Being within the thick of the motion for a lot of La Flèche Wallonne Femmes couldn’t cease Pauliena Rooijakkers (Fenix-Deceuninck) from hovering to a high ten end on the Mur de Huy on Wednesday – a standout consequence which the Dutchwoman stated she had not anticipated after racing so arduous from the phrase go.
Rooijakkers was an early breakaway alongside Grace Brown (FDJ-SUEZ) and attacked once more within the final 10km. After these exploits, she entered the Mur de Huy in twenty second place however handed rider after rider to cross the road in sixth place.
“On the ultimate climb, I took my very own tempo. Ending sixth stunned me after the efforts I did. I do know I’m in a good condition, however I’m very pleased with the consequence,” Rooijakkers informed Cyclingnews.
Earlier than her sturdy ending effort, Rooijakkers had spent 28km within the chase with Brown, leaping after the Australian when she attacked excessive of the Côte d’Ereffe. Though they have been by no means greater than 45 seconds forward of the peloton, not being within the bunch was a bonus in itself on the primary ascent of the Mur de Huy.
“I do know she is a really sturdy rider and hoped that some extra riders would go together with me. After that we might survive the primary time up the Mur de Huy ‘straightforward’ in entrance,” she defined.
16km from the end, Brown and Rooijakkers have been again within the peloton after having been only a handful of seconds forward for a while. Two riders from the early breakaway have been nonetheless in entrance – and Rooijakkers made a transfer on the highest of the Côte d’Ereffe once more, this time occurring the chase alone.
“I had hoped that the race would open up extra and the favourites would additionally assault,” the 30-year-old stated.
She did cross Sara Martín (Movistar Group) and Julie Van de Velde (AG Insurance coverage-Soudal) simply inside 10km to go, and finally different riders reacted: Élise Chabbey (Canyon-SRAM) jumped throughout to Rooijakkers whereas Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek), Mareille Meijering (Movistar Group), and Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) additionally tried to bridge to the entrance.
Longo Borghini and finally Kopecky made it throughout, however the peloton was on their heels and closed the hole.
After efficiency within the mid-week Flèche Wallonne, Rooijakkers is now wanting ahead to the finale of the Classics season, Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
“It’s the race that fits me the most effective of all of the Classics. I hope it is going to be a tough race. The aim is all the time to win with the crew, however on this form, I’ll go for a podium spot,” Rooijakkers promised to intention excessive on Sunday.
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