D'Hoore wins Boels Rentals Ronde van Drenthe
Wiggle Honda rider takes bunch sprint
Belgian champion Jolien D'hoore celebrated her 25th birthday in style with victory at the Ronde van Drenthe. The Wiggle-Honda rider jumped from the wheel of her teammate Chloe Hosking to take the win from Amy Pieters (Liv-Plantur) and Ellen van Dijk (Boels Dolmans).
The Ronde van Drenthe is a tough 138-kilometre race, with three major sections of cobbles and three climbs of the VAMberg, one of the stranger hills in the Netherlands - which gets bigger every few years because it’s man-made out of landfill. It’s always unpredictable, and has been won from solo attack, small group, bunch sprint and everything in between.
It looked like it would be another year for the escape artists, as the cobbles in the middle of the race whittled the bunch down and a large crash took out riders including last week’s Strade Bianche winner, Megan Guarnier. 2014 victor Lizzie Armitstead (Boels Dolmans) signalled her intentions, cresting the final two climbs of the VAM at the front and was leading with only the current World ITT Champion, Velocio-SRAM’s Lisa Brennauer for company following the final ascent, before being caught by a select group of 15 with 28 kilometres to go.
When top Dutch sprinter Kirsten Wild (Hitec Products) punctured and had to wait for a wheel on the narrow lanes, it looked as though the winner would come out of this group, dominated by the big teams: four Wiggle Honda riders (Elisa Longo Borghini, Audrey Cordon, Hosking and D'hoore) three each from Boels Dolmans (Armistead, Ellen van Dijk and recent Le Samyn winner Chantal Blaak) and from Velocio-SRAM (Brennauer, Barbara Guarischi and Cyclingnews diarist Tiffany Cromwell) two Rabo-Liv (Roxane Knetemann and Lucinda Brand), and four solo riders, 2009 winner Emma Johansson (ORICA-AIS), Italian Road champion Elena Cecchini (Lotto-Soudal), 2011 World Cup series winner Annemiek van Vleuten (Bigla) and Liv-Plantur’s Pieters.
Longo Borghini, Blaak, Cromwell and Knetemann escaped, and had gained 25 seconds lead at 10km to go, and it seemed as though the script was set – four Classics riders known for their love of attacks and clever racing, with enough team-mates behind to destroy any chase attempts.
But this is bike racing, and it was so clear that something else was going on. Poker playing among the four leaders, with Longo Borghini clearly working for a team-mate behind, meant that not only were they caught by the chasers shortly into the final 7.9km lap, but they were also brought back by the second group, with Alé Cipollini working furiously on the front, and Hitec powering to bring Wild back for a bunch sprint.
While it looked like the game-playing had lost the big teams the race, it turned out for one team, at least, it was all part of the plan. Hosking used all her power to kick early, with team-mate D'hoore right on her wheel, ready to take over and make the win look easy, with Pieters second, and Van Dijk third.
For D'hoore, the win couldn’t have come on a better day, an extra celebration for her 25th birthday. She credits the step up she took last year, which saw her win stages of the Boels Rental Ladies Tour and the BeNe Ladies Tour, and two Track World Cup golds in the omnium, to finally finishing her university degree and being able to focus full-time on cycling. Already 2015 is looking good, winning the first round of the Lotto Cycling Cup, Omloop van het Hageland, and now the first World Cup, while Wiggle Honda are dominating Drenthe, after Giorgia Bronzini won the opening race here, Drentse 8.
After the final Drenthe race, Novilon Eurocup tomorrow, the World Cup will move to Italy for the Trofeo Alfredo Binda on 29th March, before finishing the Classics portion of the season with the Ronde van Vlaanderen on 5th April, and Flèche Wallonne on 29th.
