Netherlands, 60km Criterium, National
Taking place in Emmen, Drenthe, the Gouden Pijl enjoys the backing of Rabobank - one of the few sponsors that became involved in cycling not only for the advertising opportunities it offers but due to a deep love for the sport. As a result, it has become one of the biggest, most popular and best-organised races in the country and is able to attract the top names in both the men's and women's categories. In common with several other races in the Netherlands and Belgium, cycling is only part of the attraction - the event also features skating, food and live music, attracting thousands of people each year.
For sheer excitement, no other race rivals a criterium: they take place on short city circuits, more often that not with at least a few difficult corners. Heavy rain and thunder were predicted for Emmen today, which made the entire parcours slippery and more challenging than usual and might have slowed things down were it not for the fact that this was Marianne Vos' first race since she won the Olympic Road Race - and if you're in a race with Vos, you've got to ride as fast as you possibly can at all times to avoid being left far behind, because the 25-year-old Dutch star rides like a rocket at all times. Even after the first lap Vos had a significant lead, then she seemed to get faster and faster as the race progressed. The result, as so often tends to be the case when she's racing, was inevitable - and was her 24th opportunity to stand on the top step of a podium so far this year. Team mates Iris Slappendel and Roxane Kneteman, a lap behind her, took second and third place, making it a clean sweep for the Rabobank team.
(More to come...)
Photos by: @dy9ee8 @dianadegroot @drenthe2028 @kaatjemulder Bastiaan Hollander @ArjanTenHhof
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| Marianne's 24th victory of 2012 |
1. Marianne Vos Rabobank Women Team
2. Iris Slappendel Rabobank
3. Roxane Knetemann Rabobank
4. Loes Gunnewijk Orica-GreenEDGE
5. Amy Pieters Skil-Argos
6. Janneke Kanis Ski-Argos
7. Ilona Hoeksma WRV De Peddelaars Hoogeveen
8. Melanie Hessling
9. Ivana Tiessens De Noordelijke ATB Club
10. Moniek Tenniglo
11. Mariël Borgerink WV De Noord-Westhoek
12. Djoeke Donkers NWV Groningen
13. Trieneke Fokkens De Noordelijke ATB Club
14. Annet Pit WRV De Peddelaars Hoogeveen
15. Elise Karssies De Noordelijke ATB Club
16. Judith Jelsma WV De Noord-Westhoek
17. Marije Joling Specialized-DPD-SRAM
18. Willeke Knol GRC Jan Van Arckel
19. Ingeborg Kreuze WV De Noord-Westhoek
20. Hilde van Slochteren De Noordelijke ATB Club
21. Linda Ringlever NWV Groningen
22. Carolin Schiff
23. Silke Kogelman GRC Jan Van Arckel
24. Winanda Spoor Dolmans-Boels
25. Erika Broekema NWV Groningen
26. Kayleigh Brogan Ibis
27. Laura Murray
28. Janien Lubben WRV De Peddelaars Hoogeveen
29. Anne Ewing Ibis
30. Joran Tromp GRC Jan Van Arckel
31. Hilde Oudman NWV Groningen
32. Hannah Barnes Ibis
33. Annouk van der Weijden Specialized-DPD-SRAM
34. Geerte Hoeke - -
35. Simone de Vries WRV De Peddelaars Hoogeveen
36. Jarmila Machacova
37. Nathasja Heijting PRC Delta
38. Hannah Welter GWC De Adelaar
39. Nathalie van Katwijk W.V. Noord-Holland
40. Annewil Schreuder W.V. Omega
41. Melanie Klement WRV De Peddelaars Hoogeveen
42. Astrid Schuitema De Noordelijke ATB Club
43. Linda de Croon W.V. De Noord-Westhoek
44. Ester Scholten GRC Jan Van Arckel
45. Liesbeth Zeeman Hoornse Ren En Toerclub
(Times not yet published)
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