The 24th edition of one of the most exciting events of the UCI Women’s World Tour, the Simac Ladies Tour 2022, has just begun in the Netherlands. Here is all you need to know about this cycling competition.
Previously known as Holland Ladies Tour, the inaugural race was held in 1998. Simac Ladies Tour used to be categorized as a 2.1 level racing event on the tour. However, it got promoted to 2.2 in 2017 due to its importance as one of the late-season races.
This event has been taking place annually since then with the exception of 2020. In 2022, the 6-day long race started on the 30th of August with many of the top riders and top teams participating.
Defending Champion: Chantal van den Broek-Blaak
The star players to join the 2022 iteration of the race include current champion Chantal van den Broek-Blaak (SD Worx), two-time winner Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar), and four-time winner Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma).
Van den Broek-Blaak will be aiming to win her third Simac in 2022. With the solid team of SD Worx alongside her, it is very much possible.
However, the favorite team has to be Trek-Segafredo as their leading rider, the current world champion, Ellen van Dijk, is back in the action. She is accompanied by a super strong team consisting of riders like Chloe Hosking, Lauretta Hanson, Amalie Dideriksen, Elynor Backstedt, and Audrey Cordon-Ragot.
When is Simac Ladies Tour 2022?
Simac Ladies Tour began on August 30. This 6-stages race will conclude on September 4 following six days of intense racing.
Simac Ladies Tour 2022 Schedule:
Let us have a look at the complete schedule of the event:
| Stage | Date |
| 1 | 30 Aug |
| 2 | 31 Aug |
| 3 | 01 Sep |
| 4 | 02 Sep |
| 5 | 03 Sep |
| 6 | 04 Sep |
Simac Ladies Tour 2022 Courses: Routes and Distances
In 2022, the course for Simac Ladies Tour has barely anything advantageous to climbers with the courses being mostly flat. Even more so in the first three stages. The stage 4 and 5 might prove crucial to winning the race as these stages consist of the only courses with undulated tracks. Starting from Lelystad, the race will end with a fast and flat course of stage 6 at Arnhem.
| Stage | Route | Distance |
| 1 | Lelystad – Lelystad | 141.2km |
| 2 | Ede – Ede | 117.8km |
| 3 | Gennep – Gennep | 139.1km |
| 4 | Landgraaf – Landgraaf | 135.2km |
| 5 | Windraak – Watersley | 17.8km (ITT)* |
| 6 | Arnhem – Arnhem | 150.3km |
* ITT= individual time trial
How to watch Simac Ladies Tour 2022 Livestream?
Eurosport:
Eurosport will air the whole event broadcasting every stage live starting from the 30th of August.
GCN:
Similar to Eurosport, GCN has the rights of telecasting the Simac Ladies Tour 2022.
Simac Ladies Tour 2022 Teams
There are a total of 16 teams participating in the race. Each team consists of five or six riders. They are listed below:
- Team SD Worx
- Trek-Segafredo
- FDJ-SUEZ-Futuroscope
- Team DSM
- Canyon-SRAM Racing
- UAE Team ADQ
- Valcar-Travel & Service
- Team BikeExchange-Jayco
- Team Jumbo-Visma
- Liv Racing Xstra
- Plantur-Pura
- Parkhotel Valkenburg
- AG Insurance – NXTG Team
- Uno-X Pro Cycling Team
- Roland Cogeas Edelweiss Squad
- GT Krush Tunap Pro Cycling
