GP Oetingen sees Burlova back in sprinting action

An 11th place finish for Kristyna Burlova saw Lifeplus Wahoo back in action in Belgium at GP Oetingen.

The brutal race saw the riders compete over 119.3km, with two circuits and three cobbled climbs including Congoberg, Rensberg and Oetingen, before the final 12km saw the peloton race five laps of a punchy loop before descending to the finish line. 

A breakaway trio at the halfway point saw Lifeplus-Wahoo well in the mix, with Burlova, Heidi Franz, Alicia Gonzalez, Ella Jamieson, Maddie Leech, Kaja Rysz and Babette van der Wolf working together to control the race. 

As attacks came thick and fast, including from Franz, the front of the peloton escaped, with a group of six bridging over to the front three in the last 20km, before coming back together as the peloton came into the final circuit.

A bunch sprint saw Burlova pull out her signature speed to finish just outside the top 10 in 11th place, as Rysz finished 43rd, Franz came home 50th, van der Wolf 57th, Gonzalez 66th, and Jamieson and Leech had strong performances early on before dropping off. 

The squad will next be racing in the Netherlands on Saturday 9 March at Drentse Acht.