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Lorena Wiebes was already properly established as the most effective sprinter in ladies’s biking after her dominant years at Staff DSM, however since becoming a member of SD Worx has developed tremendously as a Classics rider and general extra versatile star of the game.
The flying Dutchwoman was not the winningest rider of 2023 after reaching the feat back-to-back within the two seasons prior together with her former workforce. She truly had the fourth-most victories behind fellow SD Worx pair Demi Vollering and Lotte Kopecky and her former teammate and key lead-out rider Charlotte Kool.
This does not paint the complete image of Wiebes’ class all through the season, nevertheless, together with her palmares exhibiting simply how usually she was runner-up or on the rostrum of races she wouldn’t have been down as a favorite for up to now.
Usually she was the second-best rider within the seemingly inevitable SD Worx 1-2 finishes all year long, behind World Champion Kopecky. The pair completed as the highest two at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Danilith Nokere Koerse, stage 1 of the Tour de France Femmes and general on the Simac Girls Tour.
“I actually preferred the switch [to SD Worx]. I received lower than the yr earlier than, however I already knew that once I signed my contract with the workforce,” mentioned Wiebes to WielerFlits after the Superprestige cyclocross spherical in Niel this previous weekend. “For me, it was particularly necessary that I developed myself as a rider, and I discover that I’ve taken an enormous step ahead in that space.”
Wiebes was most spectacular at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, proper there with the punchier, lighter riders on the Muur and Bosberg earlier than successful the dash behind Kopecky. And she or he confirmed it was no fluke together with her capacity to journey the Cauberg with Kopecky and Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) as she and the World Champion cruised to a different 1-2 general on the Simac Girls Tour.
Even with this addition to her arsenal of talents, Wiebes didn’t lose her near-unmatchable top-end dash pace, solely going through an actual problem in flat finishes from former teammate Kool, who made a giant step in 2023. She nonetheless received the one flat dash on the Tour de France Femmes on stage 3 earlier than she needed to abandon resulting from sickness, so why change something?
“I would favor to proceed engaged on what I’ve completed this yr,” mentioned Wiebes. “Proceed to take steps when it comes to particulars and assert myself increasingly in more durable races.
“That is why I used to be truly very proud of my second place within the Simac Girls Tour, on prime of the Cauberg. I used to be capable of observe Lotte [Kopecky] and Kasia [Niewiadoma] there. I had by no means achieved something like that earlier than, and that’s at the moment extra necessary to me than getting extra victories.”
This pursuit of the hardest races maybe comes with an even bigger purpose in thoughts, the Paris Olympic Video games highway race. Wiebes is eyeing a possible crack at a medal, however the house begin of the Tour de France Femmes within the Netherlands coming so near the Olympics will possible play a job in her determination.
“The Olympic Video games are going to be necessary. This week we’re going to Paris with the KNWU to discover the highway race, so I’ll have a greater concept of how that fits my type,” mentioned Wiebes.
“The Tour de France Femmes, with the Grand Départ within the Netherlands, will even be an necessary race. Thankfully, these two objectives are comparatively shut to one another, which makes it possible to mix them.”
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