Posted by Editoress on 05/11/14
Marianne Vos takes Friends Life Women's Tour overall victory
Marianne Vos cemented victory in the inaugural Friends Life Women's Tour by taking her third consecutive stage victory in Bury St Edmunds, out sprinting Giorgia Bronzini and Amy Pieters on Angel Hill.
The ensuing time bonuses ensured Vos finished 30 seconds clear of stage winners Emma Johansson and Rossella Ratto in second and third places, with the latter also claiming the Matrix Fitness Best Young Rider jersey for the highest placed Under-23 rider.
Italian duo Bronzini and Susanna Zorzi, who claimed the week's overall combativity award, were fourth and fifth overall, with Pieters just edging Lucy Garner and Hannah Barnes in sixth, seventh and eighth places.
Garner also took the Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research Best British Rider jersey, inheriting it on Sunday morning in Harwich after Lizzie Armitstead withdrew through illness and then defending it from Barnes in the final sprint, despite clipping the barriers in the final corners.
For the second day running Lotto Belisol Ladies' Emma Pooley was in the thick of the action, winning the Combativity Award for her constant attacking on the 108.3 kilometre stage through Tendring and Suffolk.
Loes Gunnewijk, Lauren Hall and Lisa Brennauer joined Pooley, but with no Rabo Liv rider in the font group they were brought back, setting up the final sprint finish of the week into Bury St Edmunds' Angel Hill, where packed crowds awaited.
For the third day running it was Vos who powered clear, our sprinting Bronzini, with Pieters and Barnes in close attendance behind.
Vos' consistent run of top three finishes and bonus points saw her claim the YodelDirect Points jersey, while Sharon Laws and Jolanda Neff's week long battle for the Strava Queen of the Mountains jersey ended in favour of the British rider, three points ahead of her Swiss counterpart.
Women's Tour press release
Team Crowned Best Overall at Inaugural Women's Tour
Optum Pro Cycling presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies closed out England's inaugural Women's Tour in style on Sunday, winning the overall team classification prize. The 5-woman squad successfully defended a one minute and four second lead on team standings they had gained one day earlier. The defense came on the fifth and final day of racing, a 67 mile trip from Harwich to Burt St. Edmunds.
"We knew we had to work as a unit and stay near the front of the race in what figured would be a chaotic finish in Bury St. Edmunds if we hoped to win best team, and the women executed perfectly," said Performance Director Kevin Field. "I have been impressed by the depth and cohesiveness of our team all season long, and they showed that to the world today at a very historic event."
The team celebrated in a pristine closing ceremony in Bury St. Edmunds, signed autographs (and Union Jacks), and posing for photos as they made their way through the massive crowds. It was an excellently produced week of racing at England's first ever women's UCI ranked stage race, sponsored by Friend's Life. It was a shining example of the popularity and viability of women's racing on an international scale, with nightly primetime television coverage and millions of spectators on the five beautiful race courses in southeast England.
"I overheard a rider say that this was bigger than the Olympics," said Lauren Hall, who claimed two top ten finishes in the race. "I feel like the race was really bringing in the communities and engaging with fans, especially all of the young girls we met on the tour who look up to us. It's was great opportunity to represent Optum internationally - I actually heard people yelling "Optum" from the side of the road!"
The day of racing also saw Hall launch into a dangerous four-woman breakaway that looked like it could make it to the finish line. An unfortunate flat for Emma Poole (Lotto-Belisol) caused her to drop out the break, perhaps taking away the horsepower it needed to make it to the finish line alone. Reabsorbed with 10 kilometres to go, the stage was set for another field sprint, won for the third time by world champion Marianne Vos.
