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CHANTAL BLAAK / Netherlands
LAST YEAR, WE OFTEN SAW THE PROUD WEARER OF THE RAINBOW JERSEY
RIDING AT THE FRONT OF THE PACK IN A SEASON THAT STARTED FOR CHANTAL
BLAAK WITH THE ‘OMLOOP HET NIEUWSBLAD’ AND ENDED WITH THE UCI ROAD
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. EVEN THOUGH SHE HAD TO SURRENDER THE JERSEY
IN INNSBRUCK, SHE CAN STILL LOOK BACK ON A FANTASTIC SEASON WITH
STAGE VICTORIES IN THE HEALTHY AGEING TOUR, A SECOND NATIONAL ROAD
CYCLING TITLE AND A WIN IN THE QUEEN STAGE IN THE BOELS LADIES TOUR.
"WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH,
THE TOUGH GET GOING"
However, her most memorable performance of the year was in
April when she outclassed all the other competitors to win the
Amstel Gold Race in front of her home crowd. “I was extremely
focused that day and found myself in a promising position, but
you still have to put in the hard graft required to win the race.”
The rainbow jersey played an important role on this particular
day. “I was in the leading group as we started the Cauberg
ascent and I could hear everybody in the crowd calling my
name all the way from the bottom to the top. The world title
was responsible for their enthusiasm of course; they recognised
the jersey. Their support lifted me and strengthened my
self-confidence. I had good legs that day, but the boost from
the crowd definitely made a difference.” Winning a prestigious
race in her own country as the world champion was the absolute
highlight of Chantal Blaak's year.
In 2019, Blaak will again focus on the first few months of the
year and participate in races like the Strade Bianche, in which
she narrowly finished fourth last year, the Alfredo Binda Trophy
(2nd place last year) and obviously the Tour of Flanders and
the Amstel Gold Race. She has particularly high hopes of the
2019 Tour of Flanders. This is a race where she always shines
because it is so challenging and demanding. Her results - two
third places and a fifth place during the past three editions -
reflect this. “I am an all-rounder who can stamp her authority on
the rest in a tough race. When the going gets tough, the tough
get going is definitely true of Blaak’s riding style. “The more
exhausting the course is, perhaps because of the weather, the
surface conditions or the race situation, the more opportunities
I have to pull ahead and demoralise the other competitors.”
Blaak feels at home in the Boels-Dolmans team, which she will
represent for the fifth season running this year. “It is a close-knit
team of riders and support staff who have a real click with
each other. Everybody contributes 100% during the races.
We work together and achieve our successes by putting the
team's best interests ahead of personal ambition.”
Chantal Blaak is very much looking forward to the new season
in which she will again play an important role for the team.