Kanis breaks through for stage win

Janneke Kanis (Nederland Bloeit) held off Cervelo TestTeam’s Iris Slappendel to win Rabo Ster Zeeuwsche Eilanden’s final stage, preventing the rival squad from taking a clean sweep of the Dutch race. While Kanis claimed the stage victory in the two-up sprint, Cervelo couldn’t be overcome in the general classification race with stage one and two winner Kirsten Wild sealing the title with a fourth place.

"Today's stage was a hard one with lots of cross wind on the dikes and bridges but our team took control and we broke the peloton," said Wild. "At the end Iris was in the break so the others had to work and she was also close in the general classification, so it was perfect teamwork."

Despite losing Charlotte Becker to brake problems, Cervelo enjoyed a brilliant tour. The squad finished with five of its riders in the top 10 on general classification, bringing a smile to the face of sport director Egon van Kessel.

"Today's third stage was very hard because there was a lot of wind. At the end of the stage, because of that wind, the bunch broke into several groups,” he said. “At the very end there were three riders at the final. Iris Slappendel finished second today and in the GC overall as well."

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