The Giro Donne is just behind us, but the next stage race is already waiting for the peloton. Liv Racing TeqFind will start in the Baloise Ladies Tour, starting this Wednesday.
The Baloise Ladies Tour kicks off with a prologue in Vlissingen. In the days that follow the peloton has to be alert for possible echelons and breakaways, but probably the sprinters will get some chances to shine. On Saturday there will be a double program for the riders. First there is a stage from Breskens to Knokke-Heist over 82,6 kilometres, followed by an individual time trial over 17,1 km in the evening. The fourth and final stage will take place in and around Deinze.
Liv Racing TeqFind will start with Eva Buurman, Thalita de Jong, Valerie Demey, Ayesha McGowan, Jeanne Korevaar and Sabrina Stultiens.
De Jong aims for a good result in the prologue and some good training weeks. “Normally I am strong in a prologue, however it is over a year ago that I rode one. I feel good however. The last weeks I did some good training. I went to the Vosges with my brother, followed by the nationals which ended with a flat tire for me. After that I did a criterium in Gilze, where I finished second behind Lotte Kopecky. It was a good interval training and a good opportunity to get some speed in the legs. Last weekend I raced a kermesse to get some extra race rhythm and extra power to accelerate after every corner. The race went well and finished in a bunch sprint, which I could win after a lead-out from my sister Demi. So I feel ready for the Baloise Ladies Tour”, De Jong said.
“I also did some training on my Liv time trial bike as preparation for the prologue and especially for the longer time trial on the second last day. It is a technical time trial and for me it is some time ago that I did such a long time trial, so that will be a sort of new experience again. In the other stages I will try to get in the breakaway and battle for a nice result. I am really looking forward to race together with the team”, concluded De Jong.
Stages
12/07, prologue: Vlissingen – Vlissingen (2.6 km)
13/07, stage 1: Zwevegem – Zwevegem (119.8 km)
14/07, stage 2: Zulte – Zulte (116.2 km)
15/07, stage 3a: Breskens – Knokke-Heist (82.6 km)
15/07, stage 3b: Knokke-Heist – Knokke-Heist (17.1 km, ITT)
16/07, stage 4: Deinze – Deinze (121.1 km)