Kasia Niewiadoma just missed the victory on Sunday in an entertaining final stage of the Boels Rental Ladies Tour. She only got caught 4 kilometres from the finish line in Sittard, having to settle for the 3rd place. She jumped to the 7th spot in the general classification.
The closing stage in the province of Limburg started furiously. Already a couple of kilometres after the start in Sittard, an 11-headed group escaped, including Jeanne Korevaar. The leading group gradually increased its gap in the hills of Limburg.
The peloton made a move after nearly 100 kilometres. Kasia Niewiadoma was keen on a day success and jumped from the peloton. Janneke Ensing followed her lead. Not much later, the 2 chasers caught up to the 11 riders at the front of the race.
Jeanne, having been at the front all day, was crucial in pulling the group in an attempt to get team leader Kasia in a higher ranking of the GC. Kasia shook things up on various climbs in order to lose some co-escapees. She soloed away after around 130 kilometres.
For a long time, Kasia seemed to be the best qualified rider for the day victory, but had to bow in the end for the chasers Janneke Ensing and Lucinda Brand, the 2 riders who had been breathing down her neck.
Following the merger at 4 kilometres of the finish line, Ensing escaped. Kasia, having already jumped the gun with her attack, could not close the gap. Brand outsprinted Kasia for the 2nd place.
Gambled and lost
“At the start, it looked like it would be a boring stage. The 11 break-away riders got the blessing from the peloton and Annemiek van Vleuten’s team controlled the race. But yet, the peloton made a move”, says DS Jeroen Blijlevens. “When it slowed down again, Kasia took off at 50 kilometres from the finish, as agreed.”
The race had a significant symbolic meaning for Kasia. Exactly 5 years ago, she debuted in this race with our team at the highest level. Since then, she worked her way up as one of the best riders of the peloton. The Boels Rental Ladies Tour was her last race at the service of WM3 Pro Cycling.
“We have gambled and lost today. However, I can accept the way it happened. Kasia showed a lot of courage and determination to attack. It was a beautiful day for cycling enthusiasts”, says Jeroen Blijlevens. Kasia was awarded as the most combative rider of the day.
