The Women’s Tour of Flanders (Ronde Van Vlaanderen) is a race run in tandem with the men’s race of the same name. The women’s race has been run since 2004 with this years Women’s Tour of Flanders is the twelfth edition. Five times previously the race has been won by riders from the Netherlands. Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel won twice in the early years of the race, Judith Arndt is another two time winner.
The favourites for the 2015 race are Lizzie Armitstead (Boels-Dolmans) who is currently leading the 2015 Women’s Road World Cup, Anna van der Breggen (Rabobank-Liv), current World Champion Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Rabobank-Liv), Annemiek van Vleuten (Bigla Pro Cycling) with Australia’s Tiffany Cromwell (Velocio-SRAM) being another contender.
The Course
The 2015 edition of the women’s Ronde Van Vlaanderen is 145km long and will be one of the toughest races of the season. There are ten climbs abd four flat cobbled sectors.
Climbs
[table]
KM,Name, Length, Average, Max
49,Wolvenberg,645m,7.9%,17.3%
62,Molenberg,463m,7.0%,14.2%
83,Leberg,950m,4.2%,13.8%
87,Hostellerie,1375m,5.1%,9.0%
92,Valkenberg,540m,8.1%,12.8%
103,Kaperij,1000m,5.5%,9.0%
110,Kanarieberg,1000m,7.7%,14.0%
118,Kruisberg,2500m,5.0%,9.0%
128,Oude Kwaremont (3),2200m,4.0%,11.6%
132,Paterberg (2),360m,12.9%,20.3%
[/table]
Cobbled sections
[table]
Name,KM
Ruiterstraat,50
Kerkgate,53
Holleweg,55
Paddestraat,67
Haaghoek,87
[/table]
Last years race
Ellen van Dijk won solo from Lizzie Armitstead, the Boels-Dolmans riders taking first and second places after Armistead out-sprinted Emma Johansson (Orica-AIS) for third. Watch the highlights of the 2014 Women’s Tour of flanders below.
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