Blaak wins Ronde van Drenthe

Chantal Blaak (Boels Dolmans) continued her run of good form with a commanding victory in the Boels Ronde van Drenthe, the second round of the inaugural UCI Women's WorldTour.

Following on her victory in Le Samyn des Dames and second in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Blaak topped Gracie Elvin (Orica-AIS) and Ladies Tour of Qatar winner Trixi Worrack (Canyon SRAM), but it was fourth-placed Anna van der Breggen (Rabo-Liv) who will take over the WorldTour lead after round 1 winner, world champion Lizzie Armitstead, abandoned the race due to illness.

Blaak, Elvin, Worrack and Van der Breggen changed up the usual tactics for the Dutch race, which features a series of cobblestone sections in the first half, then a circuit that traverses the man-made VAM-berg twice before the finishing circuit.

In recent years, the VAM-berg has been the launching pad for the successful breakaways, but this time it was the final cobblestone sprint that fractured the peloton and created the winning move.

Blaak pushed the pace to claim the pavé sprint with 61km to go, and once she was joined by Elvin, Worrack, and Van der Breggen, all of the major teams except Wiggle-High5 were represented.

A number of crashes in the chasing group only served to extend their lead to over two minutes by the time they crested the VAM-berg for the final time, and it became clear they would stay away until the finish.

The four worked together smoothly until the final circuit, when all were on high alert for attacks. Van der Breggen tried a small surge coming into the final kilometer, but was deftly marked by Blaak. It wasn't until the final bend that Elvin attempted to surprise the others with an early sprint, but Blaak was too powerful, and ran her down before the line.

As Blaak celebrated her victory, Worrack and Van der Breggen fought to the line, and the German took the final podium spot with a well-timed bike throw.

Van der Breggen, the only rider of the four to feature in Strade Bianche, the opening WorldTour round, where she was fifth, took over the WorldTour lead from Armitstead, who remains second overall.

