Welcome to the Farm Frites Mafia

Margaret Hemsley

By Margaret Hemsley*

Over the weekend I took part in my first Dutch road race or 'Classic' as the Dutch call them. Foot and Mouth disease and international racing had left me with only three races in Holland until now and all of them criteriums. The Ster Van Zeeland was a two day stage race with a 84km road race around a 28km circuit starting at 6:30pm on Friday night, followed by a 12km Individual Time Trial Saturday Midday and a 96km, four lap road race in the evening. Zeeland sits in the south west corner of The Netherlands. It is well known as flat and windy -- even more so than the rest of Holland. Dark clouds and strong winds greeted us at the start on

The Farm Frites mafia at the start

Friday evening, the Dutch riders, especially Leontien, gleefully rubbed their hands together, 'hope it stays windy' but even the locals were hoping the rain would hold off. The Dutch National U19 team started lining up half an hour before the start sitting twitching on the start line ready to explode. The British National team sat nervously on the back of the 75 strong peloton -- not overly fond of the Dutch style of racing. Unsurprisingly the young girls took off with Farm Frites in hot pursuit.Our instructions were to stay at the front and control the race (we had 11 riders in the field).

Madeleine Lindberg on
the attack

The race was aggressive from the start with attacks and counter-attacks going constantly as we wove our way along tiny roads and bike paths. As the Field started to tire "the Mafia" took control. With 13km to go Anouska Van de Zee countered Madeleine Lindberg's attack and headed off for a solo victory. The 10 of us left in the bunch headed by Van Moorsel took control. No-one was getting away. Leontien took the bunch kick from German rider Tania Hennes 33 seconds behind Anouska. I finished just in the top 20, happy to be 'with' the Mafia.

The flat, windy not particularly technical, 12km Time Trial saw Leontien Van Moorsel-Zijlaard completely dominate winning by almost a minute from young New Zealander Kirsty Robb

Margaret leading the charge

After a couple of hours recovery in sitting in the bright warm sunshine we headed out for the second road stage. Once more Farm Frites delighted in the strong winds. Team Director Mike Zijlaard had first, second and third in mind for the team. The plan was to do some damage to Kirsty Robb and Ceris Gilfillian, who both struggled in the wind and narrow roads in the first stage. My instructions were to get to the front and stay there -- this is always easier said than done, and I was pretty tired after the time trial. I started in good position, regularly slipping back in the bunch as I lost positions in the aggressive Dutch field around some tight corners and fighting to the front again. Until Sissy van Alebeek rode past me with the magic words "okay Margie we are going to get to the front and give it everything in the crosswind" (a slightly Australianised quote). Like magic 11 Farm Frites Hartol riders drifted to the front -- the Mafia strikes.

Sissy van Alebeekn

Along the narrow roads in the howling crosswinds we swapped off like our lives depended on it, Leontien in the Yellow jersey and Sissy van Alebeek doing a lion's share of the work but all team members making a contribution. The bunch shrunk to 40 after one lap, Ceris and Kirsty in the second group after the second lap. We stayed on the front swapping off and maintaining speed until the crosswinds when once again we put the pressure on, by this time I was seeing spots and my legs were screaming and I swung briefly on the back of the bunch of now about 18. Then back to the front to keep the speed going. Attacks started going at about 20km to go, with groups going up the road and riders bridging. We attacked and went strongly with each break until a group of four containing Madeleine, Leontien, Sandra Miesbach and Brit Susan Carter was away with the field in pieces along the road behind. My position in the second group moved me to fourth overall with the Mafia taking out first to fourth in the overall and having 8 riders in the top 20.

Leontien Van Moorsel and
Madelaine Lindberg

The First Rotterdam Airport Challenge staged on Sunday, completed 3 days of racing. After a late night getting 'home' at 11pm. There were a lot of tired girls on the start line of the 1.6km 'smile' shaped circuit -- us included. But the sponsors were all there to watch and on this open course there was nowhere to hide. Leontien woke with a stomach bug but started the race for the team and the sponsors. I ended up feeling pretty good after finishing the night before a dribbling mess. Madeleine, it soon became evident, was feeling even better as we attacked and counter-attacked only to be shut down by the Brits and the Ondernamers Dutch team. Yvonne Brunen raced well, controlling the field with Sissy van Alebeek, but the field stayed together for a bunch sprint with Madeleine the obvious choice for the finish Sissy started the lead out with Madde on her wheel and as I tussled with the third rider in the train Leontien came around and took Madeleine to the finish taking out second place herself, with young Farm Frites rider Bertine Spijkerman sprinting for third.

Podium Mafia

All in all a successful weekend for the Farm Frites Hartol Mafia, and a massive learning curve for a certain Australian, who was very happy to be part of the team. Bring on the Giro!

Until next time
Margaret

*Margaret Hemsley is an Australian riding for the Farm Frites Hartol squad of Leontien van Moorsel and Hanka Kupfernagel. After being a key rider for the Australian Institute of Sport team last year, Margaret has adapted to her supporting role in one of the strongest teams in women's cycling.

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