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Chantal Blaak Solos to Gent Wevelgem Victory

The Boels-Dolmans rider looks forward to wearing the WWT leaders jersey at Flanders next weekend

Race four of the Women’s World Tour saw yet another Boels-Dolmans team victory with Chantal Blaak taking her second win of the series and moving into the leader’s jersey.

Blaak won the race alone, soloing towards victory after breaking from a group of twenty riders with around 10 kilometres left of the 115 km route to Wevelgem.

The chasers were headed up by Lisa Brennauer (Canyon-SRAM) followed by Lucinda Brand (Rabo-Liv), just under 90 seconds behind the winner.

Boels-Dolmans managed to contain all six of their riders in a 27 strong break that formed as the characteristic climbs and cobbles of the Belgium classic came thick and fast. The team had always planned to bolster their chances with numbers at the front and their tactics played out well.

Chantal Blaak wins in Wevelgem. Image: Velofocus

The break was whittled down to 20 over the five major climbs of the day  – which including two ascents of the cobbled Kemmelberg. Then with around 20km to go, World Champion Lizzie Armitstead began to rain down the attacks – only to be chased down before Blaak launched into her race winning move. Her gap steadily increased until the rest of the peloton was fighting for second.

 

Lead group weaves across the moat into Ieper . Image: Velofocus
Emma Johansson and Ellen van Dijk lead the peloton up the Kemmelberg for the first time. Image: Velofocus
Chantal Blaak descends of Kemmelberg for the second and final time. Image: Velofocus
The podium. Image: Velofocus

Blaak, speaking to VoxWomen after the race said: “I look forward to wearing the leader’s jersey at my favourite classic” – speaking of the Tour of Flanders, the fifth round of the WWT now just one week away.

Another exciting round – we can’t wait to see what’s to come at the Tour of Flanders, next weekend. We’ve got a TWC reporter heading out to the race, to ride the route on Saturday and bring you all the news on Sunday. 

Until then, check out the full calendar of WWT events here. 

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