Sarah Van Dam has made an excellent start to her time at Visma | Lease a Bike. The 24-year-old Canadian has been prominently visible in the Tour Down Under over the past few days, culminating in a fifth place finish both in the final stage and the overall classification.
Although she couldn't keep up with the race intensity of UAE Team ADQ and eventual winner Noemi Rüegg, Van Dam held her own impressively in the chasing group during the queen stage to Campbelltown. Still, she was disappointed with how the race unfolded. "I had the legs to win today, so I was a bit disappointed afterwards," she said on her new team's website.
"I gave everything I had in me. Besides that, I was superbly supported by my teammates. They kept me well positioned at the front and ensured I stayed cool and hydrated during this hot day. I started the first climb of Corkscrew Road in a good position. After the pace was ramped up, I was at the front with the UAE Team ADQ duo. They played their team tactics perfectly, so unfortunately, I had to let go."
Proud
"On the final climb, I was in the chasing group, but due to the many efforts, I lacked the strength to follow the decisive acceleration. It was my first time in a position where I could fight for the overall win. Looking back on the past three days, I can only be proud of how we raced as a team. We have learned a lot here and will take this experience into the upcoming races."
"She and the team gave their all and have shown over the past days that she can compete for top positions at this level. On challenging courses, Sarah is a tough competitor for many rivals, and she can certainly build on this in the future. All in all, we can be satisfied with how we presented ourselves in this race."
