By Bjorn Haake in Gent Suzanne de Goede of Nürnberger Versicherung won the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad for...
Cantele, De Goede and Druyt (l-r) (Image credit: Bjorn Haake)
By Bjorn Haake in Gent
Suzanne de Goede of Nürnberger Versicherung won the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad for women in the tough uphill finish on the Charles de Kerchovelaan boulevard in a sprint. Out of the 32-women front group De Goede was fastest, beating Noemi Cantele (Bigla Cycling Team) and Kelly Druyts (Topsport Vlaanderen Thompson Ladies Team).
The 128-kilometre race was decided by the climbs, which decimated the field down to the small peloton. The tough Molenberg was the final climb of the day, but despite things falling apart, the group of 32 managed to get back together after the climb.
Cantele had to settle for second in the sprint, but tried to get away for the win after the climb. "I tried to attack with two other riders after the Molenberg but behind they chased us. The finish is hard so I decided to wait - I was the only one from my team in the break, so I couldn't do anything in the last 20 km."
Cantele came up short, but was not too disappointed. "Maybe I needed 50 metres more..." She still enjoyed the sunny day. "I really like this race – the cobble stones and the little climbs. I also like the sun!" That sounded like a perfect day for Cantele, who said the "sectors after kilometre 75 were really hard."
