Mariëlle Trouwborst won the inaugural Ardenne Gravel Stages last weekend. On Friday, she got off to a flying start, winning the first stage on the muddy 70-kilometer course around Vielsalm. The second stage, in Centre Adeps d’Engreux, was part of the Dusty Gravel series. This meant extra competition for riders who only participated in this race. This didn’t stop Trouwborst from taking an early lead in this 110-kilometer stage as well, extending her lead over her nearest rival, Joyce Vanderbeken. Mechanical problems cost her her advantage, and in the final, Vanderbeken managed to break away and win the stage.
The final stage on Sunday was a 90-kilometer stage, starting and finishing at Baraque Fraiture in the province of Luxembourg. Trouwborst kept things exciting in this final stage. She punctured early on, but with a plug and a few pumps, she reached the tech zone and, with a new rear wheel, still finished second. This also secured her the overall victory, ahead of Belgium’s Liesl Meeus and compatriot Annelotte Dijkman. “It’s great to win the first edition of the Ardenne Garvel Stages, and it was also a good preparation race for the World Gravel Championships in Beek, Limburg, in two weeks,” said Trouwborst.