May 9/14 13:13 pm - The Women's Tour: Stage 3, Kirchmann 6th

Posted by Editoress on 05/9/14
 

Stage win and Friends Life Yellow Jersey for Vos in Clacton

Marianne Vos took her long threatened stage victory in the Friends Life Women's Tour, sprinting to the win in Clacton to move into the race leader's yellow jersey after three days of action.

Vos headed home Emma Johansson and Giorgia Bronzini on the gently rising finish straight on Clacton's seafront at the end of an action packed stage, run off in a little over two-hours in blustery conditions on the Suffolk and Essex coasts.

Vos wins

Marianne Vos

Despite a flat tyre Britain's Lizzie Armitstead took fourth in the sprint to stay in the hunt for overall victory.

As a result of victory, Vos trades the YodelDirect Points jersey for the Friends Life Yellow Jersey of race leader, taking a eight second lead over Stage One winner Johansson, with overnight leader Rossella Ratto a further second back in third.

Vos continues to also lead the YodelDirect Points classification after her consistent run of second-third-first finishes, with Armitstead retaining the Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research Best British Rider jersey and staying fifth overall.

Ratto's consolation for losing the race lead is retaining the Matrix Fitness Best Young Rider jersey, while Sharon Laws retains the Strava Queen of the Mountains jersey, with a three point lead over Switzerland's Jolanda Neff.

Numerous attacks throughout the stage, including one by Armitstead and Boels Dolmans straight from 0-kilometre and one that featured Armitstead, Johansson and Vos, were kept on a tight leash, resulting in frantic action.

Combined with strong winds this left several groups distanced from the rear of the race, but plenty of action at the front.  Specialized Lululemon's Trixi Worrack earned the day's combativity award for her persistent attacking, with teammate Tiffany Cromwell's last ditch attempt caught at the flame rouge as the peloton prepared for the bunch gallop.

Saturday sees Hertfordshire host the Friends Life Women's Tour for Stage Four from Cheshunt to Welwyn Garden City.

Kirchmann Sprints To Sixth Place Finish at Women's Tour

Leah Kirchmann battled crashes and relentless wind conditions to sprint to sixth place in stage 3 of the Women's Tour,  a 56-mile trip from Felixstowe to Clacton-on-Sea. The Orange and Black delivered a picturesque leadout over the closing kilometres for the current Canadian criterium champion, allowing the young rider to go head to head against some of the world's top sprinters, including stage winner and reigning world champion Marianne Vos (Rabo-Liv).

"There were lots of attacks coming into town in the final 5 kilometres, but it was so windy that nobody could stay away. The team did a great job today - we wanted to be more assertive, and Janel (Holcomb) worked hard to mark those final attacks. We lost Lauren (Hall) in the final few kilometres but fortunately I was still able to find the right wheel and have a chance at the sprint."

Hall suffered an untimely mechanical malfunction that knocked her out of the run to the line, but the team's concerted efforts were enough to capture a top ten on a surprising day of racing.

"Going into the stage, there was a lot of talk about how the wind would make today's race decisive. It was definitely windy, but the I think the amount of direction changes on the course made it tough for team's to time their attacks well," said Performance Director Kevin Field. "We talked this morning about the necessity of capitalizing on every opportunity at a race of this caliber, and the women did a wonderful job reading the race conditions and getting Leah where she needed to be."

Kirchmann, Holcomb, and Hall all battled back from crashes in a slick second stage, which saw Holcomb pay a visit to the hospital to check the status of her ankle. Kirchmann reopened a gash in her left knee in her tumble, but all three were able to start and finish today's stage.

The team resumes the podium hunt tomorrow in a 55-mile trip from Cheshunt to Welwyn Garden City.

Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies report

Results from the third stage in the UK

Previous Stages
Stage 1 
Stage 2 

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