Optum Pro Cycling presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies press release
Results from the fifth and final stage in the UK
Stage 5: Harwich to Bury St Edmunds, 108.3 km | |
1 Marianne Vos (Ned) Rabo Liv women cycling team | 2:48:10 |
2 Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Wiggle Honda | |
3 Amy Pieters (Ned) Netherlands | |
4 Hannah Barnes (GBr) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | |
5 Emma Johansson (Swe) Orica AIS | |
6 Elena Cecchini (Ita) Estado de Mexico Faren | |
7 Chloe Hosking (Aus) Hitec products | |
8 Aude Biannic (Fra) Lointek | |
9 Elise Delzenne (Fra) Specialized-lululemon | |
10 Leah Kirchmann (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | |
11 Rossella Ratto (Ita) Estado de Mexico Faren | |
12 Lucy Garner (GBr) Great Britain | |
13 Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned) Rabo Liv women cycling team | |
14 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Specialized-lululemon | |
15 Melon Pawlowska (Pol) Boels Dolmans cycling team | |
16 Ellen van Dijk (Ned) Boels Dolmans cycling team | |
17 Aurore Verhoeven (Fra) Lointek | |
18 Chantal Hoffmann (Lux) Lotto Belisol Ladies | |
19 Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Specialized-lululemon | |
20 Jolanda Neff (Sui) Switzerland | |
21 Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (RSA) Hitec products | |
22 Susanna Zorzi (Ita) Astana Bepink womens team | |
23 Jade Wilcoxson (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | |
24 Anouska Koster (Ned) Netherlands | |
25 Alice Arzuffi (Ita) Astana Bepink womens team | |
26 Mascha Pijnenborg (Ned) Netherlands | |
27 Peta Mullens (Aus) Wiggle Honda | |
28 Fanny Riberot (Fra) Lointek | |
29 Gracie Elvin (Aus) Orica AIS | |
30 Chantal Blaak (Ned) Specialized-lululemon | |
31 Romy Kasper (Ger) Boels Dolmans cycling team | |
32 Liesbet de Vocht (Bel) Lotto Belisol Ladies | |
33 Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Hitec products | |
34 Dani King (GBr) Wiggle Honda | |
35 Charlotte Becker (Ger) Wiggle Honda | |
36 Lucia Gonzalez (Spa) Lointek | |
37 Denise Ramsden (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | |
38 Ruth Winder (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | |
39 Henriette Woering (Ned) Netherlands | |
40 Lucinda Brand (Ned) Rabo Liv women cycling team | |
41 Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Orica AIS | |
42 Ciara Horne (GBr) Great Britain | |
43 Lauren Hall (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | |
44 Sharon Laws (GBr) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | |
45 Katie Archibald (GBr) Great Britain | |
46 Annette Edmondson (Aus) Orica AIS | |
47 Shara Gillow (Aus) Orica AIS | |
48 Dalia Muccioli (Ita) Astana Bepink womens team | |
49 Janel Holcomb (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | |
50 Helen Wyman (GBr) Matrix Fitness - Vulpine | |
51 Lisa Brennauer (Ger) Specialized-lululemon | |
52 Roxane Knetemann (Ned) Rabo Liv women cycling team | |
53 Belen Lopez (Spa) Lointek | |
54 Silvia Valsecchi (Ita) Astana Bepink womens team | |
55 Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Estado de Mexico Faren | |
56 Linda Villumsen (NZl) Wiggle Honda | all s.t. |
57 Janine van de Meer (Ned) Netherlands | 0:23 |
58 Jessie Walker (GBr) Matrix Fitness - Vulpine | 0:30 |
59 Katharine Hall (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | 0:58 |
60 Emma Pooley (GBr) Lotto Belisol Ladies | |
61 Katrin Leumann (Sui) Switzerland | |
62 Iris Slappendel (Ned) Rabo Liv women cycling team | |
63 Laura Trott (GBr) Wiggle Honda | |
64 Emma Trott (GBr) Boels Dolmans cycling team | all s.t. |
65 Amy Hill (GBr) Great Britain | 1:31 |
66 Jessie Daams (Bel) Boels Dolmans cycling team | 2:12 |
67 Cari Higgins (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | 0:11:22 |
68 Lucy Martin (GBr) Estado de Mexico Faren | 0:16:08 |
69 Valentina Scandolara (Ita) Orica AIS | |
70 Jo Tindley (GBr) Matrix Fitness - Vulpine | |
71 Uenia Fernandes Souza (Bra) Estado de Mexico Faren | |
72 Melissa Lowther (GBr) Matrix Fitness - Vulpine | |
73 Harriet Owen (GBr) Matrix Fitness - Vulpine | |
74 Penny Rowson (GBr) Matrix Fitness - Vulpine | |
75 Anna Knauer (Ger) Rabo Liv women cycling team | all s.t. |
DNF Doris Schweizer (Sui) Astana Bepink womens team | |
DNF Erika Leticia Yepez Fernandez (Mex) Estado de Mexico Faren | |
DNF Hayley Jones (GBr) Great Britain | |
DNF Ramona Forchini (Sui) Switzerland | |
DNF Jutta Stienen (Sui) Switzerland | |
DNS Lizzie Armitstead (GBr) Boels Dolmans cycling team | |
Final GC | |
1 Marianne Vos (Ned) Rabo Liv women cycling team | 12:42:07 |
2 Emma Johansson (Swe) Orica AIS | at 0:30 |
3 Rossella Ratto (Ita) Estado de Mexico Faren | 0:35 |
4 Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Wiggle Honda | 0:38 |
