The Ronde van Drenthe, one of two local Women's World Tour races, was an important event for Team Jumbo-Visma. But without Marianne Vos and Anna Henderson, the team had to adjust its tactics. With players in every move, the Dutch team gained a lot of TV time and placed ninth in the final sprint.

In the first half of the race, Romy Kasper stayed near the front of the peloton throughout the six cobbled sections, earning enough points in the sprint at the end of the section to take the podium as the overall winner of "keienprijs."

Teunte Beekhuis attacked with Marta Jaskulska of Liv Racing-Stra and stayed at the front for about 20 km, including the second of four climbs on the VAM-Berg. After Beekhuis and Jaskulska were caught, Kasper joined the group of four and escaped just after the third climb of the VAM-berg, only to be reeled in within minutes.

Zip Van den Bos quickly fought back, and her attack led to the formation of a five-man breakaway group. However, a furious chase by Trek-Segafredo and Canyon Slam caught Van den Bosch and her companions just before the final climb of VAM-berg.

Liejeanne Marx tried to force a selection on the short, steep hill of the landfill, splitting the peloton into several groups, but the group in front had no teammates, and Pfeiffer Georgi (Team DSM) was able to get the sprinter, final winner Lorena Vives, into contention! The team chased hard to get the sprinter Lorena Wiebes back into contention, but the move was in vain.

Finally, it was Anouska Koster's turn. The 28-year-old from the province of Friesland, northwest of Drenthe, knows the roads of the Ronde van Drenthe and finished third in the 2020 Dutch Championships, which finished atop the VAM-berg.

Eleven kilometers from the line, Koster followed an attack by Nina Buisman (Human Powered Health). With 4km to go, Koster attacked and attempted a solo run.

Sara Roy (Canyon-SRAM), the strongest sprinter in the breakaway group, blocked the move, but Koster attacked again with 1,500 meters to go. Roy was on her wheel again, but Koster persevered and never looked back, pulling the Australian off her wheel and forcing the other three escapees to give up. Koster kept going for the final kilometer, but the peloton was so strong that Koster was swallowed up with 500 meters to go. In the end, Van den Bosch sprinted to ninth place and a team top 10 finish.

"We had a great race as a team. We had a great race as a team. We have good balance and a good start for the next few weeks," said sport director Carmen Small after the race. The next Women's World Tour race is at Trofeo Binda, where Vos will be back in action.