The Dutch Women`s World Tour race consists of five roads stages and one individual time trial over 17 kilometres. Liv Racing Xstra starts with a strong team for all terrains.
The Simac Ladies Tour starts with a stage in Flevoland, where there is a possibility for echelons. The peloton then heads to Ede and Gennep, before it hits the hills in Limburg. In stage four the peloton will climb the Cauberg three times. The penultimate stage is a time trial over 17 kilometres, which gives the time trial specialists an opportunity to shine. The race will finish in Arnhem, where a hard hilly stage will shape the overall classification.
After her successful European championships – where she won four medals – Rachele Barbieri will put on her Liv Racing Xstra outfit again in this stage race. The Italian sprinter will aim for stage wins and will get company from team mates Eva Buurman, Alison Jackson, Jeanne Korevaar, Amber van der Hulst and Silke Smulders.
“It`s been a long and busy season for me, so I feel a little bit tired. Still I am really focused and motivated to go for success in this race. I want to give 110% again. After the European championships I felt really tired, so I tried to rest a little and did some less intensive trainings. I feel no pressure as my season is already good until now, but of course I always want to try and win a stage. When there is no chance for a sprint or I don`t feel good to do a sprint I will do my job for the team and help my team mates”, Barbieri said about the race.
Sports director Wim Stroetinga also previewed on the race. “The first days there will be some chances for Rachele when it comes to a sprint, but depending on the wind there can also be echelons. The third day has a technical final 10 kilometres, so it is not sure that stage will finish in a bunch sprint. In the harder stages we count on Jeanne, Alison and Silke to show our team colors. We will race aggressive those days. The main goal is to get a stage win in this race”, Stroetinga told.
Stages
30/08, stage 1: Lelystad – Lelystad (141.2 km)
31/08, stage 2: Ede – Ede (117.8 km)
01/09, stage 3: Gennep – Gennep (139.1 km)
02/09, stage 4: Landgraaf – Landgraaf (136.9 km)
03/09, stage 5: Windraak – Watersley (17.8 km)
04/09, stage 6: Arnhem – Arnhem (150.3 km)