Amalie Dideriksen wins Ronde van Drenthe
World champion Amalie Dideriksen sprinted to her first victory in the rainbow jersey in Hoogeveen, Holland on Saturday. The 20-year-old proved fastest in a four-up sprint that determined the winner of Ronde van Drenthe, the second round of the UCI Women’s WorldTour. It is the first win of the 2017 road season for Boels-Dolmans Cycling Team.
World champion Amalie Dideriksen sprinted to her first victory in the rainbow jersey in Hoogeveen, Holland on Saturday. The 20-year-old proved fastest in a four-up sprint that determined the winner of Ronde van Drenthe, the second round of the UCI Women’s WorldTour. It is the first win of the 2017 road season for Boels-Dolmans Cycling Team.
“It’s a really great feeling to win in the rainbow jersey,” Dideriksen said. “I had hoped to take a win this season. To do it today is amazing.”
The Dane’s victory came from a late race breakaway that escaped from an elite selection that formed over the third and final ascent of the VAMberg. Former Boels-Dolmans rider Ellen van Dijk had launched a powerful acceleration up the man-made hill and pocketed 30 seconds almost immediately.
Dideriksen won by a bike length with enough of a gap to celebrate across the line. Along with the race win, she earned the UCI Women’s WorldTour youth classification jersey for her efforts.
“It’s a really big win for me,” said Dideriksen. “It means a lot. I’m grateful to have the opportunity from the team and to pay back my teammates who worked so hard for me.”