Ladies Julie Hendrickx gears up for another intense weekend of racing

After three weeks without, it is time for our ladies to go racing again! On Saturday, our ladies will compete in the Antwerp Port Epic, a 130,58 km race through the unpaved roads around the Port of Antwerp. As the weather forecast is not looking good at all, it is promised to become a though one. “Antwerp Port Epic Ladies is, as the name tells us, an epic race”, emphasizes Sports Director Geert Wellens. “Especially with the expected weather conditions, it is not going to be easy. The cobbled and unpaved sections are very close to each other, so with the expected rain and wind, these parts will become very hard and will for sure decide the race.” 

For Julie Hendrickx, this weekend will definitely be action packed, lining up in both races. “After three weeks without racing, I am very eager to be at the start of Antwerp Port Epic and Dwars door de Westhoek this weekend”, she smiles. “I have recently finished an intensive training camp in the French Ardennes, to get some extra hours in. So, I am very curious to find out how my legs will react.”  

Antwerp Port Epic is nothing new to her, so she clearly knows what to expect. “We have reconned a big part of the race a few weeks ago in the same weather circumstances as they expect on Saturday. Especially seen the current state of the gravel roads, it will become a very hard and precarious race. But in the end, the circumstances will be the same for everyone”, Julie says determined. 

On Sunday, our ladies have Dwars door de Westhoek on the menu. The weather conditions look slightly better but that does not mean that it is going to be easier. Julie already braces herself for another though race: “I hope that Sunday’s race will become an extremely hard one finishing in a sprint with only a small group of riders. The main goal of this weekend will for sure be to get some good team results out of these two races.” 

Picture: Brecht Steenhouwer