Posted by Editoress on 06/10/17
Katarzyna Niewiadoma held onto the race leader's OVO Energy Green Jersey at the conclusion of the penultimate stage of the OVO Energy Women's Tour in Chesterfield, but only after resisting a stern challenge from her rivals on the roads of Derbyshire.
The Polish National Champion, who has led the OVO Energy Women's Tour since Stage One in Northamptonshire on Wednesday faced her strongest challenge yet in the four days of racing, with Christine Majerus at one stage becoming the virtual green jersey on the road, ending the day in second overall, 1-minute and 25-seconds back from Niewiadoma, who described it as "one of the hardest races I've done in my life.”
"I knew it was a really dangerous move and I knew we had to start riding to bring her back. I tried to stay calm and relaxed and only think positively,” said Katarzyna Niewiadoma after the finish.
"As soon as you start thinking negatively you become nervous. What made it easier for my head is that I knew the course was hard and the climbs suit me. I also knew that some teams would be destroyed on this course; it wasn't easy to stay in the front group.
"My DS was coaching me, giving me advice on what I had to do. Of course it's impossible to control every attack but I tried as much as I could. I'm super happy that the OVO Energy Green Jersey is still with me. It was really cool that Cervélo Bigla and Canyon//SRAM helped us chase the breakaway down; I knew Canyon would want to keep Hannah Barnes in third on GC, so it was really cool that they were eager to ride.”
The stage win went to Orica Scott's Sarah Roy, as an Australian came out on top in the OVO Energy Women's Tour for the second day running following Chloe Hosking's win in Warwickshire on Friday.
"I'm really excited, elated and thrilled to take the victory, especially given the efforts that the team have put in for the past few stages,” said Roy speaking afterwards. "Gracie [Elvin] was in the break yesterday and got caught with five kilometres to go, which was both exciting and disappointing, so for us to have another dig today and pull it off was awesome.
"I was preparing for a bunch sprint because the girls behind were lighting up. We just happened to dig really dig on an uncategorised climb towards the finish; I took a few fewer turns but [Christine] Majerus really put the hammer down. I just held her wheel and I took over on the descents.
"I felt pretty good coming into the finish. I didn't want to be the one attacking but I was really confident following the wheels. I'm actually really surprised – it was very hilly and I'm not a climber. It was a hard race.”
Team Sunweb's Leah Kirchmann also jumped up the order, elevating herself to third overall, 11-seconds behind Majerus, as the Barnes sisters dropped to fifth and sixth, with Hannah retaking the higher position and the Adnams Best British Rider jersey.
Kirchmann was part of a day-long three rider break including Shara Gillow and eventual winner Roy that was joined by Majerus, who bridged the gap from a small chasing group with 77-kilometres of racing remaining.
Buoyed by Majerus' presence, and with no chase initially behind, their lead swelled putting the Luxembourg champion into the virtual race lead. With Cervelo Bigla and Canyon//SRAM aiding the isolated Niewiadoma in the chase, they were gradually reeled back in, until with Roy, Majerus and Kirchmann contesting the finish.
Having saved her legs for the finish, Roy led from the front outsprinting Majerus on the cobbled finish line, with Kirchmann coming home third for the final bonus seconds.
Audrey Cordon-Ragot sealed the SKODA Queen of the Mountains climb ahead of the final, flat, stage in London, finishing with a six-point lead over Lucinda Brand.
"It was a hard day, I think we did really good in protecting the jersey” said the Wiggle HIGH5 rider speaking following the podium ceremony. "The first goal of the day was to target the first SKODA Queen of the Mountain climb at Middleton Top, which we did. The only thing was that if Lucinda won the second SKODA Queen of the Mountains climb we would lose the jersey, so we had to stay awake. Obviously with it being a hard race, it was easiest for me to keep the jersey with a breakaway up the front.
"I knew I had really good legs from the Ardennes. I've found a really good shape this year and a nice way to ride my bike, so it's a nice reward. But I wasn't coming for that, I was coming to help Giorgia and Jolien win as many stages as I could, but it's really nice I have a reward.”
Teammate Jolien D'Hoore retained the Eisberg Sprints Jersey, with Christine Majerus now her nearest challenger, two points behind with six points available during London's final stage.
