Lorena Wiebes used to be already smartly established as the most efficient sprinter in girls’s biking after her dominant years at Workforce DSM, however since becoming a member of SD Worx has evolved vastly as a Classics rider and general extra flexible superstar of the game.
The flying Dutchwoman used to be now not the winningest rider of 2023 after attaining the feat back-to-back within the two seasons prior together with her former group. She in reality had the fourth-most victories in the back of fellow SD Worx pair Demi Vollering and Lotte Kopecky and her former teammate and key lead-out rider Charlotte Kool.
This does not paint the entire image of Wiebes’ elegance during the season, then again, together with her palmares appearing simply how frequently she used to be runner-up or at the podium of races she wouldn’t were down as a favorite for prior to now.
Ceaselessly she used to be the second-best rider within the reputedly inevitable SD Worx 1-2 finishes during the yr, in the back of Global Champion Kopecky. The pair completed as the highest two at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Danilith Nokere Koerse, level 1 of the Excursion de France Femmes and general on the Simac Girls Excursion.
“I in point of fact preferred the switch [to SD Worx]. I gained not up to the yr prior to, however I already knew that once I signed my contract with the group,” stated Wiebes to WielerFlits after the Superprestige cyclocross spherical in Niel this previous weekend. “For me, it used to be particularly essential that I evolved myself as a rider, and I realize that I’ve taken an enormous step ahead in that house.”
Wiebes used to be maximum spectacular at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, proper there with the punchier, lighter riders at the Muur and Bosberg prior to successful the dash in the back of Kopecky. And she or he confirmed it used to be no fluke together with her talent to trip the Cauberg with Kopecky and Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) as she and the Global Champion cruised to every other 1-2 general on the Simac Girls Excursion.
Even with this addition to her arsenal of skills, Wiebes didn’t lose her near-unmatchable top-end dash velocity, best going through an actual problem in flat finishes from former teammate Kool, who made a gigantic step in 2023. She nonetheless gained the one flat dash on the Excursion de France Femmes on level 3 prior to she needed to abandon because of sickness, so why exchange the rest?
“I would favor to proceed running on what I’ve carried out this yr,” stated Wiebes. “Proceed to take steps on the subject of main points and assert myself an increasing number of in more difficult races.
“That is why I used to be in reality more than pleased with my moment position within the Simac Girls Excursion, on peak of the Cauberg. I used to be ready to apply Lotte [Kopecky] and Kasia [Niewiadoma] there. I had by no means accomplished the rest like that prior to, and that’s recently extra essential to me than getting extra victories.”
This pursuit of the hardest races possibly comes with a larger objective in thoughts, the Paris Olympic Video games highway race. Wiebes is eyeing a possible crack at a medal, however the house get started of the Excursion de France Femmes within the Netherlands coming so as regards to the Olympics will most probably play a job in her resolution.
“The Olympic Video games are going to be essential. This week we’re going to Paris with the KNWU to discover the street race, so I will be able to have a greater thought of ways that fits my taste,” stated Wiebes.
“The Excursion de France Femmes, with the Grand Départ within the Netherlands, may also be a very powerful race. Thankfully, the ones two objectives are reasonably shut to one another, which makes it possible to mix them.”