Yesterday, the NC beachrace in Katwijk took place under heroic conditions over three rounds of 17 kilometers. Where it was initially sunny and the wind blew moderately from the south, the wind picked up considerably as the start came closer, the sun disappeared and made way for heavy showers.
Mariëlle Trouwborst quickly formed the leading group in the women’s race with Femke Markus and the eventual winner Tessa Neefjes. As the last round started, Trouwborst came through the start/finish zone solo with a lead. However, she was no match for the chasing duo against the stormy south wind, so that three women flew back downwind to the northern turning point at the Uitwatering. There, no one could make the difference and it was Neefjes who won the sprint with a clear lead ahead of Markus and Trouwborst. Rozanne Slik miste na het eerste keerpunt de aansluiting met de eerste rijders en kwam als zesde over de eindstreep.
Photo: Arjen Schippers