Women’s Tour press release
Alison Jackson (BePink Cogeas) finished 25th at 22s back and sits 49th in GC at 14:10 back.
Results from the fourth stage in the UK
Stage 4: Chesterfield, 123.1 km | |
1 Sarah Roy (Aus) Orica Scott | 3:27:48 |
2 Christine Majerus (Lux) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam | at 0:01 |
3 Leah Kirchmann (Can) Team Sunweb | 0:05 |
4 Marta Bastianelli (Ita) Alé Cipollini | 0:17 |
5 Hannah Barnes (GBr) Canyon SRAM Racing | |
6 Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Wiggle High5 | |
7 Alexandra Manly (Aus) Orica Scott | |
8 Ellen van Dijk (Ned) Team Sunweb | |
9 Lucinda Brand (Ned) Team Sunweb | all s.t. |
10 Sofie De Vuyst (Bel) Lares-Waowdeals Women Cycling Team | 0:22 |
11 Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Wiggle High5 | |
12 Floortje Mackaij (Ned) Team Sunweb | |
13 Danielle King (GBr) Cylance Pro Cycling | |
14 Rossella Ratto (Ita) Cylance Pro Cycling | |
15 Eugénie Duval (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope | |
16 Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) Cervelo-Bigla Pro Cycling Team | |
17 Janneke Ensing (Ned) Alé Cipollini | |
18 Vita Heine (Nor) Hitec Products | |
19 Amy Pieters (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam | |
20 Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Pol) WM3 Pro Cycling Team | |
21 Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) Cervelo-Bigla Pro Cycling Team | |
22 Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Canyon SRAM Racing | |
23 Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam | |
24 Alice Barnes (GBr) Drops | |
25 Alison Jackson (Can) BePink Cogeas | |
26 Alice Maria Arzuffi (Ita) Lensworld-Kuota | all s.t. |
27 Malgorzta Jasinska (Pol) Cylance Pro Cycling | 0:28 |
28 Romy Kasper (Ger) Alé Cipollini | |
29 Nikki Brammeier (GBr) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam | |
30 Katrine Aalerud (Nor) Hitec Products | |
31 Lisa Klein (Ger) Cervelo-Bigla Pro Cycling Team | |
32 Shara Gillow (Aus) FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope | |
33 Elena Cecchini (Ita) Canyon SRAM Racing | |
34 Lisa Brennauer (Ger) Canyon SRAM Racing | all s.t. |
35 Chantal Blaak (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam | 0:32 |
36 Roxane Knetemann (Ned) FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope | |
37 Anouska Koster (Ned) WM3 Pro Cycling Team | |
38 Martina Ritter (Aut) Drops | |
39 Abby-Mae Parkinson (GBr) Drops | |
40 Eri Yonamine (Jpn) FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope | all s.t. |
41 Gracie Elvin (Aus) Orica Scott | 0:35 |
42 Jessica Allen (Aus) Orica Scott | |
43 Audrey Cordon Ragot (Fra) Wiggle High5 | |
44 Claudia Lichtenberg (Ger) Wiggle High5 | |
45 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Canyon SRAM Racing | |
46 Rozanne Slik (Ned) Team Sunweb | |
47 Rachel Neylan (Aus) Orica Scott | all s.t. |
48 Elizabeth Deignan (GBr) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam | 0:39 |
49 Katie Archibald (GBr) Team WNT Pro Cycling | 0:40 |
50 Natalie Grinczer (GBr) Team WNT Pro Cycling | 0:41 |
51 Daniela Reis (Por) Lares-Waowdeals Women Cycling Team | 1:58 |
52 Emilie Moberg (Nor) Hitec Products | 15:55 |
53 Stephanie Pohl (Ger) Cervelo-Bigla Pro Cycling Team | |
54 Anna Plichta (Pol) WM3 Pro Cycling Team | |
