Lorena Wiebes lands Scheldeprijs hat-trick as SD Worx dominate again, Charlotte Kool second
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Updated 05/04/2023 at 14:32 GMT
It was another SD Worx masterclass at Scheldeprijs as the sprint squad delivered victory for Lorena Wiebes. Wiebes, who has swept victory at the race since its launch in 2021, came under pressure from Charlotte Kool in the finale but held on for victory. Wiebes has now won four times in 2023 – although Kool’s late dash suggests she might not have it all her own way this season.
Wiebes sprints to third straight win at Scheldeprijs
Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx) made it a hat-trick at Scheldeprijs as she continued her dominance at the Flanders Classic.
The Dutch star has won all three editions of the race since its inception in 2021, with Wiebes seeing off former team-mate Charlotte Kool (DSM) in a tight sprint.
A seven-strong breakaway had a 45-second advantage heading into the final of three 16.9km finishing circuits, with Sara Van de Vel (Fenix-Deceuninck Continental), Noelle Ruetschi (AG Insurance-NXTG), Amandine Fouquenent (Arkea Pro Cycling Team), Kelly van den Steen (Duolar-Chevalmeire Cycling Team), Babetter van der Wolf (Lifeplus Wahoo), Katrijn De Clercq (Lotto Dstny Ladies) and Simone Boilard (St Michel-Mavic-Auber93) all chasing an unlikely win.
But the group quickly splintered under pressure from a hungry peloton and, just 8km later, the race was back together.
Marlen Reusser (SD Worx) drove up the pace on the front to begin Operation Wiebes, with the increased pace contributing to a crash at the back of the peloton with 2.2km remaining.
SD Worx, as they have all season, always looked in control at the front as their new sprint train continued to gel and when Wiebes launched, it looked a formality. But although she took the victory, the late pressure exerted from Kool hints at a blossoming sprint rivalry in the months - and years - to come.
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