Speed skater Sandrine Tas wins Stage 1 of the Eneco Tour after top favourite Charlotte Kool is forced into the barriers

After Tuesday’s evening prologue in The Hague, the riders had to get up early again the next day. Shortly after 10:00 a.m., they had to be ready for the first road stage, which took place in and around Ede. It was roughly the same course where Lorena Wiebes became Dutch champion last year.

This year’s Dutch champion, Lieke Nooijen, was at the start wearing the orange leader’s jersey for Visma | Lease a Bike. On Tuesday, Nooijen won the prologue in The Hague, finishing a full eight seconds ahead of the runner-up over a distance of just three kilometres. But that second-place finisher happened to be Charlotte Kool, who could take the lead thanks to time bonuses earned during the flat stage.

Farisha Hashimi (Vini Fantini, Afghanistan) and Talia Appleton (Liv AlUla Jayco, New Zealand) formed the international leading duo in and around Ede.

Hashimi, in particular, has an extraordinary story: she turned pro after being forced to flee the Taliban in her home country. Just a few weeks ago, she finished second at the Asian Games in Japan.

The peloton lost quite a bit of time, and with twenty kilometers to go, they still had a two-minute lead. At that point, however, the peloton also picked up the pace, with all eyes on Fenix-Premier Tech: the team of top favorite Kool.

As they entered the final ten kilometres, they still held a 45-second lead, which they defended with everything they had. As they entered the final kilometre, they still had a 10-second lead, but it proved to be an uneven battle against the fast women.

Barbara Guarischi conspicuously pushed Charlotte Kool into the barriers, forcing the top favourite to regroup. Skater Sandrine Tas took full advantage and scored a double victory, as she also took the lead from Nooijen.