Stage 4 – 2014 FriendsLife Women’s Tour

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Second successive victory for Marianne Vos in Friends Life Women’s Tour on a sunny day in Hertfordshire where the crowds came out to greet the race

Stage 4 – 2014 FriendsLife Women’s Tour

Live Photos 

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Stage 4 – Saturday 10 May – Cheshunt to Welwyn Garden City – 87.8km

Report

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World & Olympic champion Marianne Vos wins stage 4 into Welwyn Garden City

Reigning World & Olympic Champion Marianne Vos sprinted to victory for the second successive day, winning Stage Four of the Friends Life Women’s Tour in Welwyn Garden City.

The Rabo Liv rider out sprinted Giorgia Bronzini and Britain’s Lucy Garner along Welwyn Garden City’s Parkgate to extend her lead of the Friends Life Women’s Tour to 19-seconds over Emma Johansson, who finished fourth.

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Sisters from Cheshunt Laura and Emma Trott ride ahead of the peleton before the racing starts.

Armitstead’s chances of victory were spoilt by a puncture for the second successive day, this time a puncture in the final four kilometres that necessitated a swift change of bikes, leaving her tenth at the finish, but up to fourth overall after Susanna Zorzi lost time.

Vos now enjoys a lead in excess of the time bonus available on Sunday’s fifth and final stage, from Harwich to Bury St Edmunds, meaning her rivals now have to drop her if they are to win the Friends Life Yellow Jersey.

Vos also enjoys an unsurmountable lead in the YodelDirect Points classification, 22 points ahead of Johansson.

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Race gets underway in bright sunshine in Cheshunt 

Much of the stage was defined by a breakaway move, led by Emma Pooley, but also containing riders from Rabo Liv, Orica AIS and Boels Dolmans, the teams of Vos, Johansson and Armitstead.

The group gained a maximum of 50 seconds advantage, and were gradually being reeled in to set up a thrilling finish when a road traffic accident ahead on the course caused a brief neutralisation to the race. With the break’s lead less than 30 seconds, when racing resumed their lead was annulled, setting up a 15-kilometre dash to the line.

Clad in the Friends Life Yellow Jersey it was Vos who finished clear of Bronzini, herself clear of Garner and the pursuing pack, including Armistead.

“This is a new race but a very important one it gets a lot of attention all the big teams are here trying to win a stage, so for me this is an important race,” said stage winner Marianne Vos afterwards.

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Support for Laura and Emma Trott on the stage

“The organisation is really good and with the crowds as well, I definitely think it can be one of the biggest stage races in the world and the women’s calendar. So far I think this is the biggest one if you look to the attention it gets”

Local sisters Laura and Emma enjoyed differing days, double Olympic Champion Laura made the start despite injury and illness, finishing inside the top 30, while Emma, who was the first to attack on the stage, crossed the line further back, alongside Combativity Award winner Pooley, and then announced her retirement from the sport after Sunday’s final stage in Bury St Edmunds.

Emma’s Boels Dolmans teammate Lizzie Armitstead keeps the Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research Best British Rider jersey, while Sharon Laws keeps the Strava Queen of the Mountains jersey with a three point advantage and Rossella Ratto maintains her lead in the Under-23 Matrix Fitness Best Young Rider classification.

The Friends Life Women’s Tour’s final stage takes place on Sunday, from Harwich to Bury St Edmunds over 108.3 kilometres.

Post Race Press Conference

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First attack and its from Emma Trott

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Helen Wyman then had a dig but lurking ominously on her wheel is Emma Pooley ….

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… and sure enough, Emma started her campaign of attacks

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The first Queen of the Mountains came at just 11 miles and Sharon Laws defeated her main rival for the jersey, Jolanda Neff

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In the background, one of the examples of the huge crowds that came out to see the FriendsLife Women’s Tour.

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 Ciara Horne had some time out front alone in front of the huge crowds that came out to see the race.

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One of many attacks from Emma Pooley looking to build her form up for the Women’s Tour of Italy.

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The group splits and the Yellow jersey is gapped with Dani King show what great road legs she has in the front of  the split with Emma Pooley

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As well as being blown onto the right side of the road for much of the stage, there was also no shortage of riders willing to have a go.

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Emma Pooley in a lone move that soon developed into a small group that threatened the race lead.

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The Aussie champion Gracie Elvin on the attack to try and join Pooley

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Gracie Elvin was joined by four others chasing Pooley and one other rider from Specialized Lulelemon

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Emma and the rider from Specialized Lulelemon putting the hammer down

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The gap though was pegged by the riders from Astana and Raboank Liv

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First sprint is won by Annemiek Van Vleuten from Gracie Elvin – look at the crowd … a small portion of the people watching stage 4

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Denise Ramsden fills the pocket with bidons for her teammates.

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The teammates of the race leader chasing the break

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The end is nigh for the break  as the chasers close in and something unexpected is around the corner

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Sweetspot’s Guy Elliott, race controller, neutralises the race because of a road traffic accident ahead of the event.