To subscribe to the Cyclingnews video channel, click here
Results
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Jolien D'hoore (Bel) WHT | 3:33:34 |
2 | Amy Pieters (Ned) TLP | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
3 | Eleonora Van Dijk (Ned) DLT | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
4 | Lucinda Brand (Ned) RBW | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
5 | Chloe Hosking (Aus) WHT | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
6 | Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) VEL | Row 5 - Cell 2 |
7 | Elizabeth Armitstead (GBr) DLT | 0:00:03 |
8 | Emma Johansson (Swe) OGE | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
9 | Marta Tagliaferro (Ita) ALE | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
10 | Barbara Guarischi (Ita) VEL | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
11 | Kirsten Wild (Ned) HPU | Row 10 - Cell 2 |
12 | Romy Kasper (Ger) DLT | Row 11 - Cell 2 |
13 | Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned) BCT | Row 12 - Cell 2 |
14 | Elena Cecchini (Ita) LBL | Row 13 - Cell 2 |
15 | Kim De Baat (Ned) LWZ | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
16 | Gracie Elvin (Aus) OGE | 0:00:10 |
17 | Rossella Ratto (Ita) ISG | 0:00:15 |
18 | Janneke Ensing (Ned) PHV | Row 17 - Cell 2 |
19 | Anouska Koster (Ned) RBW | Row 18 - Cell 2 |
20 | Roxane Knetemann (Ned) RBW | Row 19 - Cell 2 |
21 | Floortje Mackaij (Ned) TLP | Row 20 - Cell 2 |
22 | Anna Van Der Breggen (Ned) RBW | Row 21 - Cell 2 |
23 | Natalie Van Gogh (Ned) PHV | Row 22 - Cell 2 |
24 | Audrey Cordon (Fra) WHT | Row 23 - Cell 2 |
25 | Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) WHT | Row 24 - Cell 2 |
26 | Chantal Blaak (Ned) DLT | Row 25 - Cell 2 |
27 | Lauren Kitchen (Aus) HPU | Row 26 - Cell 2 |
28 | Susanna Zorzi (Ita) LBL | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
29 | Veronica Cornolti (Ita) SEF | Row 28 - Cell 2 |
30 | Lisa Brennauer (Ger) VEL | Row 29 - Cell 2 |
31 | Kendall Ryan (USA) USA | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
32 | Simona Frapporti (Ita) ALE | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
33 | Iris Slappendel (Ned) BCT | Row 32 - Cell 2 |
34 | Larisa Pankova (Rus) ASA | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
35 | Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) WHT | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
36 | Valentina Scandolara (Ita) OGE | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
37 | Shara Gillow (Aus) RBW | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
38 | Julia Soek (Ned) TLP | Row 37 - Cell 2 |
39 | Mia Radotic (Cro) BTC | 0:01:05 |
40 | Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) HPU | 0:01:07 |
41 | Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Ita) ALE | 0:01:25 |
42 | Coryn Rivera (USA) USA | 0:01:43 |
43 | Roxane Fournier (Fra) FUT | 0:01:47 |
44 | Jeanne Korevaar (Ned) NED | Row 43 - Cell 2 |
45 | Willeke Knol (Ned) TLP | 0:02:47 |
46 | Evy Kuijpers (Ned) LWZ | 0:05:14 |
47 | Alexis Ryan (USA) USA | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
48 | Eugenia Bujak (Pol) BTC | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
49 | Milda Jankauskaite (Ltu) ASA | Row 48 - Cell 2 |
50 | Marijn De Vries (Ned) PHV | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
51 | Céline Van Severen (Bel) LWZ | Row 50 - Cell 2 |
52 | Kaat Hannes (Bel) VLL | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
53 | Moniek Tenniglo (Ned) RBW | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
54 | Tetiana Riabchenko (Ukr) ISG | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
55 | Olena Demydova (Ukr) ASA | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
56 | Jelena Eric (Srb) BTC | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
57 | Arianna Fidanza (Ita) ALE | Row 56 - Cell 2 |
58 | Kseniia Dobrynina (Rus) ASA | Row 57 - Cell 2 |
59 | Riejanne Markus (Ned) PHV | Row 58 - Cell 2 |
60 | Christine Majerus (Lux) DLT | Row 59 - Cell 2 |
61 | Lieselot Decroix (Bel) LBL | Row 60 - Cell 2 |
62 | Melanie Woering (Ned) TRY | Row 61 - Cell 2 |
63 | Malgorzta Jasinska (Pol) ALE | Row 62 - Cell 2 |
64 | Alena Amialiusik (Blr) VEL | Row 63 - Cell 2 |
65 | Beatrice Bartelloni (Ita) ALE | Row 64 - Cell 2 |
66 | Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) SEF | Row 65 - Cell 2 |
67 | Amanda Spratt (Aus) OGE | Row 66 - Cell 2 |
68 | Chantal Hoffmann (Lux) LBL | Row 67 - Cell 2 |
69 | Heather Fischer (USA) USA | Row 68 - Cell 2 |
70 | Tayler Wiles (USA) VEL | Row 69 - Cell 2 |
