Wheel Talk Newsletter: How close did Wiebes come to losing on Sunday?

Cor Vos

Good day, readers, and thank you for taking the time to open the Wheel Talk newsletter. Now that we're back in Belgium, it really feels like we're deep into the Classics, with some of the best yet to come: the Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix Femmes. First, the riders get to open their legs up at Dwars door Vlaanderen. This year, the mid-week Classic has been promoted to WorldTour, but every year it gets a pretty good turnout that leads to some fantastic racing.

First things first: Matt de Neef is killing it

You all know and love Matt de Neef for his thoughtful written work and calming presence on the podcast (especially during the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift), but did you know this spring Matt has come onto the women's beat with me? The two of us have teamed up to bring you more women's cycling content, and it's been very fun. In case you missed some of the fantastic pieces Matt has been churning out, here's a sample:

This was more than just another Lorena Wiebes victoryThis was a different kind of dominance – a ride of supreme confidence and panache.Escape CollectiveMatt de NeefIntroducing Carys Lloyd, the 19-year-old who just took her first WorldTour winNo one was more surprised than the young Briton herself.Escape CollectiveMatt de Neef

This one on trust in the women's peloton was really good:

‘I see you as a person’ – How trust powers the women’s pro pelotonIt takes more than strong legs to create success.Escape CollectiveMatt de Neef

And this one was timely, given that SD Worx-Protime proceeded to win Milan-San Remo and In Flanders Fields-In Wevelgem soon after:

Write off SD Worx-Protime at your perilIt’s been a slower start to the spring than they would have liked, but the signs are good.Escape CollectiveMatt de Neef

And finally:

Evolution of a powerhouse: FDJ United-Suez is more than just Demi VolleringThe French team has been good for Vollering. And Vollering has been good for them.Escape CollectiveMatt de Neef

I am so happy to have Matt move into this role, and I hope you all appreciate the additional voice for women's cycling on Escape Collective.

Racing continues...

At Dwars door Vlaanderen and then THE RONDE VAN VLAANDEREN!

I will write a full preview for the Tour of Flanders, which takes place on Sunday, so stay tuned to the site for that, but you can find your preview for Dwars here:

The Basics

When : Wednesday, April 1 @ 14:18 CEST (expected finish 17:27 CEST/11:27 EDT/+1 day 3:27 AEDT)

Where : Waregem to Waregem (128.8 km)

Live coverage : 🇦🇺 SBS @ +1 day 1:15 AEDT, 🇪🇺 HBOMax @ 16:15 CEST, 🇬🇧TNT/Discovery+ @ 15:15 BST, 🇺🇸🇨🇦 FloBikes @ 7:15 PDT

The favourites

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Elisa Longo Borghini, Demi Vollering ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Puck Pieterse, Lotte Kopecky ⭐️⭐️⭐️: Elise Chabbey, Kim Le Court-Pienaar ⭐️⭐️: Marianne Vos, Marlen Reusser ⭐️: Mischa Bredewold, Liane Lippert, Vittoria Guazzini, Shirin van Anrooij, Letizia Paternoster

Honourable mentions: Lauretta Hanson, Eleonora Gasparrini

A full startlist is available here.

A lot of the big names are back in play after some time away, most notably last year's winner Elisa Longo Borghini for UAE Team ADQ and Demi Vollering for FDJ United-Suez. The start list is still not set in stone, but if Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech) does line up, she's due for a big win the way she's raced so far this year. Marlen Reusser might also be back in action for Movistar. It will be her first Classic of the year after crashing at the UAE Tour.

This post is for subscribers only

Become a member to get access to all content

Subscribe now