As the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women rolls out today in Yorkshire, one of the sport’s top sprinters, Lorena Wiebes (Team SD Worx-Protime), is setting her sights higher than ever — at the general classification. Known for her blistering speed on flat finishes, Wiebes now believes she has the climbing credentials to contend for the overall title in the four-day UCI Women’s WorldTour event.
“There are tough stages, but no really tough mountain stage,” Wiebes said. “That’s why I cautiously dare to dream of the general classification.”
Wiebes’ comments come off the back of a breakout spring campaign, in which she took victory at Milan-Sanremo Donne and sparkled in a challenging uphill sprint at the Vuelta a Burgos Féminas, where she also impressed in the final time trial.
A Course That Opens Doors
In previous editions of the Tour of Britain Women, Wiebes’ GC hopes were limited by mountainous terrain but this year’s parcours could suit her strengths. The race includes hilly stages, but lacks the kind of long, sustained climbs that typically distance sprinters.
“I love Tour of Britain. It’s always a challenging course with something for everyone,” Wiebes said. “I have won a number of stages in the past, but never made a stab at the GC. That very difficult mountain stage is missing this year, so maybe something is possible.”
That’s not to say the route is without difficulty. Stage 2 features a brutal uphill finale into Saltburn-by-the-Sea, with ramps up to 22%, a challenge even Wiebes doesn’t take lightly.
“It’s an extremely tough Cauberg,” she joked, referring to the iconic Dutch climb. “We’ll have to see how I come out in front there.”
Growing Form, Growing Confidence
The 26-year-old Dutch rider says her performance at the Vuelta a Burgos gave her added confidence.
“I had a good feeling there. The victory on the uphill finish gave me belief, although the climbs in Britain are harder. But I also went well in the time trial — I feel my form is growing.”
With a packed summer schedule ahead — including Hageland, the Copenhagen Sprint Classic, the Dutch National Championships, the Giro d’Italia Women, and the Tour de France Femmes — Wiebes is building towards peak condition.
“I think there’s still room to grow. That’s necessary, because there are few flat races left. I’m especially happy that I feel I’ve kept my sprint power while improving on the climbs. So Tour of Britain will be a good test for me.”
“Winning a GC would be a big step for me,” she said. “It’s still a hard race with tough stages — but not impossible. So I’ll give it a go.