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A rider retiring from the peloton, Emma Trott, shows just what a talent the sport is losing as she drives the lead selection along for her team leader Lizzie Armitstead.

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Lucy Garner, third on the stage and getting closer to the front.

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Vos wins the second sprint ahead of World Number 1 Emma Johansson and Lizzie Armitstead

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Fittingly the combativity award went to Emma Pooley.

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Rossella Ratto leads the Young riders competition.

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Lizzie Armitstead had more bad luck on the run in today and had to change bikes but is still the leading British rider

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 Sharon Laws, on her ninth day of racing in 12 days was awesome in her battle with Jolanda Neff 

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 Marianne Vos increased her lead in the overall thanks to wins in the mid race sprints and the final dash for the line in Welwyn Garden City 

Results

1 VOS Marianne Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team 02:13:09
2 BRONZINI Giorgia Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
3 GARNER Lucy Great Britain
4 JOHANSSON Emma Orica – AIS
5 CECCHINI Elena Estado de México-Faren Kuota
6 HALL Lauren Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
7 KIRCHMAN Leah Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
8 BIANNIC Aude Lointek
9 WORRACK Trixi Specialized-lululemon
10 ARMITSTEAD Elizabeth Boels – Dolmans Cycling Team
11 PIETERS Amy Netherlands
12 BARNES Hannah UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Women’s Team
13 RATTO Rossella Estado de México-Faren Kuota
14 CROMWELL Tiffany Specialized-lululemon 00:04
15 MULLENS Peta Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
16 MOOLMAN PASIO Ashleigh Hitec Products
17 HOSKING Chloe Hitec Products
18 ZORZI Susanna Astana BePink Womens Team
19 NEFF Jolanda Switzerland
20 BRAND Lucinda Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team
21 VAN VLEUTEN Annemiek Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team
22 VAN DIJK Ellen Boels – Dolmans Cycling Team
23 ELVIN Gracie Orica – AIS
24 RAMSDEN Denise Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
25 VILLUMSEN Linda Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
26 LONGO BORGHINI Elisa Hitec Products
27 DE VOCHT Liesbet Lotto Belisol Ladies
28 PIJNENBORG Mascha Netherlands
29 TROTT Laura Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
30 BRENNAUER Lisa Specialized-lululemon
31 GONZáLEZ BLANCO Lucía Lointek
32 KING Danielle Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
33 KOSTER Anouska Netherlands
34 WILCOXSON Jade Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
35 MUCCIOLI Dalia Astana BePink Womens Team
36 HOLCOMB Janel Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
37 BECKER Charlotte Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
38 GUNNEWIJK Loes Orica – AIS
39 HORNE Ciara Great Britain
40 GILLOW Shara Orica – AIS
41 LAWS Sharon UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Women’s Team 00:13
42 LUPERINI Fabiana Estado de México-Faren Kuota
43 KNETEMANN Roxane Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team
44 ARZUFFI Alice Maria Astana BePink Womens Team 00:29
45 VALSECCHI Silvia Astana BePink Womens Team
46 BLAAK Chantal Specialized-lululemon 00:38
47 SCANDOLARA Valentina Orica – AIS
48 DELZENNE Elise Specialized-lululemon
49 ARCHIBALD Katie Great Britain
50 PAWLOWSKA Katarzyna Boels – Dolmans Cycling Team
51 HALL Katie UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Women’s Team 00:43
52 DAAMS Jessie Boels – Dolmans Cycling Team 00:45
53 LóPEZ MORALES Belén Lointek
54 KASPER Romy Boels – Dolmans Cycling Team 00:57
55 WYMAN Helen Matrix Racing Academy 00:59
56 MARTIN Lucy Estado de México-Faren Kuota 01:07
57 SLAPPENDEL Iris Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team 01:51
58 TROTT Emma Boels – Dolmans Cycling Team 02:12
59 POOLEY Emma Lotto Belisol Ladies
60 HOFFMANN Chantal Lotto Belisol Ladies
61 EDMONDSON Annette Orica – AIS
62 LEUMANN Katrin Switzerland 11:29
63 TINDLEY Jo Matrix Racing Academy
64 WALKER Jessie Matrix Racing Academy
65 JONES Hayley Great Britain
66 RIBEROT Fanny Lointek
67 VERHOEVEN Aurore Lointek
68 KNAUER Anna Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team 11:33
69 VAN DER MEER Janine Netherlands
70 SCHWEIZER Doris Astana BePink Womens Team
71 FERNANDES SOUZA Uenia Estado de México-Faren Kuota 11:35
72 WINDER Ruth UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Women’s Team 17:01
73 HILL Amy Great Britain
74 STIENEN Jutta Switzerland
75 HIGGINS Cari UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Women’s Team
76 OWEN Harriet Matrix Racing Academy
77 WOERING Henriette Netherlands 17:04
78 ROWSON Penny Matrix Racing Academy 17:05
79 FORCHINI Ramona Switzerland 18:05
80 LOWTHER Melissa Matrix Racing Academy 19:03
81 YÉPEZ Erika Estado de México-Faren Kuota