55 Sabrina Stultiens (Ned) Team Sunweb | all s.t. |
56 Sheyla Gutierrez Ruiz (Esp) Cylance Pro Cycling | 15:58 |
57 Hannah Payton (GBr) Drops | 19:25 |
58 Sara Penton (Swe) Team Veloconcept Women | |
59 Shani Bloch-Davidov (Isr) Team Veloconcept Women | |
60 Annalisa Cucinotta (Ita) Lensworld-Kuota | |
61 Thea Thorson (Nor) Hitec Products | |
62 Christina Perchtold (Aut) Cervelo-Bigla Pro Cycling Team | |
63 Sarah Inghelbrecht (Bel) Lares-Waowdeals Women Cycling Team | |
64 Sarah Rijkes (Aut) Lares-Waowdeals Women Cycling Team | |
65 Christina Siggaard (Den) Team Veloconcept Women | |
66 Rebecca Durrell (GBr) Drops | |
67 Lydia Boylan (Irl) Team WNT Pro Cycling | |
68 Emilia Fahlin (Swe) Wiggle High5 | |
69 Elise Maes (Lux) Team WNT Pro Cycling | |
70 Lauren Kitchen (Aus) WM3 Pro Cycling Team | |
71 Roxane Fournier (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope | |
72 Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) Lensworld-Kuota | |
73 Chloe Hosking (Aus) Alé Cipollini | |
74 Jolien D'Hoore (Bel) Wiggle High5 | |
75 Eileen Roe (GBr) Team WNT Pro Cycling | |
76 Miriam Bjørnsrud (Nor) Hitec Products | |
77 Jeanne Korevaar (Ned) WM3 Pro Cycling Team | |
78 Silvia Valsecchi (Ita) BePink Cogeas | |
79 Simona Frapporti (Ita) Hitec Products | all s.t. |
DNF Anna Trevisi (Ita) Alé Cipollini | |
DNF Annabel Simpson (GBr) Drops | |
DNF Ilaria Sanguineti (Ita) BePink Cogeas | |
DNF Maria Vittoria Sperotto (Ita) BePink Cogeas | |
DNF Francesca Pattaro (Ita) BePink Cogeas | |
DNF Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Ita) Lensworld-Kuota | |
DNF Hayley Jones (GBr) Team WNT Pro Cycling | |
DNS Clara Koppenburg (Ger) Cervelo-Bigla Pro Cycling Team | |
DNS Marianne Vos (Ned) WM3 Pro Cycling Team | |
DNS Daiva Tuslaite (Ltu) Alé Cipollini | |
DNS Aude Biannic (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope | |
GC | |
1 Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Pol) WM3 Pro Cycling Team | 15:06:31 |
2 Christine Majerus (Lux) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam | at 1:25 |
3 Leah Kirchmann (Can) Team Sunweb | 1:36 |
4 Ellen van Dijk (Ned) Team Sunweb | 1:38 |
5 Hannah Barnes (GBr) Canyon SRAM Racing | 1:41 |
6 Alice Barnes (GBr) Drops | 1:46 |
7 Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) Cervelo-Bigla Pro Cycling Team | 1:52 |
8 Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) Cervelo-Bigla Pro Cycling Team | 1:58 |
9 Danielle King (GBr) Cylance Pro Cycling | 1:59 |
10 Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Wiggle High5 | 2:00 |
11 Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Canyon SRAM Racing | 2:02 |
12 Amy Pieters (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam | 2:05 |
13 Floortje Mackaij (Ned) Team Sunweb | 2:06 |
14 Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam | s.t. |
15 Lisa Klein (Ger) Cervelo-Bigla Pro Cycling Team | 2:07 |
16 Sofie De Vuyst (Bel) Lares-Waowdeals Women Cycling Team | 2:10 |
17 Janneke Ensing (Ned) Alé Cipollini | |
18 Vita Heine (Nor) Hitec Products | both s.t. |
19 Katie Archibald (GBr) Team WNT Pro Cycling | 2:14 |
20 Shara Gillow (Aus) FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope | s.t. |
21 Malgorzta Jasinska (Pol) Cylance Pro Cycling | 2:16 |
22 Katrine Aalerud (Nor) Hitec Products | |
