Holland Ladies Tour

29^th August - 3^rd September

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Stage Review - Stage 5

It has been unseasonably warm in the Netherlands this week. Although the weather forecast for today was for rain and possible thunder, the day just got hotter and sunnier. As the riders rolled away, thermometers at banks and filling stations showed the temperature to be 26'C. Later on, around Almelo town centre and the finish line, the high cloud had burned away and the temperature was reading 29'C. 

It was not an easy ride today for the 136 starters. There were at least two crashes and the pace was high for most of the day. As has been the case all week, the early part of the stage saw the pace rise, resulting in riders being lost out of the back of the bunch. Later on, however, a break did get away and caused the pace to rise even further. Race leader, Tanja Hennes, was determined to defend her jersey and as the race entered Almelo for the first of 3 town centre circuits, the whole of the Buitenpoort-Flexpoint team was at the front chasing down the breakaways. They reduced the gap, but were unable to tow Hennes across to the escapees, who were preparing for a sprint.

Still in the bunch with a lap to go was Team Safi's Nicole Cooke. As the group took the bell, she made a huge effort and crossed the gap to the leaders. As the group came onto the finishing straight  lap (3km) later, her white British Champion's jersey could be seen bursting out of the front of the group. With 75m to go, she glanced around to see if anyone was with her - noone. For the next 25m - 30m, she continued to accelerate away. Then, with 30m to go, it was time to celebrate, she raised her arms, glanced once again over her shoulder and then coasted to the line, arms still raised. 

The bunch sprinted in 6 seconds later, led by Judith Arndt (Nürnberger) from Andrea Bosman (Vrienden van het Platteland). There was a further gap of another 8 seconds until the main group was home - the split had occurred during the chases in the final lap. 

The result means that Cooke moves up from 43rd to 33rd, her time gap still over 2 1/2 minutes. Overall leader is still Tanja Hennes, with a lead of 44 seconds over next rival, Regina Schleicher who is fourth at 44 seconds. Hennes does not need to worry about the second and third placed riders, they are team-mates, Melchers van Poppel and Ljungskog.

Post Race Comment - Nicole Cooke

Speaking after the race, Nicole Cooke was pleased with her win, but it had been hard won. Cooke came off twice in crashes on stage 5.  Her run down on the stage was this :  "There were a couple of crashes today - one major one after about 45 minutes, I came off there, then after the break had gone, another one. I got caught behind that one, but I didn't come down. I chased back onto the break and just as I got on, some riders made contact with a (race) motorbike and I fell again too.  With a lap to go, I went across the gap, I think the bunch didn't bother to chase me, they could of done and made it hard for me, but they didn't bother. I tried really hard and it paid off in the end."  When asked if she was happy with her form, happy with the recovery to her knee, she replied "Yes I am. I'm not happy if I keep falling off, but I'm going well. I'm happy with my knee. I'm riding with it strapped as a precaution at the moment." 

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Results - Stage 5  - Almelo - Almelo  124.8km -   40.751km/h