Image: ©Velofocus
Alena Amialiusik has finished third on the final stage yesterday of the Boels Rental Tour in Valkenburg, Netherlands. The Belarusian's efforts on the hilly stage meant she moved from fifth to third on the final classification. The stage was won by Kasia Niewiadoma (RLT) and the tour was won by Chantal Blaak (DLT).
The final 90km of the 115km stage was on the same course as the famous Amstel Gold race and created an exciting finale to the six day Dutch tour. Elena Cecchini from CANYON//SRAM Racing was in the first break of the day with seven others that were allowed over 2.5 minutes in the first half of the race. Amialiusik joined a chase group of eight riders that went across to the leaders after the peloton split on the climbs.
Trixi Worrack and Lisa Brennauer would also make the front group before the race split again on the Cauberg. After 115km and four times up the Cauberg climb it was Niewiadoma who proved the fastest. Amialiusik managed a strong third place on the final stage and put herself on the podium with third on the final classification.
"Right from the start today we were motivated and ready to race strong together. Elena was in the first break, and Mieke (Kröger) and Barbara (Guarischi) did work in the first part of the race to help my position. It is really nice to race when you know that you have a strong team behind you and everyone has the same goal."
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"I tried the second last time up the Cauberg to get away on the false flat at the top but it wasn't successful. Then on the last climb I gave it everything to try to make a difference. I changed the GC and put our team on the podium."
"I am really happy with my third place on GC. To be honest I never thought that I could finish Holland Ladies Tour in the first three on GC! But in the last two years I have really improved on how to race in these small Dutch roads, with endless corners and wind. I've learnt a lot and am still learning from my team mates. Having two hilly stages this year also helped me. Who knows, maybe I will start to love Dutch races with the crazy echelons like my team mates do?!"
The team will next race Lotto Belgium Tour starting Tuesday 6 September.
by Beth Duryea / duryea@wmncycling.com
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