Team Visma | Lease a Bike Women shows strong finale but misses out on reward at Milano-Sanremo Donne

# Team Visma | Lease a Bike Women Shines Despite Narrow Miss at Milano-Sanremo Donne

In the riveting second edition of the Milano-Sanremo Donne, Team Visma | Lease a Bike Women showcased their competitive spirit but ultimately fell short of a podium finish. A breakaway of nine riders established an early lead, while the yellow-and-black squad positioned themselves strategically at the front of the peloton, bracing for the crucial climbs of the Cipressa and the Poggio.

During the ascent of the Cipressa, riders De Vries and Nooijen took charge with aggressive tactics, effectively fracturing the peloton. Nooijen’s powerful surge in the final kilometer helped her gain a significant lead, although the descent witnessed a severe crash that affected several competitors.

While Nooijen’s valiant effort on the Poggio was commendable, she couldn’t create the decisive gap needed to maintain her lead. De Vries fought valiantly at the front, but ultimately, it was Lotte Kopecky who clinched victory in a tightly contested sprint against a small group.

Reflecting on the day, Lieke Nooijen stated, “I felt this was the moment. With my move, I tried to make the race hard for Femke and Sarah. It was a good attempt, but unfortunately we missed Marianne in the finale. Still, I’m satisfied with today, and as a team we rode a strong race.”

Race coach Jan Boven echoed her sentiments, praising the team’s execution of their strategy: “The plan was to make the race on the Cipressa. A big compliment to the riders for how they executed that. Lieke launched a strong attack, but unfortunately Margaux and Sarah were involved in the heavy crash. Fortunately, they are both okay. I look back on today with a good feeling.”

Despite missing out on a top finish, the team demonstrated resilience and cohesion, promising an exciting spring season ahead.

**Race Results:**
1. Lotte Kopecky (Team SD Worx – Protime) – 03:47:17
2. Noemi Rüegg (EF Education-Oatly) – +00:00:00
3. Eleonora Camilla Gasparrini (UAE Team ADQ) – +00:00:00

Notable finishes for Team Visma | Lease a Bike Women included:
– 22. Daniek Hengeveld – +00:00:09
– 26. Sarah Van Dam – +00:00:09
– 27. Femke de Vries – +00:00:09
– 35. Lieke Nooijen – +00:00:22
– 48. Rosita Reijnhout – +00:00:43
– 77. Margaux Vigié – +00:06:53

For full results, visit Domestique, powered by Pro Cycling Stats.