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Kraak sixteenth in opening stage Tour de Suisse

Kraak sixteenth in opening stage Tour de Suisse

Amber Kraak has finished 16th in the short opening stage of the Tour de Suisse. The 28-year-old rider of Team Jumbo-Visma Women crossed the line in a chase group after a fast finish. Blanka Vas won the race.

The fourth edition of the Tour de Suisse Women started with a short opening stage in and around Weinfelden. The men's seventh stage finished there earlier in the day. The first stage was just 56 kilometres long, making the race challenging.

Swiss rider Elise Chabbey attacked right after the start and rode solo for a long time. With four kilometres to go, she was caught by a reduced peloton. Kraak and Eva van Agt made a good impression in this small group. It often split on the hilly Swiss roads. At the finish, Kraak was part of the second chase group, ten seconds behind winner Vas.

"We are here with a very young, inexperienced team. So the goal this week is to learn a lot."

Lieselot Decroix

Sports director Lieselot Decroix: "It was a short but hard day. We knew that it would be a very hectic stage. The race was tough right from the start. In the end, it felt like a survival race for most of the riders. Amber was a bit disappointed with her 16th place. She knew she was a little too far back in the crucial corners. But the girls did well. We are here with a very young, inexperienced team. So the goal this week is to learn a lot."

"Tomorrow, we have a nice time trial on the programme", Decroix said. "We've already done a reconnaissance of the course with the team. Amber has set her sights on a good time. Then, we will try to ride offensively in stages three and four. We definitely want to show some good things there."

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