Charlotte Kool sprints to third victory of year at Veenendaal-Veenendaal Women

Charlotte Kool of Fenix-Premier Tech secured her third victory of the season by winning the Veenendaal-Veenendaal Women’s race on Friday. The Dutch rider launched a decisive sprint in the final 500 metres, breaking away from the peloton to cross the finish line comfortably ahead of Kathrin Schweinberger (Human Powered Health) and Nienke Veenhoven (Visma-Lease a Bike). The race covered 134.3 kilometres on Kool’s home roads and featured multiple attacks, with Kool’s late burst proving to be the winning move. The event marked the fifth edition of the Veenendaal-Veenendaal Women’s race, which returned to the calendar after being cancelled last year due to police shortages. The race saw early breakaway attempts, including a nearly 20-kilometre solo effort by Helena Bieber of Carbonbike Giordana Sofré by Gen Z. Visma-Lease a Bike, aiming to defend their title after Riejanne Markus’s solo win in 2024, played a key role in closing down Bieber’s attack in the closing stages to set up a sprint finish. Throughout the race, several teams were active in the breakaway and chase efforts. VolkerWessels Cycling had a strong presence early on, with four riders in the front group alongside others from various teams. Markus made a notable solo move before being caught, while Bieber’s late attack kept the race dynamic until the final kilometres. The peloton’s increased pace in the latter stages fragmented the group, setting the scene for Kool’s well-timed sprint. The victory underlines Kool’s growing form this season and her ability to dominate in sprint finishes, particularly on familiar terrain. With the Women’s WorldTour teams asserting control in the final kilometres, the race demonstrated the tactical depth and competitive spirit of the field. Kool’s win at Veenendaal-Veenendaal adds to her impressive campaign and signals her as a rider to watch in upcoming races.