Anouska Koster finished as the first WM3-rider on Tuesday noon in the prologue of the Boels Rental Ladies Tour in Wageningen, crossing the finish line as 14th at 15 seconds from a podium place and 26 seconds from the winner Annemiek van Vleuten.  Team leader Kasia Niewiadoma was 19th with one additional second to Anouska Koster.

The 4.3 kilometre-long prologue was raced on a scorching route in the inner town of Guelderisch Wageningen. DS Jeroen Blijlevens witnessed a decent performance of his 6 riders. “The result is as expected, the time trial specialists lived up to the expectations.  We are shortly behind”, according to Blijlevens.

Team leader Kasia Niewiadoma starts stage 1, from Eibergen to Arnhem, on Wednesday with a small gap to other contenders, which Jeroen Blijlevens had taken into account. “Time trialling is not her thing, especially not on a flat road. Her chances will come later in the race”, says Blijlevens.

Open race
Blijlevens expects an open and spectacular race in the coming days. “Knowing that there will be another time trial in Roosendaal, many teams will attempt to get on the podium. Hopefully, Kasia will not sustain any damage so she can show her talents in the final stage in Limburg. Also Anouska can get far.”