Photos: GettySport
Daria Pikulik sprinted to a terrific third place at the Classic Brugge-De Panne in Belgium, benefiting from a supreme leadout on her way to her fifth WorldTour podium.
The 27-year-old showcased a powerful acceleration at the end of the 155 km race, battling with Chiara Consonni (UAE Team ADQ), second place Charlotte Kool (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) and winner Elisa Balsamo (Lidl – Trek).
“I am really happy, it’s so important for the team that we believe that we are and can be one of the best teams in the world,” Pikulik said afterwards. “I have so many fourth places in my life that I was ready for it to be fourth but now that page can turn. The feelings in myself are so much better this year.”
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- Sprinting for the win.
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- Podium Pikulik.
Pikulik also recovered from a brief crash earlier in the stage but found her way back into the peloton. She was then guided through a technical finale where positioning was key, by Romy Kasper and Lily Williams.
“Lily is the perfect lead out rider and I’m so grateful for everything the lead out does for me,” she said. “In every team that has a sprinter it is so important that you have a rider who can do the best job for you in the last few hundred meters and you can trust and so I am always staying behind Lily.”
Now a seasoned sprinter at the top level, a big shift for Pikulik in the past year has been in her mindset as well as benefiting from the experience of the athletes around her, key factors for performing in a bunch sprint.
“After the results in China last year I knew I could be one of the best sprinters and that gave me confidence,” she said. “I would’ve never believed you two years ago if you told me I would be on the podium with two of the best sprinters in the world but now I have made it because I have found the people who really believe in me.”
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- Leadout supreme Williams.
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- Alice Wood on the attack.
This confidence in the team extends beyond just the riders.
“When you have the right team that believes in you, you want to train hard and perform,” she says. “You want to be the best version of yourself, so that feels really good because we made this result together.”
Next, the team continue on the Classics train and head to Gent-Wevelgem on March 24.
Classic Brugge-De Panne results
1 BALSAMO Elisa – Lidl – Trek 3:49:56
2 KOOL Charlotte – Team dsm-firmenich PostNL ”
3 PIKULIK Daria – Human Powered Health ”
4 CONSONNI Chiara – UAE Team ADQ ”
5 BAKER Georgia – Liv AlUla Jayco ”
6 DYGERT Chloe – Canyon//SRAM Racing ”
7 NORSGAARD Emma – Movistar Team ”
8 AHTOSALO Anniina – Uno-X Mobility ”
9 (LE COURT) PIENAAR Kimberley – AG Insurance – Soudal Team ”
10 GUAZZINI Vittoria – FDJ – SUEZ ”
