The WaowDeals Pro Cycling's green train made a good impression on Saturday in the Strade Bianche. However, in the final, our riders as well as the rest of the competition had to accept the dominance of Anna van der Breggen who soloed to victory on the Piazza del Campo in Siena. Riejanne Markus, Anouska Koster and Jeanne Korevaar finished not much later.

The first break-away of the day was for Katia Ragusa and Sara Penton, who got away but did not get very far. Only at the end of the 5th sector, at less than 60 kilometres from the finish line, the fire got ignited when Alena Amialiusik accelerated and got Ellen van Dijk and Elisa Longo Borghini as co-escapees.

The lead fluctuated around 45 seconds for a long time. A small chasing peloton, including WaowDeals Pro Cycling's Riejanne Markus, Anouska Koster and Jeanne Korevaar, didn't gave the strong trio too much of a gap. The 3 leaders were caught in the 6th gravel sector of the day by a group with the favorites for the win.

WaowDeals Pro Cycling were still doing well in the race at that moment, but when Anna van der Breggen and Elisa Longo Borghini accelerated in the 7th of a total of 8 gravel sectors, our riders had to give in. Also Longo Borghini was not able to follow the pace soon after and van der Breggen soloed to the first place.

"Our riders completed a good race and performed well in this special race in tough circumstances with continuous rain", says DS Jeroen Blijlevens. "Compared to last year, we are one further step forwards which we should be happy with."

Setback
WaowDeals Pro Cycling took the start in the first Women's World Tour race with 5 riders instead of 6. Due to the wintery conditions, flights from the United Kingdom to Italy had been canceled both on Thursday and Friday. Rowe's absence was a loss, especially as she made a good impression last week.