Sabrina Stultiens is one of our few riders from Limburg in the Amstel Gold Race on Sunday. Time for a preview of the Women’s WorldTour-classic in the southern part of the Netherlands.

You raced the Brabantse Pijl last Wednesday. How did it go?
“It already went much better than in Gent-Wevelgem, my first race in Europe this season. I felt well (she finished in a leading group which sprinted to victory, red.), but I miss race resistance which you get by completing races. I hope to have made progress in the Brabantse Pijl towards the classics in the Ardennes which are usually better cut out for me than the Flemish classics with cobbles.”

Does the Amstel Gold Race have an extra special meaning for you being from Limburg?
“It is great to have the Amstel Gold Race on our programme. This race is special and extra exceptional for me, mainly because the race crosses an area where I usually always train. The course has no surprises for me. I know for sure that there will be many familiar faces alongside the road on Sunday which will give me an extra boost on the way to the finish line.”

How was your preparation for the Ardennes classics?
“I’m still fairly new to the season. I started really well in Australia, but I had some setbacks afterwards and could not fully train. I re-entered in Gent-Wevelgem. Luckily, I notice that I make progress with each passing week. Fortunately, the season is still long with many amazing races. For instance, after the week in the Ardennes, there are a couple of stage races in Luxembourg and Spain which I normally enjoy.”

What do you consider to be able to do in the Ardennes classics?
“Despite the fact that my preparation could have been better, I want to be present in the Ardennes-week. I hope to be able to play a role in the finals and compete for a decent classification with our team.”