Team Jumbo-Visma Women suffers in challenging mountain stage Vuelta
The second stage of the Ceratizit Challenge by la Vuelta proved challenging for Team Jumbo-Visma. The riders fought hard in the most demanding stage of this multi-day race but could not make a difference. Amber Kraak and Anouska Koster finished just outside the top twenty.
Team Jumbo-Visma started with only four riders. Karlijn Swinkels and Aafke Soet were both not fit and had to leave the race.
The riders faced five challenging climbs during the 105-kilometre stage around Colindres in Spain, two of which were from the first category.
Two riders soon managed to escape. Halfway through the race, they had extended their lead to more than two and a half minutes. Behind that, Movistar led the pace in the peloton. Team Jumbo-Visma riders Koster and Kraak followed until Annemiek van Vleuten increased the pace at about thirty kilometers from the finish. They had to let go and ended up in the third group.
"We went for a top fifteen finish. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it"
Race coach Carmen Small was satisfied with her team’s efforts but somewhat disappointed with the result. “We went for a top fifteen finish. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it. Amber and Anouska gave their all, but the climbs were too long. The girls tried their best but didn’t have the legs to finish well. Fortunately, we still have three days to go. Tomorrow we will go for it again.”