It’s a busy month ahead for our team with both programs taking on the cobbled roads of Europe for a March packed full of one-day races.
They call this time of the year in cycling “the spring classics” and it’s one of the most exciting periods on the calendar. The races build to the April crescendo that includes the legendary Tour of Flanders and the notorious Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift.
Before the riders take the start line at a series of famous Women’s WorldTour one-day races and bone-shaking semi-classics, here’s everything you need to know.
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- THE WOMEN’S TEAM TOOK ON THEIR FIRST WWT RACE of 2022 AT STRADE BIANCHE.
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- Le Samyn and Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne were fruitful for the team’s breakaway chasers.
Women’s program
March 9: GP Oetingen
Human Powered Health riders were present at the head of the action throughout the race, including an attack from Mieke Kröger with two laps to race of the 10-lap circuit. Lily Williams finished strongly in a bunch sprint.
Results:
Lily Williams – 11th
Nina Buijsman – 18th
March 12: Ronde van Drenthe
The famed VAM-Berg artificial climb didn’t break the spirits of our athletes with Nina Buijsman able to show her strength by forming a late breakaway of strong classics specialists that was only caught with a kilometer to go.
Results:
Nina Buijsman – 14th
Lily Williams – 19th
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- Mieke Kröger at the Ronde van Drenthe.
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- Barbara Malcotti cresting the VAM-berg.
March 16: Danilith Nokere Koerse
With 13 sections of cobbles and an uphill finish on the rough stuff, Danilith Nokere Koerse was always going to be a war of attrition. It may have been a full-gas day but Kröger lit up the racing with an epic 45-km solo breakaway.
Results:
Kaia Schmid – 31st
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- TT practise in an epic breakaway for Mieke Kröger.
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- Makayla MacPherson and Marit Raaijmakers on the cobbles.
March 24: Oxyclean Classic Brugge-De Panne
Brugge-De Panne served up a truly classic edition in 2022 for Human Powered Health with Kröger and Raaijmakers both putting in attacks late on as their form builds for the monuments. It was notably also Makayla MacPherson’s first UCI Women’s WorldTour race and saw the return of Evy Kuijpers after some time off the bike.
Results:
Lily Williams – 17th
🇧🇪 All eyes on #HumanPoweredHealth. It was an #Exterioorclassic to remember with the team animating much of the race with attacks from @mieke_kroeger and @marit_raaij. Next up is #GWE22 🔥
📸 Sprint Cycling Agency pic.twitter.com/Yjekf8l8i6
— Human Powered Health (@HumanPwrdHealth) March 24, 2022
March 27: Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields
Gent-Wevelgem is an appetizer coming a week before the region’s Super Bowl, the Tour of Flanders. Seven climbs, including the iconic Kemmelberg, will whittle the peloton down until only the strongest remain to battle it out for victory.
How to watch: FloBikes
March 30: Dwars Door Vlaanderen
Coming just days before the Tour of Flanders, Dwars Door Vlaanderen is the final test for the classic experts as it uses many of the same roads as ‘De Ronde’.
Men’s program
March 16: Nokere Koerse
After Kröger’s solo ride hours earlier, having returned from injury, breakaway king Robin Carpenter also shot up the road during the men’s event to give the Belgian public a second helping of Human Powered Health.
Results:
Nickolas Zukowsky – 28th
The #NokereKoerse is on to the circuit around the Nokereberg with @RobinmCarpenter pulling on the front as the break makes the first passage.
The gap is at 1’29” with half an hour to go until you can watch it live on GCN+ 📺 pic.twitter.com/uAgMYhR3XH
— Human Powered Health (@HumanPwrdHealth) March 16, 2022
March 18: Brendene – Koksijde Classic
Pier-André Coté and Colin Joyce both sprinted to top-15 positions in the mini Gent-Wevelgem. Joyce was at the head of the peloton for much of the closing stages before being muscle out of the running but those tactics were a sign of things to come.
Results:
Colin Joyce – 12th
Pier-André Coté – 13th
At the end of a sunny #BredeneKoksijdeClassic, @Colin__Joyce and @PierAndrCt1 both sprint for top-20 finishes 🙌🏼#HumanPoweredHealth | #Move pic.twitter.com/Nv48Ps25DX
— Human Powered Health (@HumanPwrdHealth) March 18, 2022
March 20: Grand Prix Criquielion
Pier-André Côté capped off a perfect team display by sprinting to victory at the GP Criquielion. With teammates Nickolas Zukowksy and Joyce along for company, the team dominated the winning breakaway. The full report can be found here.
Results:
Pier-André Côté – 1st 🏆
Nickolas Zukowksy – 4th
Colin Joyce – 5th
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- Pier-André Côté gets that winning feeling in Lessines.
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- Arms up if you’re the men’s squads first 2022 winner.
March 20: Per Sempre Alfreddo
At the same time as we were winning in Belgium, our climbers were racing in Italy, taking on an undulating Florentine route. A battle of attrition through climbs rather than cobbles this time, the lead group was gradually whittled down before a solo effort from the eventual winner with Ben King the team’s top finisher.
Results:
Ben King – 15th
March 27: GP Industria & Artigianto
Another Italian race to break up the busy Belgian block, the pro series GP Industria & Artigianto looks a bit like the Per Sempre Alfreddo but in reverse. With the climbs coming at the end of the race after a long stretch of flat, rather than the beginning, it will encourage a more dramatic finish, pitting climber vs puncheur.
March 27: La Roue Tourangelle
The third round of the French Cycling Cup tackles a leg-sapping undulating route. The team have history at Tourangelle with the 2019 edition being particularly memorable for Carpenter’s second-place finish.
How to watch: GCN+ and Eurosport
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- Carpenter during the 2019 Tourangelle.
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- The American’s efforts earned him a podium.
Make sure to keep up with all the action by following the team on social media.
