Le Samyn 2022 [FULL RACE] (ladies)

March 1, 2022

Le Samyn 2022 WE – Quaregnon – Dour : 99,4 km

Le Samyn des Dames is an early season semi Classic and one of a handful of one-day races held in the French-speaking Hainaut region of Belgium. The race typically falls in late February or early March and alongside other cobbled semi Classics. Le Samyn’s route is characterised by several grizzly sectors of cobblestones and a handful of short, sharp climbs – the toughest and most decisive being the Côte de la Roquette and Côte des Nonettes which often fall in the final 25km. Taking place in early spring, the race is also regularly battered by high winds and sleeting rains. These kinds of weather conditions often dictate the entire outcome of the race, making it the preserve of foul-weather specialists and one-day racing veterans.

Emma Norsgaard of Movistar produced a powerful sprint to win Le Samyn des Dames, beating Chiara Consonni (Valcar-Travel & Service) and Vitttoria Guazzini (FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope) to the line in Dour.

The Dane was the pre-race favourite after placing second a year ago, but the race looked to be slipping from her grasp as Shirin van Anrooij (Trek-Segafredo) and Guazzini jumped clear with six kilometres to go and extended their advantage on the final cobbled section on the Rue de Belle Vue.

That pairing maintained an advantage into the final kilometre, where Van Anrooij performed the pace-setting, but the long drag to the line ultimately proved their undoing. Indeed, despite Guazzini’s presence in front, it was an FDJ rider who opened the sprint behind, with Clara Copponi winding up her effort from distance.

Copponi was soon out-matched by Norsgaard, who accelerated smoothly to come past the two escapees within sight of the line. Consonni battled to get on terms, but it was quickly apparent that she was racing for second place. Guazzini kept some speed to take third.

The one-day race was attritional in its early phases. As is often the case in this corner of the world, the selection came from the back of the peloton rather than the front, with riders gradually shaken loose as the day progressed and more cobbled sections were traversed.

After being flagged away from the start in Quaregnon, the peloton was more or less intact after the first three cobbled sectors at Vert Pignon, La Roquette and the Chemin de Wiheries, though a brief split on the third segment was a forewarning of what was to come.

The first passages over the Côte des Nonettes and Rue Belle Vue whittled the bunch down somewhat and the race gradually began to ignite after passing through the finish line in Dour for the first time with 50km remaining.

Grace Brown (FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope) was the day’s chief animator, attacking alone ahead of the final lap and at one point amassing a lead of some 40 seconds over her pursuers. The Australian’s lone effort continued deep into the race and she still had 20 seconds in hand over a much reduced peloton by the time she tackled the Chemin de Wiheries with 14km remaining.

That sector of cobbles saw accelerations in the chasing group, as Alice Barnes (Canyon-Sram) attacked with intent and set off in lone pursuit of Brown. After a grim pursuit, she eventually inched her way up to Brown inside the final 10km and then distanced the Australian on the Côte de Nonette.

That short, sharp climb whittled down the chasing group to just twenty or so riders, and they brought Barnes to heel shortly over the other side, and the indefatigable Brown briefly returned to the front to work on Guazzini and Copponi’s behalf.

After Audrey Cordon-Ragot’s attack was snuffed out, her Trek-Segafredo teammate Van Anrooij accelerated with purpose just under 6km from home. The Dutchwoman was joined by Guazzini and that duo extended their lead over a strangely impassive chasing group on the Rue de Belle Vue, thanks largely to Van Anrooij’s forcing.

At that point, it looked as though the leading pair would decide the spoils, but the efforts of Silvia Perisco (Valcar Travel & Service) and Aude Biannic (Movistar) would reduce their advantage beneath the flamme rouge.

By now, Van Anrooij was left to do all the pace-making in front, with Guazzini tucked on her wheel on the long drag to the finish. As the chasers drew closer, it was Guazzini’s teammate Copponi who opened the sprint behind, but Norsgaard’s speed won the argument.

Consonni came through for second, while Guazzini held on for third ahead of Susanne Andersen (Uno-X) and Copponi.

