In the last one day race of the season Liv Racing Xstra rode aggressively and showed its team colours the whole day.
Silke Smulders was part of an early breakaway that animated the race for a long time. Together with six other riders Smulders built up a one minute lead with 40 kilometres to go. The peloton started to chase, but had a hard time closing the gap. The lead group still had 40 seconds advantage at 10 kilometres from the line. After some accelerations in the bunch the gap dropped quickly. Just before the final kilometre all came back together. In a sprint of a reduced bunch Lorena Wiebes took the win. Jeanne Korevaar finished the day as number seven.
Smulders was satisfied after the race. “All teams were in the breakaway, so I felt right away this was a group that had a chance to go all the way to the finish. We worked together well and managed to build up a nice lead. In the final kilometres our group was brought back to five riders. We still worked hard, but were caught in the final kilometre. It was really exciting to battle for the win or podium today, it was too bad we didn`t make it till the line. However it gives a good feeling for our final race, the Tour of Romandie”, Smulders said after the race.
Also Korevaar looked back with satisfaction on her race. “I had to search for my race rhythm a little at the start of the race, but that went fine during the race. We were in a perfect situation with Silke in the lead group. Unfortunately they were caught and there was a sprint finish. I was well positioned, but was just behind a little gap in the final metres. Eventually I finished seventh and I am satisfied with that.”