It was not easy to form a front group in this edition of the Amstel Gold Race. Three riders created a 30-second gap in the race’s early stages, but the peloton kept up a tremendous pace and caught them back. Anna Henderson then tried to break away with Pauliena Rooijakkers and created a gap. On the Eyserbosweg, a new leading group was formed as several favourites crossed over to the leading duo. From the leading group, Annemiek van Vleuten accelerated on the Keutenberg and initially got rid of Henderson and others. However, the British time trial champion did not give up. She launched a new attack from the peloton and managed to get back in front.

Just before the second climb of the Cauberg, the leading group was caught and a period of many unsuccessful attacks followed. With Anouska Koster, Team Jumbo-Visma reacted attentively to all these attempts. Eventually, three riders created a small gap and stayed ahead until the last local lap. On the Cauberg, Team Jumbo-Visma started in a good position, but Labecki and Riejanne Markus could not match Van Vleuten’s scorching pace. Labecki ultimately won the sprint of the chasing group.

“We rode a good race today”, 29-year-old Labecki said. “From the beginning, Anna was among the big names. In the local laps, we were present in front with many riders. When it all came together at the end, it was a matter of going deep. Riejanne (Markus) stayed with me in the last kilometres and tried to bring me back to the front. I think we can look back positively on the efforts we made, even though the result is not what we had hoped for.”

Race coach Lieselot Decroix was also satisfied. “The girls rode well today. They showed themselves, were constantly in control and rode as a collective.”