23 Lisa Brennauer (Ger) Canyon SRAM Racing | both s.t. |
24 Rossella Ratto (Ita) Cylance Pro Cycling | 2:19 |
25 Chantal Blaak (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam | 2:27 |
26 Audrey Cordon Ragot (Fra) Wiggle High5 | 2:28 |
27 Natalie Grinczer (GBr) Team WNT Pro Cycling | 2:41 |
28 Alexandra Manly (Aus) Orica Scott | 3:08 |
29 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Canyon SRAM Racing | 3:28 |
30 Claudia Lichtenberg (Ger) Wiggle High5 | 3:42 |
31 Gracie Elvin (Aus) Orica Scott | 3:48 |
32 Lucinda Brand (Ned) Team Sunweb | 4:03 |
33 Elena Cecchini (Ita) Canyon SRAM Racing | 4:06 |
34 Alice Maria Arzuffi (Ita) Lensworld-Kuota | 6:43 |
35 Eri Yonamine (Jpn) FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope | 7:19 |
36 Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Wiggle High5 | 8:34 |
37 Eugénie Duval (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope | 8:47 |
38 Marta Bastianelli (Ita) Alé Cipollini | 8:51 |
39 Anouska Koster (Ned) WM3 Pro Cycling Team | 8:53 |
40 Romy Kasper (Ger) Alé Cipollini | 9:00 |
41 Martina Ritter (Aut) Drops | 9:06 |
42 Jessica Allen (Aus) Orica Scott | 10:10 |
43 Roxane Knetemann (Ned) FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope | 11:00 |
44 Elizabeth Deignan (GBr) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam | 12:14 |
45 Nikki Brammeier (GBr) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam | 12:19 |
46 Daniela Reis (Por) Lares-Waowdeals Women Cycling Team | 13:19 |
47 Abby-Mae Parkinson (GBr) Drops | 13:34 |
48 Sarah Roy (Aus) Orica Scott | 13:38 |
49 Alison Jackson (Can) BePink Cogeas | 14:10 |
50 Rachel Neylan (Aus) Orica Scott | 16:27 |
51 Rozanne Slik (Ned) Team Sunweb | s.t. |
52 Emilie Moberg (Nor) Hitec Products | 24:08 |
53 Sabrina Stultiens (Ned) Team Sunweb | 25:57 |
54 Sara Penton (Swe) Team Veloconcept Women | 27:46 |
55 Simona Frapporti (Ita) Hitec Products | 27:50 |
56 Anna Plichta (Pol) WM3 Pro Cycling Team | 28:57 |
57 Stephanie Pohl (Ger) Cervelo-Bigla Pro Cycling Team | 29:09 |
58 Chloe Hosking (Aus) Alé Cipollini | 29:58 |
59 Jolien D'Hoore (Bel) Wiggle High5 | 30:05 |
60 Rebecca Durrell (GBr) Drops | 32:10 |
61 Hannah Payton (GBr) Drops | 32:23 |
62 Christina Perchtold (Aut) Cervelo-Bigla Pro Cycling Team | 32:27 |
63 Shani Bloch-Davidov (Isr) Team Veloconcept Women | 32:51 |
64 Miriam Bjørnsrud (Nor) Hitec Products | s.t. |
65 Roxane Fournier (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope | 34:36 |
66 Christina Siggaard (Den) Team Veloconcept Women | s.t. |
67 Eileen Roe (GBr) Team WNT Pro Cycling | 34:44 |
68 Lauren Kitchen (Aus) WM3 Pro Cycling Team | |
69 Jeanne Korevaar (Ned) WM3 Pro Cycling Team | both s.t. |
70 Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) Lensworld-Kuota | 34:53 |
71 Sarah Rijkes (Aut) Lares-Waowdeals Women Cycling Team | 35:05 |
72 Thea Thorson (Nor) Hitec Products | 35:17 |
73 Elise Maes (Lux) Team WNT Pro Cycling | 35:27 |
74 Sheyla Gutierrez Ruiz (Esp) Cylance Pro Cycling | 37:01 |
75 Annalisa Cucinotta (Ita) Lensworld-Kuota | 40:57 |
76 Sarah Inghelbrecht (Bel) Lares-Waowdeals Women Cycling Team | 45:52 |
77 Emilia Fahlin (Swe) Wiggle High5 | 49:36 |
78 Lydia Boylan (Irl) Team WNT Pro Cycling | 50:49 |
79 Silvia Valsecchi (Ita) BePink Cogeas | 52:09 |
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