The first race of the long weekend in Drenthe has been a very hard one. Only 36 riders made it to the finish, with a front group of eight riders battling for the win. Behind them, Lucy Garner sprinted to a twelfth place and Lonneke Uneken came in as 21st. “It had a bit of everything today”, Lucy said after the finish. “The wind obviously played a massive role.”
Before the start everyone knew; you have to be in front of the peloton. Lucy: “Already in the neutralization it was carnage, so I knew I had to stay in the front. I was in the first group after the peloton split, but just couldn’t hold on to the wheels. I went back to the second group, but actually I am very pleased. Last year I didn’t finish many races, so I am very happy to become 12th, with these weather conditions.”
Tough day coming up
Sunday the Ronde van Drenthe, the first World Tour race of the team in 2019, is on the program. “Sunday will be hard”, Lucy knows already. “The cobble sections are longer. I already did a recon and it was very tough, so I think it is going to be even harder than today. I hope that I can have a good recovery day tomorrow and that I can get back on for Sunday.”
Reaction Lonneke Uneken:
Results Drentse Acht van Westerveld (UCI 1.2)
1. Audrey Cordon-Ragot (Canyon-Sram)
12. Lucy Garner
21. Lonneke Uneken
DNF Amalie Lutro, Chanella Stougje, Marta Tafliaferro, Grace Garner