Results :
1 Emma Norsgaard Bjerg (Den) Movistar Team Women 2:36:17
2 Chiara Consonni (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
3 Vittoria Guazzini (Ita) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
4 Susanne Andersen (Nor) Uno-X Pro Cycling Women
5 Clara Copponi (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
6 Maria Van ‘T Geloof (Ned) Le Col Wahoo
7 Shirin van Anrooij (Ned) Trek-Segafredo Women
8 Alice Barnes (GBr) Canyon-Sram Racing
9 Shari Bossuyt (Bel) Canyon-Sram Racing
10 Laura Tomasi (Ita) UAE Team ADQ
11 Lucie Jounier (Fra) Arkea Team
12 Arianna Fidanza (Ita) BikeExchange-Jayco Women
13 Rachele Barbieri (Ita) Liv Racing Xstra
14 Femke Markus (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
15 Eugénie Duval (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
16 Simone Boilard (Can) St Michel-Auber 93
17 Josie Nelson (GBr) Team Coop-Hitec Products
18 Chloe Hosking (Aus) Trek-Segafredo Women
19 Megan Jastrab (USA) Team DSM Women
20 Martina Alzini (Ita) Cofidis Women Team
21 Grace Brown (Aus) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
22 Maria Martins (Por) Le Col Wahoo 0:00:05
23 Silke Smulders (Ned) Liv Racing Xstra 0:00:07
24 Amber van der Hulst (Ned) Liv Racing Xstra 0:00:13
25 Valerie Demey (Bel) Liv Racing Xstra
26 Léa Curinier (Fra) Team DSM Women 0:00:23
27 Amalie Lutro (Nor) Uno-X Pro Cycling Women 0:00:25
28 Audrey Cordon Ragot (Fra) Trek-Segafredo Women 0:00:30
29 Elizabeth Holden (GBr) Le Col Wahoo 0:00:35
30 Aude Biannic (Fra) Movistar Team Women 0:00:41
31 Alicia Gonzalez Blanco (Spa) Movistar Team Women
32 Silvia Persico (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service 0:00:47
33 Eleonora Camilla Gasparrini (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
34 Mischa Bredewold (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg 0:01:00
35 Kylie Waterreus (Ned) Lotto Soudal Ladies
36 Mareille Meijering (Ned) Multum Accountants Ladies Cycling Team
37 Julia Borgström (Swe) NXTG by Experza
38 Caroline Andersson (Swe) Team Coop-Hitec Products
39 Mie Bjørndal Ottestad (Nor) Uno-X Pro Cycling Women
40 Esmée Peperkamp (Ned) Team DSM Women
41 Leah Kirchmann (Can) Team DSM Women
42 Femke Gerritse (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
43 Sylvie Swinkels (Ned) Team Coop-Hitec Products 0:01:03
44 Marthe Goossens (Bel) Multum Accountants Ladies Cycling Team
45 Alena Ivanchenko (Rus) UAE Team ADQ
46 Francesca Barale (Ita) Team DSM Women 0:01:05
47 Margot Pompanon (Fra) St Michel-Auber 93
48 India Grangier (Fra) Stade Rochelais Charente Maritime 0:01:45
49 Fien Delbaere (Bel) Multum Accountants Ladies Cycling Team
50 Demi De Jong (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg 0:01:47
51 Hannah Barnes (GBr) Uno-X Pro Cycling Women
52 Anniina Ahtosalo (Fin) Uno-X Pro Cycling Women 0:04:25
53 Josie Knight (GBr) Lotto Soudal Ladies
54 Arianna Pruisscher (Ned) Stade Rochelais Charente Maritime
55 Victoire Berteau (Fra) Cofidis Women Team
56 Nina Kessler (Ned) BikeExchange-Jayco Women
57 Karolina Kumiega (Pol) Valcar-Travel & Service
58 Ingvild Gåskjenn (Nor) Team Coop-Hitec Products
59 Loes Adegeest (Ned) IBCT
60 Danique Braam (Ned) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire-Van Eyck Sport
61 Kristyna Burlová (Cze) Lotto Soudal Ladies
62 Anastasiya Kolesava (Blr) Stade Rochelais Charente Maritime
63 Alice Sharpe (Irl) IBCT
64 April Tacey (GBr) Le Col Wahoo
65 Coralie Demay (Fra) St Michel-Auber 93
66 Hannah Ludwig (Ger) Uno-X Pro Cycling Women
67 Alison Avoine (Fra) St Michel-Auber 93
68 Abby-Mae Parkinson (GBr) Lotto Soudal Ladies
69 Gaia Masetti (Ita) NXTG by Experza
70 Mari Hole Mohr (Nor) Team Coop-Hitec Products
71 Fiona Mertens (Bel)
72 Georgia Williams (NZl) BikeExchange-Jayco Women
73 Lena Mettraux (Swi) Andy Schleck-CP Nvst-Immo Losch
74 Sterre Vervloet (Bel) Lotto Soudal Ladies
75 Céline van Houtum (Ned) Multum Accountants Ladies Cycling Team
76 Letizia Paternoster (Ita) Trek-Segafredo Women
77 Sheyla Gutierrez Ruiz (Spa) Movistar Team Women
78 Typhaine Laurance (Fra) Arkea Team
79 Cedrine Kerbaol (Fra) Cofidis Women Team
