Preview: Lorena Wiebes aims for third win in Ronde van Brugge
One day after the men, the women will ride their Tour of Bruges. If Wednesday’s race was already a preview of the women’s event, then we’re in for another spectacular race. The only question is: how do you beat Lorena Wiebes? The peloton has yet to find an answer.
How did the Tour of Bruges go last year?
Last year, when the race was still called the Classic-Brugge De Panne, none other than Wiebes took the victory. The SD Worx-Protime rider dominated the sprint, beating Chiara Consonni and Elisa Balsamo. There was also plenty of praise after the race for Cat Ferguson, who attacked solo for a long time and was caught only two kilometers from the finish.
What does the Tour of Bruges route look like?
The Tour of Bruges route covers 143.7 kilometers and is perfectly flat, but if you’re not careful, the wind will blow you off course. On Thursday morning, the team presentation takes place at the Markt in Bruges, after which the race will feature two large loops.
The race starts with a loop heading south via Torhout, Wingene, and Beernem, and in the finale, there is a northern loop through Damme, Koolkerke, and Dudzele. The Brieversweg is the only cobbled sector on the route, but it’s not expected to play a significant role in the race. The finish line is also set once again in Bruges.
Who can beat Wiebes?
It’s clear that Lorena Wiebes is the rider to beat. With strong support from Marta Lach and Femke Markus, the Dutch champion heads to the WWT race well backed, and the chances of Wiebes being beaten on Thursday are slim. Still, several riders will dare to dream. What else can you do?
Former winner Elisa Balsamo, who has won this race twice, will most want to complete her hat trick on Thursday, but the 28-year-old Italian hasn’t yet found her best form this season. That’s why we expect Lara Gillespie and Charlotte Kool to be the biggest threats to Wiebes. Both Kool and Gillespie have already won a Flemish semi-classic, so confidence is high for the Dutch and the Irish rider.
In the battle for the podium, sprinters like Chiara Consonni, Shari Bossuyt, Nienke Veenhoven, and Ally Wollaston are also expected to feature prominently.
What time should you turn on the TV? The Tour of Bruges for women can be followed closely on Thursday. From 3:15 PM, both HBO Max and Sporza will provide live coverage from the front row.
