"Didn't see Marianne Vos coming” - Lorena Wiebes laments 'very stupid' early celebration at Amstel Gold Race Ladies

Lorena Wiebes seemed to have victory at Amstel Gold Race Ladies 2024 all wrapped up. Celebrating prematurely however, the Team SD Worx - Protime sprinter was made to pay by the legendary Marianne Vos.

Despite many attacks throughout the day's racing, no woman could fully split the peloton. As such, it was a bunch sprint finale that decided the day and after using the slipstream of Elisa Longo Borghini, Wiebes powered ahead towards a seemingly inevitable victory. So sure was the Dutchwoman, she sat up and started celebrating before she had crossed the line. A cardinal sin when racing against Vos.

“I could definitely kick myself. Elisa Longo Borghini started the sprint on the middle line. I was sitting to the left of her wheel and she practically threw me into the fences," Wiebes recapped of the dramatic finale post-race. "I still managed to squeeze through. I just looked too much to the right and I didn't see Marianne coming.”

Once she'd crossed the line, it didn't take long for Wiebes to realise the mistake she'd made. “I suddenly saw Marianne at the finish and suddenly thought: oh no, maybe not... It's just very stupid," she admits. "It happens to every cyclist at some point. It's a good learning point. Normally I always sprint on. I hope not to do it again next time.”