Nina Buijsman sprinted to sixth place on stage 3 of the Santos Tour Down Under to climb four positions in the GC and score sixth overall on the final general classification.
The result is the 28-year-old’s highest GC finish of her career in a WorldTour race, and she claimed it in emphatic style right at the end of the 126.5 km stage 3 from Norwood to Campbelltown.
“I’m really happy to start the season like this, and motivated for all that’s coming,” Buijsman said after. “Especially with all the trust I get from the team, I wanted to give something back. So I was nervous for this day, but everyone helped me. Last year was not easy for me, and I really wanted to be myself again.”
The double ascent of Corkscrew Road climb proved to be the queen-maker, with the first climb blowing the race to pieces. Although distanced, Buijsman remained vigilant, coming back to the racing as part of a large group on the valley road.
The brutal gradients then delivered a second sucker punch and served as the launchpad for the winning move. Noemi Rüegg (EF Education-Oatly) took the stage win and overall title in a sprint against three UAE Team ADQ riders.
Behind, Buijsman gathered all of her resolve. Riding at her own pace, she came over the climb with energy to burn, and so it proved, making the bridge back to a chasing group on the descent before sprinting to sixth on the stage.
“I came over the final climb in the third group,” explains Buijsman. “We were first with two, and then two more joined. But we saw the second group riding ahead the whole time. So, for the last corner, we finally caught that group of four, and I went directly into third position for the last corner so I could launch the sprint.”
Teammates Carlotta Cipressi and Marit Raaijmakers were paramount in Buisjman’s performance, protecting her throughout in a reduced team of three.
“The girls were really helpful,” she says. “We were just three, but they gave everything for me and always asked what I needed. “For the first climb, the position was really important. Marit brought me there in a perfect position at the right time, so I started the climb without wasting too much energy.”
Buijsman used this all as motivation when the chase was on.
“When I came to the team, I felt a lot of trust in me, and this really makes a difference,” she explains. “I trained hard for this, together with my boyfriend, who pushes me in a good way, so that was also extra motivation. Then, Clark gave me some extra confidence and good feelings before I started the last climb, which really helped me.”
Human Powered Health next race on January 21 at the Santos Tour Down Under – Women’s One Day Race, before the three-day Challenge Mallorca series from January 24 through 26.
Santos Tour Down Under stage 3 results
1 RÜEGG Noemi – EF Education-Oatly 3:24:02
2 GARCÍA Mavi – UAE Team ADQ 0:01
3 BLASI Paula – UAE Team ADQ ”
4 WŁODARCZYK Dominika – UAE Team ADQ 0:02
5 VAN DAM Sarah – Team Visma | Lease a Bike 0:12
6 BUIJSMAN Nina – Human Powered Health ”
7 WYLLIE Ella – Liv AlUla Jayco ”
8 BENITO Mireia – AG Insurance – Soudal Team ”
9 SPRATT Amanda – Lidl – Trek ”
10 CLAES Lotte – Fenix-Premier Tech ”
General Classification Santos Tour Down Under
1 RÜEGG Noemi – EF Education-Oatly 10:27:36
2 GARCÍA Mavi – UAE Team ADQ 0:11
3 BLASI Paula – UAE Team ADQ 0:14
4 WŁODARCZYK Dominika – UAE Team ADQ 0:17
5 LACH Marta – Team SD Worx – Protime 0:22
5 VAN DAM Sarah – Team Visma | Lease a Bike 0:25
6 BUIJSMAN Nina – Human Powered Health 0:29
7 SPRATT Amanda – Lidl – Trek ”
8 WYLLIE Ella – Liv AlUla Jayco ”
9 BENITO Mireia – AG Insurance – Soudal Team ”
10 CLAES Lotte – Fenix-Premier Tech ”
Photos: GettySport