71 | Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) OGE | Row 70 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Megan Guarnier (USA) DLT | Row 71 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Emilia Fahlin (Swe) WHT | Row 72 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Claudia Häusler (Ger) TLP | Row 73 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Sara Mustonen (Swe) TLP | Row 74 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Ilona Hoeksma (Ned) PHV | Row 75 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jip Van Den Bos (Ned) PHV | Row 76 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Lizzie Williams (Aus) OGE | Row 77 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Shelley Olds (USA) BCT | Row 78 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Lotta Lepistö (Fin) BCT | Row 79 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) BCT | Row 80 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Miriam Bjørnsrud (Nor) HPU | Row 81 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Emilie Moberg (Nor) HPU | Row 82 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Julie Leth (Den) HPU | Row 83 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Liisi Rist (Est) ISG | Row 84 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Alice Maria Arzuffi (Ita) ISG | Row 85 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Anna Trevisi (Ita) ISG | Row 86 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Aizhan Zhaparova (Rus) ASA | Row 87 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Polona Batagelj (Slo) BTC | Row 88 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Ursa Pintar (Slo) BTC | Row 89 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Olena Pavlukhina (Aze) BTC | Row 90 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Anna Potokina (Rus) SEF | Row 91 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Elena Franchi (Ita) SEF | Row 92 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Sari Saarelainen (Fin) SEF | Row 93 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Michela Pavin (Ita) SEF | Row 94 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Fien Delbaere (Bel) VLL | Row 95 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Steffy Van Den Haute (Bel) VLL | Row 96 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Kelly Van Den Steen (Bel) VLL | Row 97 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Gilke Croket (Bel) VLL | Row 98 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Nina Kessler (Ned) LWZ | Row 99 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Mariel Borgerink (Ned) LWZ | Row 100 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Marissa Otten (Ned) LWZ | Row 101 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Lara Vieceli (Ita) MIC | Row 102 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Nina Gulino (Ita) MIC | Row 103 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Michela Balducci (Ita) MIC | Row 104 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Alessandra Lari (Ita) MIC | Row 105 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Eyerusalem Kelil (Eth) MIC | Row 106 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jessie Daams (Bel) LBL | Row 107 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Carlee Taylor (Aus) LBL | Row 108 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Laura Jorgensen (USA) USA | Row 109 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Amy Charity (USA) USA | Row 110 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Pascale Jeuland (Fra) FUT | Row 111 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Eugénie Duval (Fra) FUT | Row 112 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Séverine Eraud (Fra) FUT | Row 113 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Henriette Woering (Ned) TRY | Row 114 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Kelly Markus (Ned) TRY | Row 115 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) TRY | Row 116 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Amy Hill (GBr) TRY | Row 117 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Corine Van Der Zijden (Ned) NED | Row 118 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Marjolein Van 'T Geloof (Ned) NED | Row 119 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Nicky Zijlaard (Ned) NED | Row 120 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Janine Van Der Meer (Ned) NED | Row 121 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Lotte Van Hoek (Ned) NED | Row 122 - Cell 2 |
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Most Popular
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Puck Pieterse to make cyclocross season debut in Namur World Cup on Sunday
Dutch rider joins Van Empel, Brand, Alvarado atop favourites list -
Castelli Unlimited Puffy Vest review: Packable Polartec fleece for a range of riding
The Unlimited Puffy vest uses lightweight fleecy insulation to add warmth, but it does come at a price -
Cyclocross season won't be the same without the 'big three' - Analysis
Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert to face off in only four cyclocross races, Pidcock still unknown -
From Arkéa to UAE, these are the 2025 pro cycling team kits
French teams lead the way in new jersey design reveals but spies have spotted a couple unofficial releases