Van Dam sprints to third place in Giro dell’Appennino
# Van Dam Claims Third Place at Giro dell’Appennino: A Testament to Team Strategy
In an exhilarating display of cycling prowess, Sarah Van Dam sprinted to a commendable third place at the Giro dell’Appennino, a challenging 111-kilometer race stretching from Novi Ligure to Genoa. The race featured two significant climbs in the latter stages, and Van Dam was joined by teammates Femke de Vries and Rosita Reijnhout, just one day after competing in Milan–Sanremo. The lineup was completed by Chladoňová, Marion Bunel, and Maud Oudeman of Team Visma | Lease a Bike.
The race began cautiously but erupted in intensity during the hilly finale. Early on, a breakaway of three riders emerged on the first climb of the day, the Passo dei Giovi, but the peloton kept them under tight control. As the riders approached the Livellato climb, Team Visma | Lease a Bike spurred the peloton into action, leading to a significant reduction in its numbers. Van Dam and her teammates remained prominent, ensuring they were in contention as the breakaway was finally reeled in.
In the final stretch, Célia Gery and Persico made their move, forming a group that included Van Dam, Chladoňová, Niamh Fisher-Black, and Lucinda Brand. United in their pursuit, the six riders pushed toward the finish line in Genoa. However, things took a turn for Chladoňová in the last kilometer when she made a wrong turn at a roundabout. Van Dam, along with the five others, kept the correct path open, setting the stage for a fierce sprint toward victory. Despite unleashing a powerful sprint, Van Dam ultimately finished behind Lucinda Brand and winner Persico.
Reflecting on her performance, Van Dam expressed a mix of disappointment and pride. “Unfortunately, I just missed out on my first victory, but I learned a lot from this race,” she said. “We can look back on a strong team performance. We were in the right place at the right moments and helped shape the race. In the descent after the final climb, we managed to close the gap with the chasing group. Viktória did an excellent job there. I gave it everything today and I’m proud of our collective performance.”
Team Visma | Lease a Bike’s sports director, Jan Boven, lauded the team’s strategy and execution. “A third place is certainly a fine result,” he remarked. “Our plan was to stay patient in the opening phase and then strike as a team on the climbs. The riders executed that perfectly. When the peloton split, we still had four riders at the front. In the end, Sarah and Viktória impressively bridged across and were able to contend for the win. Sarah delivered a strong sprint, but Persico was simply the fastest today. We can be very satisfied with this team performance.”
The Giro dell’Appennino showcased not only individual talent but the strength of teamwork and strategy, setting the stage for more thrilling races to come.
