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Preparing for this new cycling season the riders of team Topsport Vlaanderen – Etixx – Guill D’Or went on a training camp in Calpe. 10 beautiful days of training were held in the ideal circumstances. The best preparation so far for the spring classics. Last week the season finally started with an opening weekend at stands out of everything else… The women started the season with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Omloop het Hageland, 2 important races in Belgium. Excited to see how they have done?
We can conclude that the cycling season has started very well for our team Topsport Vlaanderen – Etixx – Guill d’Or. It is a plus that our riders improved over the winter and enlarged their capacity of effort. Our second place in the team classification, with just 1 point behind on the Boels Dolmans team represents this gain of power. Thanks to our sponsors, the riders can relax in our teambus in preparation of the races and this investment already pays off. We are looking forward the coming season and hope to meet you on one of our races! All information on our VIP packages, you can find on our website: http://www.cyclingteam-damesvlaanderen.be/fanzone2.php#fan2.
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In this 11th edition of Omloop het Nieuwsblad for women, 190 riders started the race in presence of all the big names in women cycling. Elizabeth Armitstead triumphed in Ghent, the world champion was the strongest of the hole pack and finished solo with a lead of 29 seconds. Chantal Blaak (also Boels Dolmans Cycling Team) and Tiffany Cromwell (Canyon SRAM Racing) became 2nd and 3rd. Kelly Druyts nicely became 33rd and first Belgian.
One day later the female cycling circus travelled to the other side of the Flemish countryside to race in Tielt-Winge, Omloop het Hageland. In freezing weather the race started with a large peloton of 196 riders. The troops of Davy Wijnant were not surprise by the other team and rode a very vigilant race. 3 riders of the team took part in a leading group of 40 riders. Kelly Druyts took the 11th spot, Jessy Druyts became 27th and Valerie Demey 31st. The Italian Marta Bastianelli (team Ale Cipollini) sprinted to the win.
Again 2 days later, the village of Dour became the scenery for the third race in one week, Le Samyn. A heavy race with lots of spicy cobblestone sections. Early in the race a leading group of 25 riders was formed and these riders systematically increased their lead. 4 riders of our Topsport Vlaanderen – Etixx – Guill d’Or team were present in this group: Kelly Druyts, Valerie Demey, Nel De Crits en Gilke Croket. But after having to deal with a flat tire, Nel De Crits dropped out of the leading group. The Dutch Chantal Blaak won Le Samyn for the second time in 2 years, the Swedish champion Emma Johansson became 2nd and Amy Pieters completed the podium. Kelly Druyts rode very nicely to place 8.;