This Saturday the peloton starts in The Netherlands for the 25th edition of the Miron Ronde van Drenthe. It promises to be an eventful race with cobbled sectors, multiple times the VAM-berg and a lot of wind.
It will be a special edition of the Miron Ronde van Drenthe this year. The organisers celebrate the 25th anniversary of this race. Only the Trofeo Alfredo Binda and the Giro d`Italia Donne have a longer history in women`s cycling. The Women`s World Tour one day race will start in Emmen and will finish 152,7 kilometres later in Hoogeveen. An addition to the race is the small hill ‘Muur van Emmen’, which comes just for the first cobbles. After 80 kilometres there will be the first of three climbs of the VAM-berg. After the last ascent it will be another 40 kilometres to the finish line in Hoogeveen. Enough time to catch a breakaway or to split the peloton in the crosswind sections.
For Liv Racing TeqFind it will be the first Dutch race of the 2023 season. The team brings Rachele Barbieri, Eva Buurman, Valerie Demey, Thalita de Jong, Katia Ragusa and Silke Smulders to the start line in Emmen.
After the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Smulders travelled to Spain for a short training camp. The Dutch Liv Racing TeqFind rider returned home Wednesday and looks forward to race on home soil. “We will start with a strong formation in Drenthe. The team had a good start of the season so far. For me personally the Omloop didn`t go exactly the way I wanted, but after a short period in Spain I feel ready for this Dutch classic race.”
“I want to play an active role in the race and if the opportunity arises I will attack with a group. The final of the race is slightly different because the final climb of the VAM-berg is earlier in the course. So there is a greater chance of a sprint and that gives our team a better chance with Rachele. There is a lot of wind forecasted for Saturday, so there is also a chance of echelons in the final. It will definitely be a tough race, good positioning is going to be very important all day.”