Combativity award – Emma Pooley
Best British rider – Lucy Garner

OVERALL

1 VOS Marianne Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team 09:54:10
2 JOHANSSON Emma Orica – AIS 00:19
3 RATTO Rossella Estado de México-Faren Kuota 00:22
4 ARMITSTEAD Elizabeth Boels – Dolmans Cycling Team 00:30
5 BRONZINI Giorgia Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling 00:31
6 ZORZI Susanna Astana BePink Womens Team
7 GARNER Lucy Great Britain 00:37
8 BARNES Hannah UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Women’s Team
9 CECCHINI Elena Estado de México-Faren Kuota 00:41
10 PIETERS Amy Netherlands
11 BIANNIC Aude Lointek
12 KIRCHMAN Leah Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
13 WORRACK Trixi Specialized-lululemon
14 HALL Lauren Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
15 VAN DIJK Ellen Boels – Dolmans Cycling Team 00:42
16 VAN VLEUTEN Annemiek Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team
17 ELVIN Gracie Orica – AIS 00:43
18 HOSKING Chloe Hitec Products 00:45
19 DE VOCHT Liesbet Lotto Belisol Ladies
20 MULLENS Peta Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
21 LONGO BORGHINI Elisa Hitec Products
22 CROMWELL Tiffany Specialized-lululemon
23 PIJNENBORG Mascha Netherlands
24 MOOLMAN PASIO Ashleigh Hitec Products
25 VILLUMSEN Linda Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
26 BRENNAUER Lisa Specialized-lululemon
27 RAMSDEN Denise Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
28 KING Danielle Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
29 GUNNEWIJK Loes Orica – AIS
30 MUCCIOLI Dalia Astana BePink Womens Team
31 GONZáLEZ BLANCO Lucía Lointek
32 HOLCOMB Janel Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
33 GILLOW Shara Orica – AIS
34 LAWS Sharon UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Women’s Team 00:54
35 NEFF Jolanda Switzerland 01:05
36 KNETEMANN Roxane Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team 01:07
37 BRAND Lucinda Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team 01:09
38 BECKER Charlotte Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling 01:10
39 DELZENNE Elise Specialized-lululemon 01:16
40 PAWLOWSKA Katarzyna Boels – Dolmans Cycling Team 01:18
41 VALSECCHI Silvia Astana BePink Womens Team
42 ARCHIBALD Katie Great Britain 01:19
43 ARZUFFI Alice Maria Astana BePink Womens Team 01:21
44 DAAMS Jessie Boels – Dolmans Cycling Team 01:26
45 KASPER Romy Boels – Dolmans Cycling Team 01:38
46 BLAAK Chantal Specialized-lululemon 01:52
47 SCANDOLARA Valentina Orica – AIS 01:54
48 WYMAN Helen Matrix Racing Academy 02:10
49 SLAPPENDEL Iris Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team 02:43
50 HOFFMANN Chantal Lotto Belisol Ladies 03:48
51 VERHOEVEN Aurore Lointek 12:10
52 KOSTER Anouska Netherlands 12:48
53 TROTT Laura Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
54 HORNE Ciara Great Britain
55 WILCOXSON Jade Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
56 WALKER Jessie Matrix Racing Academy 13:05
57 LóPEZ MORALES Belén Lointek 13:29
58 LEUMANN Katrin Switzerland 13:38
59 MARTIN Lucy Estado de México-Faren Kuota 14:24
60 POOLEY Emma Lotto Belisol Ladies 16:03
61 LUPERINI Fabiana Estado de México-Faren Kuota 16:24
62 EDMONDSON Annette Orica – AIS 16:26
63 TROTT Emma Boels – Dolmans Cycling Team
64 WINDER Ruth UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Women’s Team 18:15
65 WOERING Henriette Netherlands 19:05
66 STIENEN Jutta Switzerland 20:28
67 RIBEROT Fanny Lointek 21:56
68 VAN DER MEER Janine Netherlands 24:17
69 KNAUER Anna Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team 25:44
70 HALL Katie UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Women’s Team 26:30
71 FERNANDES SOUZA Uenia Estado de México-Faren Kuota 27:37
72 HIGGINS Cari UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Women’s Team 32:31
73 JONES Hayley Great Britain 37:34
74 SCHWEIZER Doris Astana BePink Womens Team 38:12
75 HILL Amy Great Britain 39:34
76 TINDLEY Jo Matrix Racing Academy 40:50
77 FORCHINI Ramona Switzerland 41:25
78 YÉPEZ Erika Estado de México-Faren Kuota 47:41
79 ROWSON Penny Matrix Racing Academy 52:48
80 LOWTHER Melissa Matrix Racing Academy 53:19
81 OWEN Harriet Matrix Racing Academy 01:13:43

Yodel Points – Marianne Vos
Strava QoM – Sharon Laws
Best British Rider – Lizzie Armitstead
Best Young Rider – Rossella Ratto

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