The end of the road for Zaaf Cycling?

➕ can anyone stop Demi Vollering? And it's my Birthday 🥳

Hello lovely subscribers and welcome to Women’s Cycling Weekly! 🚴‍♀️

I am coming to you from the past. Specifically, on a train to Madrid for a long birthday weekend with some friends, and this email is coming to you via the power of scheduling so pls forgive if some last-min important news has been missed!

Even though we’re still seeing SD Worx dominate I have actually quite enjoyed the Ardennes races so far. Maybe it is quite one-note to have the same team, and usually the same riders, dominating the racing but there’s also something really nice about the prospect of Demi Vollering repeating a feat that only her DS, Anna van der Breggen has managed before: the Ardennes hat-trick.

Also, it’s hardly been the all-out domination and solo moves we’ve seen in the past few months. Sure, Demi absolutely took the piss on the Mur de Huy in the end but how exciting was it to see Liane Lippert get soooo close? And Gaia Realini riding to third as well as Shirin van Anrooij doing the same at Amstel.

Anyway, the now-regular adish of a poll:

See you on the other side of 29 🤯

Amy x

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News 📰

• In the ongoing omnishambles that is Zaaf Cycling Team, five more riders have left the squad. While Lucie Jounier and Mareille Meijering have found new teams in Team Coop-Hitec Products and Movistar respectively, Maggie Coles-Lyster, Michaela Drummond, and Heidi Franz have yet to sign new contracts. Hopefully all three find new teams soon!

That’s it, that’s the news! (As of 6pm on Thursday x)

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Read  🗞️

• Years in the making: Demi Vollering Reigns as queen of the Mur at Flèche Wallonne.

• Harmonious SD Worx execute perfect plan at Amstel Gold Race.

• Demi Vollering Destroys on the Mur “Oh, nobody’s here?”

• Audrey Cordon Ragot: I uncovered another Audrey psychologically.

• The Ardennes triple is on: Demi Vollering conquers all on La Flèche Wallonne's Mur de Huy.

• Anna Yamauchi uses ski racing skills to soar on bike as new Life Time Grand Prix contender.

• Q&A: Trek-Segafredo’s rising star Gaia Realini.

• After Paris Roubaix upset, normal service resumes for SD Worx at Amstel Gold Race.

• Gaia Realini the real deal at Flèche Wallonne.

• SD Worx and Tadej Pogačar seem unstoppable: Five things we learned from the Amstel Gold Race.

• Unsung heroes: Megan Armitage, the law student, sky runner, turned pro cyclist.

• A Flèche Wallonne gallery.

• Tour de France, Worlds, Olympics, Monuments - The sky is the limit for Lizzie Deignan.

• Can Demi do the triple?

• Lizzie Deignan: I would love to be able to aim for five monuments in my career.

• Another Roubaix tech roundup.

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Listen 🎧

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Watch 📺

If you’re a Dutch speaker this feature with AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step’s mechanic Sanne Geeroms looks great - and so good to see more female mechanics in the sport.

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Results 🏆

Amstel Gold Race (1.WWT)

1. Demi Vollering (SDW)

2. Lotte Kopecky (SDW)

3. Shirin van Anrooij (TSF)

La Flèche Wallonne (1.WWT)

1. Demi Vollering (SDW)

2. Liane Lippert (MOV)

3. Gaia Realini (TSF)

Grand Prix Féminin de Chambéry (1.1)

1. Victorie Guilman (FDJ)

2. Erica Magnaldi (UAE development)

3. Évita Muzic (FDJ)

Elite Road Central American Championships

1. Maria Fernanda Sánchez (Costa Rica)

Continental Pan-Am Championships

1. Amber Neben (USA)

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Upcoming races 📆

Road

23rd April: Liège-Bastogne-Liège (1.WWT)

• Starts 08:40 CEST, finishes ~13:00 CEST

• Live on Eurosport/GCN+ from 11.15 CEST 

• Start list here

• Preview here

Also this week

25th April: Gran Premio della Liberazione (1.2) 🇮🇹

26th - 30th April: Tour of the Gila (2.2) 🇺🇸

27th - 30th April: Gracia (2.2) 🇨🇿

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Friday fun🕺

The Alison Jackson Roubaix TikTok (reel) is HEREEE!

A lil pre-race dancing from FDJ.

Demi wins = dog content

A lovely moment between teammates!

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That’s all 👋

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Amy and Tilda x