Team dsm-firmenich PostNL Women’s program took on their last one-day race of the season on Tuesday at Tre Valli Varesine. Heavy rain conditions saw the route shortened with the riders skipping the earlier loop and heading to the finish circuit, where they would complete one less lap than planned. From the start the team were attentive and rode strongly as a unit to keep each other safe, and were sharp on the attacks with Francesca Barale infiltrating a promising move.
Barale’s group built up an advantage that peaked at just over one minute but as the race headed into the final 25 kilometres their advantage began to tumble. The team helped to position Juliette Labous in the bunch, before Nienke Vinke then set a strong pace to launch the French champion. Surging clear alongside Lippert and Bego, they were able to gain a small gap but the reduced peloton made the catch and the eventual race winning counter attack went clear. Fighting to the line in the chasing group, Labous sprinted to a nice sixth place to round out her last race in Team dsm-firmenich PostNL colours.
Labous said: “It was chaotic weather today but we were ready for it as a team and were all motivated. We did a very good race tactically I think. Firstly we had Francesca up the road, then in the final Nienke launched me on the second last climb and I went clear with Bego and Lippert but it came back and that’s when the winning move was made by Kerbaol and Persico. I am a bit disappointed because I really wanted a win to finish my era with the team but we tried everything and raced well as a group so we shouldn’t have any regrets. I am very thankful for all the work of girls today but also from the team over the eight seasons. It’s time for new adventures for me but I will always keep challenging and remember the many good moments I had with the team.”
