Greig Leach

It is just sand that makes Koksijde so difficult. Within sight of the start line the peloton faces a wall of sand that can only be scaled by shouldering one's bike and running up the deep sand. I can't imagine scaling this once, let alone the five times that the pro women managed this feat. At this point the Dutch Champion, Lucinda Brand (Baloise Glowi Lions) is leading the World Champion, Fem vamn Empel (Visma-Lease a Bike) up the climb as they both chase the sole leader already down the other side.