Femke Gerritse finishes team game perfectly with strong sprint victory in Omloop van het Hageland

Femke Gerritse finishes team game perfectly with strong sprint victory in Omloop van het Hageland

‘I have taken an important step’

02/03/2025

Team SD Worx-Protime coloured the Fenix Omloop van het Hageland. Impelled by Anna van der Breggen, a leading group separated itself. The former world champion showed great activity and put everyone under continuous pressure. Team SD Worx-Protime was well represented with Elena Cecchini and Femke Gerritse in the breakaway that would carry to the end. In the final, Van der Breggen countered the attacks, after which Femke Gerritse supremely won the final sprint. ‘I can't believe it yet,’ Gerritse said.

Linked cyclists Femke Gerritse Anna van der Breggen Gekoppelde ploegleiders: Danny Stam Christian Kos

Femke Gerritse: ‘I was pretty well positioned for the final sprint. I knew I shouldn't start too late and ride my own sprint. But when I went full on, I thought: oy, it's still quite far. Luckily I held on until the end. For a moment I thought I had come second, but a minute later I heard the sport directors shouting in my earpiece and I knew I had it.  This win means a lot to me.’

‘I like the Omloop van het Hageland. It can end in a bunch sprint here, but you can just as easily make it selective by attacking. That's what we did today. We wanted to make the race hard and it worked out well. Anna van der Breggen was super strong and did a lot of work. She put us all in a luxury position. I wanted to make a step this season and finish on the podium every now and then. And now I immediately win my second race of the season. I still can't believe it. I already felt at training camp that I had taken a step and that has been confirmed with this one. I have already learned a lot with this team. Also from the sprints against Lorena Wiebes at training. I hope to continue this line now.’

Anna van der Breggen: ‘It was really nice to race so close to my hometown of Aarschot. I hope I can make some more steps and become better than I am now. In terms of intensity, I am not yet where I want to be. But you only get that part by racing. In training you can plan your intervals very specifically, but in racing it is not so measured. In between, you ride harder and you don't know in advance how many times you have to go, as you do in training. Sometimes you have to go 10 times, sometimes 20. You only get that intensity by racing. That's what this race was perfect for. Every time, the intensity was there. This was a top day for the team and a special win for Femke Gerritse,’ Van der Breggen concluded.

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