Last week, Lola Bakker won the five-day mountain bike stage race Appenninica MTB stage race. Bakker started strongly with a victory in the 58-kilometre opening stage around Lizzano in the Emilia-Romagna region. The next day, she left in the pink leader’s jersey, but this did not bring her any luck. Due to a flat tire, she lost a lot of time and the leader’s jersey to the American Syd Schulz. With a second stage victory on the third day, she managed to win back a little time on classification leader Schulz from Lizzano to Riolunato.
In the queen stage from Riolunato to Castelnovo over 88 kilometres and 3000 metres of elevation, she made a big move a day later by winning back the leader’s jersey with a stage win. “It was a tough stage and I divided it well. I was able to go full throttle until the end and managed to win with a big lead and regain the jersey. In the final stage around Castelnovo I didn’t take any more risks and I was able to take the leader’s jersey home with me.”, said a very happy Bakker afterwards. Schulz finished second and the Spanish Almudena Rodriguez completed the podium.
Photo:The Outdoor Lab