Photo Credit: Cor Vos

Team DSM’s Women’s program opened their 2022 account in style with a spectacular ride at GP Oetingen today, as Lorena Wiebes finished off a superb team performance to take the win.

Rolling out from the start line in Oetingen this afternoon, the bunch were faced with several laps of a circuit that featured a couple of punchy climbs and a few bone-shaking cobbled sections. Setting out with a plan, the team aimed to take control of the race to set up Wiebes for a sprint finale: and that they did.

Despite numerous attacks early in the day, Francesca Barale and Esmée Peperkamp did a superb job to keep proceedings under control and not allow any dangerous moves to go clear, constantly reeling in those who aimed to break free from the shackles of the peloton. Barale was unfortunately involved in a crash but managed to remount and after fighting back to the bunch, she gave it her all for the team before the finale of the race started in the closing 25 kilometres.

Yet more riders tried to forge clear and even though a smattering of solo moves did hit-out and get a gap, the team remained ever-present towards the front of the bunch and brought things back to heel. Heading into the final lap Pfeiffer Georgi commanded the peloton, quickly jumping on the wheel of any would-be attackers and breaking the will of those looking to go clear, while Charlotte Kool protected Wiebes. Powering towards the flamme rouge, Georgi did one last pull before passing over to Kool who delivered a brilliant last lead out, releasing Wiebes around the final corner with the finish gantry beckoning. Producing her trademark sprint, Wiebes powered across the line and raised her arms aloft, celebrating a well-earned win for the team and opening the Women’s program’s account for the season.

After the finish a jubilant Wiebes expressed: “We did a really good race as a team. Francesca and Esmée did a lot of the positioning work earlier and they were both super strong at that. We really had things under control all day. Pfeiffer followed the dangerous attacks and on the last lap we stayed together with the three of us and Pfeiffer controlled the moves on the climb. We kept things together, and then did a lead out which was really strong. It was also the first time doing a full lead out with Charlotte and that went really well. I think we can be really proud of ourselves, we did a great race today and I’m looking forward to the next races with the team.”