WM3 Pro Cycling could not surprise on Saturday in the GP de Plouay. Anouska Koster finished as first of the team in the WorldTour race. Lizzie Deignan won after an entertaining final.

As is often the case in the GP de Plouay, the race only moved slowly into action. It took some time before the riders started to attack, with WM3 Pro Cycling being one of the first ones to spark things off. Riejanne Markus brought some life into the peloton by attacking after a climb in the local lap. Anouska Koster made an attempt as soon as Riejanne was caught.

Sting in the tail
The peloton stayed together in the subsequent part of the race, aside from a couple of short-lived escapes. The sting was clearly in the tail as a strong leading group with Ferrand-Prevot, Deignan, Longo Borghini, Van der Breggen and Moolman Pasio, was formed on the penultimate climb of the Ty Marrec. The peloton, however, could neutralise the situation.

One rider after the other attacked in the build-up to the final climb of the Ty Marrec. Deignan initiated the decisive jump, also drawing out Ferrand-Prevot. In the last couple of hundred metres of the GP de Plouay, Deignan proved she was the strongest of the day.  Anouska Koster finished in a group right after.

Positive points
“Anouska Koster completed a fine race today. She fell into the final and had to change bikes, right at the moment when the peloton split.  Lauren and Riejanne brought her back, again when the peloton broke apart. It is amazing Anouska could stay at the front for so long in the final”, says DS Jeroen Blijlevens.

Also Riejanne Markus an Anna Plichta crashed in the GP de Plouay but without too much damage. “We need to focus on today’s positive points and apply them in the next race, the Boels Rental Ladies Tour”, says Jeroen Blijlevens.