5 Susanna Zorzi (Ita) Astana Bepink womens team | 0:44 |
6 Amy Pieters (Ned) Netherlands | 0:50 |
7 Lucy Garner (GBr) Great Britain | |
8 Hannah Barnes (GBr) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | both s.t. |
9 Lauren Hall (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | 0:52 |
10 Elena Cecchini (Ita) Estado de Mexico Faren | |
11 Aude Biannic (Fra) Lointek | |
12 Leah Kirchmann (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | |
13 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Specialized-lululemon | all s.t. |
14 Ellen van Dijk (Ned) Boels Dolmans cycling team | 0:55 |
15 Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned) Rabo Liv women cycling team | |
16 Lisa Brennauer (Ger) Specialized-lululemon | both s.t. |
17 Gracie Elvin (Aus) Orica AIS | 0:56 |
18 Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Orica AIS | s.t. |
19 Chloe Hosking (Aus) Hitec products | 0:58 |
20 Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Specialized-lululemon | |
21 Liesbet de Vocht (Bel) Lotto Belisol Ladies | |
22 Peta Mullens (Aus) Wiggle Honda | |
23 Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (RSA) Hitec products | |
24 Mascha Pijnenborg (Ned) Netherlands | |
25 Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Hitec products | |
26 Dani King (GBr) Wiggle Honda | |
27 Denise Ramsden (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | |
28 Linda Villumsen (NZl) Wiggle Honda | |
29 Lucia Gonzalez (Spa) Lointek | |
30 Dalia Muccioli (Ita) Astana Bepink womens team | |
31 Janel Holcomb (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | |
32 Shara Gillow (Aus) Orica AIS | all s.t. |
33 Sharon Laws (GBr) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | 1:07 |
34 Jolanda Neff (Sui) Switzerland | 1:18 |
35 Roxane Knetemann (Ned) Rabo Liv women cycling team | 1:20 |
36 Lucinda Brand (Ned) Rabo Liv women cycling team | 1:22 |
37 Charlotte Becker (Ger) Wiggle Honda | 1:23 |
38 Elise Delzenne (Fra) Specialized-lululemon | 1:29 |
39 Melon Pawlowska (Pol) Boels Dolmans cycling team | 1:31 |
40 Silvia Valsecchi (Ita) Astana Bepink womens team | s.t. |
41 Katie Archibald (GBr) Great Britain | 1:32 |
42 Alice Arzuffi (Ita) Astana Bepink womens team | 1:34 |
43 Romy Kasper (Ger) Boels Dolmans cycling team | 1:51 |
44 Chantal Blaak (Ned) Specialized-lululemon | 2:05 |
45 Helen Wyman (GBr) Matrix Fitness - Vulpine | 2:23 |
46 Jessie Daams (Bel) Boels Dolmans cycling team | 3:51 |
47 Iris Slappendel (Ned) Rabo Liv women cycling team | 3:54 |
48 Chantal Hoffmann (Lux) Lotto Belisol Ladies | 4:01 |
49 Aurore Verhoeven (Fra) Lointek | 12:23 |
50 Anouska Koster (Ned) Netherlands | 13:01 |
51 Ciara Horne (GBr) Great Britain | |
52 Jade Wilcoxson (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | both s.t. |
53 Belen Lopez (Spa) Lointek | 13:42 |
54 Jessie Walker (GBr) Matrix Fitness - Vulpine | 13:48 |
55 Laura Trott (GBr) Wiggle Honda | 13:59 |
56 Katrin Leumann (Sui) Switzerland | 14:49 |
57 Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Estado de Mexico Faren | 16:37 |
58 Annette Edmondson (Aus) Orica AIS | 16:39 |
59 Emma Pooley (GBr) Lotto Belisol Ladies | 17:14 |
60 Emma Trott (GBr) Boels Dolmans cycling team | 17:37 |
61 Valentina Scandolara (Ita) Orica AIS | 18:15 |
62 Ruth Winder (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | 18:28 |
63 Henriette Woering (Ned) Netherlands | 19:18 |
64 Fanny Riberot (Fra) Lointek | 22:09 |
65 Janine van de Meer (Ned) Netherlands | 24:53 |
66 Katharine Hall (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | 27:41 |
67 Lucy Martin (GBr) Estado de Mexico Faren | 30:45 |
68 Amy Hill (GBr) Great Britain | 41:18 |
69 Anna Knauer (Ger) Rabo Liv women cycling team | 42:05 |
70 Uenia Fernandes Souza (Bra) Estado de Mexico Faren | 43:58 |
71 Cari Higgins (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | 44:06 |
72 Jo Tindley (GBr) Matrix Fitness - Vulpine | 57:11 |
73 Penny Rowson (GBr) Matrix Fitness - Vulpine | 1:09:09 |
74 Melissa Lowther (GBr) Matrix Fitness - Vulpine | 1:09:40 |
75 Harriet Owen (GBr) Matrix Fitness - Vulpine | 1:30:04 |
Team GC | |
1 Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | 38:09:07 |
2 Specialized Lululemon | at 0:04 |
3 Orica AIS | |
4 Rabo Liv women cycling team | |
5 Wiggle Honda | all s.t. |
6 Hitec products | 0:08 |
7 Netherlands | 0:19 |
8 Astana Bepink womens team | 0:38 |
9 Boels Dolmans cycling team | s.t. |
10 Lointek | 0:45 |
11 UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling | 1:07 |
12 Estado de Mexico Faren | 12:39 |
13 Great Britain | 12:41 |
14 Lotto Belisol Ladies | 19:27 |
15 Matrix Fitness - Vulpine | 1:09:41 |
Previous Stages
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
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