Karol Ann-Canuel triumphs at inaugural women’s Volta Limburg Classic
Canadian escapes in the finale to take her first win for Boels-Dolmans
The first edition of the women’s Volta Limburg Classic was won by Gatineau-native Karol-Ann Canuel (Boels-Dolmans). On a hilly course raced on a rainy day in the Limburg region of the Netherlands around the village of Eijsden.
“I’m really happy,” Canuel said. “It may not be the biggest race but a win is a win. I was feeling pretty good, and I’m confident for the next races.”
The race began with Esther van Veen (Parkhotel Valkenburg), the sole riders to escape the peloton, who rode ahead of the pack during the first half of the 100-km race.
“The women’s race borrowed from the men’s course,” explained Canuel. “We did three loops of 19-kilometres with two climbs and then four small loops around a six-kilometre circuit. That part was pretty flat. Then it was one more big lap, with the two climbs, and one last little lap.”
A group of nine riders went up the road after van Veen was caught.
“We missed that at the beginning,” said Canuel about the race winning move. “I couldn’t quite catch it to cover, but I managed to bridge across. That was the break of the day. We all rolled.”
On the final ascent of the Gronsvelderberg climb only five from the group remained. Riejanne Markus (WM3), Lianne Lippert (Sunweb), Karol-Ann Canuel (Dolmans-Boels), Nicole Steigenga (Swabo Ladies) and Aafke Soet (Parkhotel Valkenburg-distillate) got a gap on the final ascent and headed to the finish where they would contest the win.
“I attacked on the last climb,” Canuel said who didn’t like her chances in a bunch sprint. “It was about 15 km from the finish. We were five then. I attacked again on the small circuit because I didn’t want to sprint. It didn’t work, but at 1.2 kilometres, another girl attacked. We got away, and then I attacked her before the finish to come across the line solo…ish.”
In the final 500 metres, Canuel made her move and was able to hold her gap to the finish line three-second ahead of Markus and Lippert. It was Canuel’s first win since joining the Dutch Boels-Dolmans team last year.
“I saw this race as a good opportunity to get in some good intensity,” said Canuel who repeatedly launched attacks in the last hour of the race. “I was pretty active in the race because of that.”