To subscribe to the Cyclingnews video channel, click here

Full Results

Swipe to scroll horizontally
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Chantal Blaak (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team3:36:13
2Gracie Elvin (Aus) Orica-AISRow 1 - Cell 2
3Trixi Worrack (Ger) Canyon-SRAMRow 2 - Cell 2
4Anna Van Der Breggen (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling TeamRow 3 - Cell 2
5Marta Bastianelli (Ita) Alé Cipollini0:01:49
6Shelley Olds (USA) Cylance Pro CyclingRow 5 - Cell 2
7Floortje Mackaij (Ned) Team Liv-PlanturRow 6 - Cell 2
8Lauren Kitchen (Aus) Hitec ProductsRow 7 - Cell 2
9Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned) Orica-AISRow 8 - Cell 2
10Leah Kirchmann (Can) Team Liv-PlanturRow 9 - Cell 2
11Sarah Roy (Aus) Orica-AISRow 10 - Cell 2
12Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Canyon-SRAMRow 11 - Cell 2
13Lucinda Brand (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling TeamRow 12 - Cell 2
14Amy Pieters (Ned) Wiggle High5Row 13 - Cell 2
15Emily Collins (NZl) Tibco-Silicon Valley BankRow 14 - Cell 2
16Christine Majerus (Lux) Boels Dolmans Cycling TeamRow 15 - Cell 2
17Carmen Small (USA) Cervelo Bigla Pro Cycling TeamRow 16 - Cell 2
18Roxane Fournier (Fra) Poitou-Charentes.Futuroscope.86Row 17 - Cell 2
19Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Ita) Lensworld-ZannataRow 18 - Cell 2
20Monique Van De Ree (Ned) Lares-Waowdeals Women Cycling TeamRow 19 - Cell 2
21Anna Trevisi (Ita) Alé CipolliniRow 20 - Cell 2
22Elizabeth Williams (Aus) Orica-AISRow 21 - Cell 2
23Lotte Kopecky (Bel) Lotto Soudal LadiesRow 22 - Cell 2
24Emma Johansson (Swe) Wiggle High5Row 23 - Cell 2
25Lotta Lepist… (Fin) Cervelo Bigla Pro Cycling TeamRow 24 - Cell 2
26Romy Kasper (Ger) Boels Dolmans Cycling TeamRow 25 - Cell 2
27Lauren Stephens (USA) Tibco-Silicon Valley BankRow 26 - Cell 2
28Elena Cecchini (Ita) Canyon-SRAMRow 27 - Cell 2
29Kelly Druyts (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Etixx-Guill D'orRow 28 - Cell 2
30Alexis Ryan (USA) Canyon-SRAMRow 29 - Cell 2
31Jeanne Korevaar (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling TeamRow 30 - Cell 2
32Anna Zita Maria Stricker (Ita) INPA - BianchiRow 31 - Cell 2
33Susanna Zorzi (Ita) Lotto Soudal LadiesRow 32 - Cell 2
34Ingrid Drexel (Mex) Astana Pro TeamRow 33 - Cell 2
35Megan Guarnier (USA) Boels Dolmans Cycling TeamRow 34 - Cell 2
36Kaat Van Der Meulen (Bel) Lensworld-ZannataRow 35 - Cell 2
37Aude Biannic (Fra) Poitou-Charentes.Futuroscope.86Row 36 - Cell 2
38Emilie Moberg (Nor) Hitec ProductsRow 37 - Cell 2
39Eugenia Bujak (Pol) BTC City LjubljanaRow 38 - Cell 2
40Oxana Kozonchuk (Rus) Lensworld-ZannataRow 39 - Cell 2
41Marta Tagliaferro (Ita) Alé CipolliniRow 40 - Cell 2
42Kaat Hannes (Bel) Lensworld-ZannataRow 41 - Cell 2
43Nikki Harris (GBr) Boels Dolmans Cycling TeamRow 42 - Cell 2
44Simona Frapporti (Ita) Hitec ProductsRow 43 - Cell 2
45Lisa Brennauer (Ger) Canyon-SRAMRow 44 - Cell 2
46Ilona Hoeksma (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg Continental TeamRow 45 - Cell 2
47Roxane Knetemann (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling TeamRow 46 - Cell 2
48Sara Mustonen (Swe) Team Liv-PlanturRow 47 - Cell 2
49Joelle Numainville (Can) Cervelo Bigla Pro Cycling TeamRow 48 - Cell 2
50Alena Amialiusik (Blr) Canyon-SRAMRow 49 - Cell 2
51Simona Bortolotti (Ita) BepinkRow 50 - Cell 2
52Iris Slappendel (Ned) UnitedHealthcare WomenRow 51 - Cell 2
53Valerie Demey (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Etixx-Guill D'orRow 52 - Cell 2
54Emilia Fahlin (Swe) Alé CipolliniRow 53 - Cell 2
55Natalie Van Gogh (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg Continental TeamRow 54 - Cell 2
56Willeke Knol (Ned) Lotto Soudal LadiesRow 55 - Cell 2
57Julie Leth (Den) Hitec ProductsRow 56 - Cell 2
58Malgorzta Jasinska (Pol) Alé CipolliniRow 57 - Cell 2
59Shara Gillow (Aus) Rabo Liv Women Cycling TeamRow 58 - Cell 2
60Kelly Van Den Steen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Etixx-Guill D'orRow 59 - Cell 2
61Ursa Pintar (Slo) BTC City LjubljanaRow 60 - Cell 2
62Loren Rowney (Aus) Orica-AISRow 61 - Cell 2
63Clara Koppenburg (Ger) Cervelo Bigla Pro Cycling TeamRow 62 - Cell 2
64Julia Soek (Ned) Team Liv-PlanturRow 63 - Cell 2
65Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Wiggle High5Row 64 - Cell 2
66Tayler Wiles (USA) Orica-AISRow 65 - Cell 2
67Chloe Hosking (Aus) Wiggle High5Row 66 - Cell 2
68Lieselot Decroix (Bel) Lotto Soudal LadiesRow 67 - Cell 2
69Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Wiggle High5Row 68 - Cell 2
70Jolien D'hoore (Bel) Wiggle High5Row 69 - Cell 2
71Lara Vieceli (Ita) INPA - Bianchi0:04:35
DNFAnouska Koster (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling TeamRow 71 - Cell 2
DNFElizabeth Armitstead (GBr) Boels Dolmans Cycling TeamRow 72 - Cell 2
DNFThea Thorsen (Nor) Hitec ProductsRow 73 - Cell 2
DNFJanicke Gunvaldsen (Nor) Hitec ProductsRow 74 - Cell 2
DNFValentina Scandolara (Ita) Cylance Pro CyclingRow 75 - Cell 2
DNFSheyla Gutierrez Ruiz (Spa) Cylance Pro CyclingRow 76 - Cell 2
DNFDoris Schweizer (Swi) Cylance Pro CyclingRow 77 - Cell 2
DNFRachele Barbieri (Ita) Cylance Pro CyclingRow 78 - Cell 2
DNFAlison Tetrick (USA) Cylance Pro CyclingRow 79 - Cell 2
DNFLauren Hall (USA) Tibco-Silicon Valley BankRow 80 - Cell 2
DNFLauren Komanski (USA) Tibco-Silicon Valley BankRow 81 - Cell 2
DNFJoanne Kiesanowski (NZl) Tibco-Silicon Valley BankRow 82 - Cell 2
DNFBrianna Walle (USA) Tibco-Silicon Valley BankRow 83 - Cell 2
DNFKyara Stijns (Ned) Team Liv-PlanturRow 84 - Cell 2
DNFMolly Weaver (GBr) Team Liv-PlanturRow 85 - Cell 2
DNFCoryn Rivera (USA) UnitedHealthcare WomenRow 86 - Cell 2
DNFDiana Pe„Uela (Col) UnitedHealthcare WomenRow 87 - Cell 2
DNFAnnie Ewart (Can) UnitedHealthcare WomenRow 88 - Cell 2
DNFAbigail Mickey (USA) UnitedHealthcare WomenRow 89 - Cell 2
DNFKatie Hall (USA) UnitedHealthcare WomenRow 90 - Cell 2
DNFEllen Skerritt (Aus) Alé CipolliniRow 91 - Cell 2
DNFCoralie Demay (Fra) Poitou-Charentes.Futuroscope.86Row 92 - Cell 2
DNFCharlotte Bravard (Fra) Poitou-Charentes.Futuroscope.86Row 93 - Cell 2
DNFLex Albrecht (Can) BepinkRow 94 - Cell 2
DNFLenore Pipes (Gum) BepinkRow 95 - Cell 2
DNFIlaria Sanguineti (Ita) BepinkRow 96 - Cell 2
DNFTereza Medvedova (Svk) BepinkRow 97 - Cell 2
DNFKseniia Dobrynina (Rus) Astana Pro TeamRow 98 - Cell 2
DNFFanny Riberot (Fra) Astana Pro TeamRow 99 - Cell 2
DNFNatalya Sokovnina (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 100 - Cell 2
DNFSvetlana Vasilieva (Rus) Astana Pro TeamRow 101 - Cell 2
DNFArianna Fidanza (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 102 - Cell 2
DNFAnouk Rijff (Ned) Lotto Soudal LadiesRow 103 - Cell 2
DNFChantal Hoffmann (Lux) Lotto Soudal LadiesRow 104 - Cell 2
DNFJip Van Den Bos (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg Continental TeamRow 105 - Cell 2
DNFJanneke Ensing (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg Continental TeamRow 106 - Cell 2
DNFEsra Tromp (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg Continental TeamRow 107 - Cell 2
DNFGanna Solovei (Ukr) Parkhotel Valkenburg Continental TeamRow 108 - Cell 2
DNFAnna Plichta (Pol) BTC City LjubljanaRow 109 - Cell 2
DNFJelena Eric (Srb) BTC City LjubljanaRow 110 - Cell 2
DNFOlena Pavlukhina (Aze) BTC City LjubljanaRow 111 - Cell 2
DNFMia Radotic (Cro) BTC City LjubljanaRow 112 - Cell 2
DNFWinanda Spoor (Ned) Lensworld-ZannataRow 113 - Cell 2
DNFMaaike Polspoel (Bel) Lensworld-ZannataRow 114 - Cell 2
DNFDemmy Druyts (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Etixx-Guill D'orRow 115 - Cell 2
DNFJessy Druyts (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Etixx-Guill D'orRow 116 - Cell 2
DNFGilke Croket (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Etixx-Guill D'orRow 117 - Cell 2
DNFSara Olsson (Swe) INPA - BianchiRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFAngela Maffeis (Ita) INPA - BianchiRow 119 - Cell 2
DNFClaudia Cretti (Ita) INPA - BianchiRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFMichela Pavin (Ita) INPA - BianchiRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFKelly Markus (Ned) Lares-Waowdeals Women Cycling TeamRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFLotte Van Hoek (Ned) Lares-Waowdeals Women Cycling TeamRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFEileen Roe (GBr) Lares-Waowdeals Women Cycling TeamRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFPia De Quint (Bel) Lares-Waowdeals Women Cycling TeamRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFGabrielle Pilote-Fortin (Can) Cervelo Bigla Pro Cycling TeamRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFNicole Hanselmann (Swi) Cervelo Bigla Pro Cycling TeamRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFIlaria Bonomi (Ita) BepinkRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFDorleta Eskamendi Gil (Spa) Lares-Waowdeals Women Cycling TeamRow 129 - Cell 2

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1