On Wednesday the first edition of Nokere Koerse for women was raced. The race, which for the men is already organized for the 74th time, ended in an uphill bunch sprint. Dutch rider Lorena Wiebes of Parkhotel Valkenburg took the win. Promising was the result of Chanella Stougje. After an accident last year, she this season already showed good form and now saw that rewarded with a 15th place. Lonneke Uneken finished 19th.
The team also had to deal with some bad luck again. Marta Tagliaferro had bike trouble in the final part of the race, Amalie Lutro punctured fifteen kilometers before the finish and five kilometers later Lucy Garner was involved in a crash.
“We would sprint for Lucy and I would help her with that”, Chanella tells after the race. “Unfortunately she crashed with ten kilometers to go. I waited at the end of the peloton for a while, in the hope Lucy would return. She didn’t come back and then I decided to sprint for myself.”
Mentally hard period
After bad luck in the past races, Chanella this time ended 15th. “Last year I had surgery on my shoulders. They are not totally in order yet, so I knew it wouldn’t be a top ten result. But I raced to the finish as hard as I could and I am happy that I am at least participating in the front for a bit again. It has been a mentally hard period. I was riding well, felt good, but had bad luck in the last few races. This was good. I am not there yet, but it is a good start.”
Results Nokere Koerse (UCI 1.1.)
1. Lorena Wiebes (Parkhotel Valkenburg)
15. Chanella Stougje
19. Lonneke Uneken
97. Grace Garner
107. Amalie Lutro
DNF Lucy Garner, Marta Tagliaferro
Foto: Sportfoto.nl – Chanella Stougje