With Ingvild Gaskjenn finishing fifth in the first two stages and fourth in the finale stage, Team Coop – Hitec Products has been able to show itself in the Lotto Thüringen Ladies Tour. In the east of Germany, the riders found a hilly course on all six stages. In the stages that ended with a sprint of a reduced peloton, Ingvild was able to get in the mix and take some strong results home.
“I actually have mixed feelings”, Ingvild says, looking back on all six days. “I hoped for more on stage three, four and five, but I am also super happy with three top-5’s. In stage one and two I felt very good and Tiril helped me into the finish, so that I was in a good position to sprint. On stage six I was alone in the peloton, so I had to be smart in the final, which I think I did quite well. I am happy with my fourth place in the last stage, but I was so close to the podium that it is also bitter sweet.”
Losing both Caroline Andersson because of a crash and Mari Hole Mohr because of illness, Team Coop – Hitec Products after a few days was already down to four riders. They made the best of it. “Overall I think we can be happy”, Ingvild says about it. “I hoped for a bit better shape in the hard stages, but overall I think the shape is good. But it will be better, so I am looking forward to the Women’s Tour and Tour de Suisse.”
Photo: Flotographie73