorzi (Ita) Lotto Soudal Ladies | Row 12 - Cell 2 |
14 | Dani King (GBr) Wiggle Honda | Row 13 - Cell 2 |
15 | Anouska Koster (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team | 0:03:42 |
16 | Sofie De Vuyst (Bel) Lensworld.eu - Zannata | Row 15 - Cell 2 |
17 | Christine Majerus (Lux) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
18 | Elena Cecchini (Ita) Lotto Soudal Ladies | Row 17 - Cell 2 |
19 | Floortje Mackaij (Ned) Team Liv-Plantur | Row 18 - Cell 2 |
20 | Shara Gillow (Aus) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team | Row 19 - Cell 2 |
21 | Sanne Van Paassen (Ned) | Row 20 - Cell 2 |
22 | Rozanne Slik (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg Continental Team | Row 21 - Cell 2 |
23 | Willeke Knol (Ned) Team Liv-Plantur | Row 22 - Cell 2 |
24 | Marijn De Vries (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg Continental Team | Row 23 - Cell 2 |
25 | Anna Sanchis Chafer (Spa) Wiggle Honda | Row 24 - Cell 2 |
26 | Pauliena Rooijakkers (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg Continental Team | 0:03:45 |
27 | Mirthe Wagenaar (Ned) | Row 26 - Cell 2 |
28 | Carlee Taylor (Aus) Lotto Soudal Ladies | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
29 | Sara Mustonen (Swe) Team Liv-Plantur | Row 28 - Cell 2 |
30 | Kaat Hannes (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Pro - Duo | 0:03:56 |
31 | Esther Van Veen (Ned) | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
32 | Nathalie Verschelden (Bel) | 0:04:00 |
33 | Kyara Stijns (Ned) Team Liv-Plantur | Row 32 - Cell 2 |
34 | Kelly Van Den Steen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Pro - Duo | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
35 | Moniek Tenniglo (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
36 | Sophie De Boer (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg Continental Team | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
37 | Annelies Van Doorslaer (Bel) Lensworld.eu - Zannata | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
38 | Demi De Jong (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team | Row 37 - Cell 2 |
39 | Nike Beckeringh (Ned) | Row 38 - Cell 2 |
40 | Veronika Kormos (Hun) | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
41 | Eva Buurman (Ned) | Row 40 - Cell 2 |
42 | Melissa Hoskins (Aus) Orica - Ais | Row 41 - Cell 2 |
43 | Gracie Elvin (Aus) Orica - Ais | Row 42 - Cell 2 |
44 | Rachel Neylan (Aus) Orica - Ais | 0:04:06 |
45 | Jeanne Korevaar (Ned) | 0:04:18 |
46 | Sara Penton (Swe) | 0:04:23 |
47 | Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Wiggle Honda | 0:04:28 |
48 | Amalie Dideriksen (Den) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team | 0:07:45 |
49 | Anouk Rijff (Ned) Lotto Soudal Ladies | Row 48 - Cell 2 |
50 | Kirsten Peetoom (Ned) | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
51 | Lauren Arnouts (Ned) | Row 50 - Cell 2 |
52 | Alicja Verhagen (Ned) | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
53 | Minke Van Dongen (Ned) | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
54 | Hannah Ross (USA) | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
55 | Iris Van Der Stelt (Ned) | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
56 | Saskia Oomen (Ned) | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
57 | Mary Rose Postma (Ned) | 0:07:52 |
58 | Femke Kuipers (Ned) | Row 57 - Cell 2 |
59 | Valerie Demey (Bel) | Row 58 - Cell 2 |
60 | Monique Van De Ree (Ned) | Row 59 - Cell 2 |
61 | Nina Kessler (Ned) Lensworld.eu - Zannata | Row 60 - Cell 2 |
62 | Anna Knauer (Ger) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team | 0:07:57 |
63 | Melissa Wijfje (Ned) | 0:07:59 |
64 | Anne Marijn Van Der Graaf (Ned) | 0:08:01 |
65 | Suzanne De Lange (Ned) | Row 64 - Cell 2 |
66 | Lensy Debboudt (Bel) | 0:08:03 |
67 | Margriet Helena Kloppenburg (Den) | 0:08:06 |
68 | Senna Feron (Ned) | 0:08:24 |
DNF | Lieselot Decroix (Bel) Lotto Soudal Ladies | Row 68 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Céline Van Severen (Bel) Lensworld.eu - Zannata | Row 69 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Marissa Otten (Ned) Lensworld.eu - Zannata | Row 70 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jermaine Post (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg Continental Team | Row 71 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Anne Posthuma (Ned) | Row 72 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Ine Vercammen (Bel) | Row 73 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Daniella Verstraten (Ned) | Row 74 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Evy Roelen (Bel) | Row 75 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Chantal Verstraten (Ned) | Row 76 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Kirsten Niessen (Ned) | Row 77 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Marieke Van Witzenburg (Ned) | Row 78 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Demi Vollering (Ned) | Row 79 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Gina Hofland (Ned) | Row 80 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Anne Peer (Ned) | Row 81 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Sanne Van Helmond (Ned) | Row 82 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Yukiyo Hori (Jpn) | Row 83 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Wendy Oosterwoud (Ned) | Row 84 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Bo Grievink (Ned) | Row 85 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Loes Adegeest (Ned) | Row 86 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Amy Luijten (Ned) | Row 87 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Ingrid Tempert (Ned) | Row 88 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Marleen Pardon (Ned) | Row 89 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Ashleigh Neave (NZl) | Row 90 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Janine Van Der Meer (Ned) | Row 91 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Tamara Preuß (Ger) | Row 92 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Kelly Druyts (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Pro - Duo | Row 93 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Evelyn Arys (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Pro - Duo | Row 94 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Gilke Croket (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Pro - Duo | Row 95 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Floor Besteman (Ned) | Row 96 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Pernilla Van Rozelaar (Ned) | Row 97 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Tessa Neefjes (Ned) | Row 98 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Marjolein Bakker (Ned) | Row 99 - Cell 2 |
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Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.
Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.
She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.
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