80 Greta Richioud (Fra) Arkea Team
81 Anna Christian (GBr) Le Col Wahoo
82 Urska Zigart (Slo) BikeExchange-Jayco Women
83 Pauline Allin (Fra) Arkea Team
84 Ilaria Sanguineti (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
85 Teniel Campbell (TTo) BikeExchange-Jayco Women
86 Svenja Betz (Ger) IBCT
87 Sofia Bertizzolo (Ita) UAE Team ADQ
88 Belle de Gast (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
89 Friederike Stern (Ger) Andy Schleck-CP Nvst-Immo Losch
90 Alessia Patuelli (Ita) UAE Team ADQ
91 Carlotta Cipressi (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
92 Nina Berton (Lux) Andy Schleck-CP Nvst-Immo Losch
93 Linda Zanetti (Swi) UAE Team ADQ
94 Naomi De Roeck (Bel) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire-Van Eyck Sport
95 Anastasia Carbonari (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
96 Barbara Sniezynska (Pol) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire-Van Eyck Sport
97 Amber Aernouts (Bel) NXTG by Experza
98 Elodie Le Bail (Fra) St Michel-Auber 93
99 Mariia Novolodskaia (Rus) UAE Team ADQ 0:04:35
100 Elynor Backstedt (GBr) Trek-Segafredo Women 0:04:42
101 Lauretta Hanson (Aus) Trek-Segafredo Women
102 Eva Buurman (Ned) Liv Racing Xstra
103 Eleanor Wiseman (Bel) 0:04:46
104 Barbara Fonseca (Fra) St Michel-Auber 93 0:05:42
105 Charlotte Becker (Ger) Arkea Team
106 Maud Rijnbeek (Ned) NXTG by Experza 0:05:49
107 Hanna Johansson (Swe) 0:10:14
108 Leonie Bos (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg 0:10:47
109 Kirstie van Haaften (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
110 Lise-Marie Henzelin (Swi) 0:18:08
DNF Mae Lang (Est)
DNF Nora Tveit (Nor) Team Coop-Hitec Products
DNF Pernille Larsen Feldmann (Nor) Team Coop-Hitec Products
DNF Ella Harris (NZl) Canyon-Sram Racing
DNF Elise Chabbey (Swi) Canyon-Sram Racing
DNF Sarah Borremans (Bel)
DNF Maud Oudeman (Ned) Canyon-Sram Racing
DNF Lisa Klein (Ger) Canyon-Sram Racing
DNF Sarah Roy (Aus) Canyon-Sram Racing
DNF Mylene de Zoete (Ned) NXTG by Experza
DNF Kim Baptista (GBr)
DNF Allison Zava (Bel)
DNF Amelia Sharpe (GBr) NXTG by Experza
DNF Elise Uijen (Ned) Team DSM Women
DNF Eline Van Rooijen (Ned) NXTG by Experza
DNF Lourdes Oyarbide Jimenez (Spa) Movistar Team Women
DNF Ainsley Black (Can)
DNF Kerry Jonker (RSA) Andy Schleck-CP Nvst-Immo Losch
DNF Louise Jacquemin (Bel)
DNF Nathalie Säfsten (Swe)
DNF Ida Sten (Fin)
DNF Sara Van De Vel (Bel) IBCT
DNF Gabrielle Pilote-Fortin (Can) Cofidis Women Team
DNF Maryanne Hinault (Fra) Arkea Team
DNF Marie Morgane Le Deunff (Fra) Arkea Team
DNF Marion Colard (Fra) Stade Rochelais Charente Maritime
DNF Severine Eraud (Fra) Stade Rochelais Charente Maritime
DNF Kristina Nenadovic (Fra) Stade Rochelais Charente Maritime
DNF Jessy Druyts (Bel) Multum Accountants Ladies Cycling Team
DNF Camille Devigne (Fra) Multum Accountants Ladies Cycling Team
DNF Marine Allione (Fra) Stade Rochelais Charente Maritime
DNF Gloria Van Mechelen (Bel)
DNF Julie Stockman (Bel) Multum Accountants Ladies Cycling Team
DNF Perrine Sadoine (Bel)
DNF Ines Van De Paar (Bel) Lotto Soudal Ladies
DNF Océane Goergen (Fra) St Michel-Auber 93
DNF Maëlle Grossetete (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
DNF Lisa Müllenberg (Ned) Andy Schleck-CP Nvst-Immo Losch
DNF Valentine Fortin (Fra) Cofidis Women Team
DNF Georgia Baker (Aus) BikeExchange-Jayco Women
DNF Fabienne Buri (Swi) Andy Schleck-CP Nvst-Immo Losch
DNF Julie Leth (Den) Uno-X Pro Cycling Women
DNF Chelsie Tan (Sin) BikeExchange-Jayco Women
DNF Elizabeth Bennett (GBr) IBCT
DNF Minke Bakker (Ned) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire-Van Eyck Sport
DNF Lotte Popelier (Bel) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire-Van Eyck Sport
DNF Haylee Fuller (Aus) IBCT
DNF Lucy Mayrhofer (Ger) IBCT
DNS Emilia Fahlin (Swe) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
DNS Eluned King (GBr) Le Col Wahoo
DNS Barbara Guarischi (Ita) Movistar Team Women
DNS Claire Faber (Lux) Andy Schleck-CP Nvst-Immo Losch
DNS Olha Kulynych (Ukr) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire-Van Eyck Sport