AJ Bell Women's Tour - Stage 1 - Race Report & Gallery

Former world champion Marta Bastianelli claimed her first-ever AJ Bell Women’s Tour stage victory in Banbury, Oxfordshire, on Monday following a perfectly-timed sprint.

Bastianelli (Alé BTC Ljubljana) managed to pass Chloe Hosking (Trek-Segafredo) and FDJ Nouvelle – Aquitaine Futuroscope’s Clara Copponi in sight of the line to take the win and the race’s first leader’s jersey of 2021.

The 2007 World Champion headed into the final corner on Banbury’s South Bar Street in third position but on the gently rising road to the finish line it was Bastianelli who powered to the line. Victory was the first for an Italian rider at the AJ Bell Women’s Tour since Stage Two of the inaugural edition in May 2014.

“It’s a very nice win for me. There are lots of people, lots of babies, for me it is good, because I think of my daughter.

“There was a crash with 1km to go, and luckily I did not crash but I am sorry for those that did. I started the sprint in third position, and for me it was the maximum because my coach has seen me win sprints from there.

“The sprint was not easy because it is a little bit tougher and uphill, and I think it is not for the sprinters, but for me it is a good race and a good day.”

Marta Bastianelli

Stage 1 Winner, Team Alé BTC Ljubljana

Top Brit was Hannah Barnes (Canyon SRAM Racing) in sixth while defending champion Lizzie Deignan (Trek-Segafredo) finished 40th, 26 seconds down, after working for team-mate Hosking in the sprint.

Bastianelli also takes the Sigma Sports Points jersey while Nina Kessler (Team TIBCO Silicon Valley Bank) holds the Eisberg Sprints jersey and Demi Vollering (SD Worx) takes the ŠKODA Queen of the Mountains.

Highlights of Stage One are on ITV4 at 21:00 on Monday 4 October and available on demand via the ITV Hub.

Stage 1 Results

AJ BELL LEADER'S JERSEY

1 Marta BASTIANELLI [ITA] Ale BTC Ljubljana 03:44:31

1 Marta BASTIANELLI [ITA] Ale BTC Ljubljana 03:44:31

2 Chloe HOSKING [AUS] Trek – Segafredo 03:44:35

3 Nina KESSLER [NED] Team TIBCO – Silicon Valley Bank 03:44:35

4 Clara COPPONI [FRA] FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope 03:44:37

5 Sarah ROY [AUS] Team BikeExchange 03:44:38

6 Alison JACKSON [CAN] Liv Racing 03:44:39

7 Demi VOLLERING [NED] Team SD Worx 03:44:40

8 Sheyla GUTIERREZ RUIZ [ESP] Movistar Team 03:44:41

9 Elena CECCHINI [ITA] Team SD Worx 03:44:41

10 Hannah BARNES [GBR] Canyon SRAM Racing 03:44:41

11 Sofia BERTIZZOLO [ITA] Liv Racing 03:44:41

12 Josie NELSON [GBR] Team Coop – Hitec Products 03:44:41

13 Amy PIETERS [NED] Team SD Worx 03:44:41

14 Leah KIRCHMANN [CAN] Team DSM 03:44:41

15 Juliette LABOUS [FRA] Team DSM 03:44:41

16 Christine MAJERUS [LUX] Team SD Worx 03:44:41

17 Chantal BLAAK [NED] Team SD Worx 03:44:41

18 Eugénie DUVAL [FRA] FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope 03:44:41

19 Elise CHABBEY [SUI] Canyon SRAM Racing 03:44:41

20 Aude BIANNIC [FRA] Movistar Team 03:44:41

21 Eugenia BUJAK [SLO] Ale BTC Ljubljana 03:44:41

22 Soraya PALADIN [ITA] Liv Racing 03:44:41

23 Ella HARRIS [NZL] Canyon SRAM Racing 03:44:41

24 Joscelin LOWDEN [GBR] Drops – Le Col S/B TEMPUR 03:44:41

25 Pien LIMPENS [NED] Parkhotel Valkenburg 03:44:41

26 Natalie GRINCZER [GBR] CAMS – Basso 03:44:41

27 Evita MUZIC [FRA] FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope 03:44:41

28 Mischa BREDEWOLD [NED] Parkhotel Valkenburg 03:44:41

29 Abi SMITH [GBR] Team TIBCO – Silicon Valley Bank 03:44:41

30 Sophie WRIGHT [GBR] Ale BTC Ljubljana 03:44:41

31 Nicole FRAIN [AUS] Team TIBCO – Silicon Valley Bank 03:44:41

32 Anna SHACKLEY [GBR] Team SD Worx 03:44:41

33 Ane SANTESTEBAN GONZALEZ [ESP] Team BikeExchange 03:44:41

34 Lauren STEPHENS [USA] Team TIBCO – Silicon Valley Bank 03:44:41

35 Victorie GUILMAN [FRA] FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope 03:44:41

36 Jade WIEL [FRA] FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope 03:44:41

37 Hayley SIMMONDS [GBR] CAMS – Basso 03:44:41

38 Lourdes OYARBIDE JIMENEZ [ESP] Movistar Team 03:44:41

39 Elisa BALSAMO [ITA] Valcar – Travel & Service 03:44:41

40 Alice BARNES [GBR] Canyon SRAM Racing 03:44:41

41 Chiara CONSONNI [ITA] Valcar – Travel & Service 03:44:41

42 Ilaria SANGUINETI [ITA] Valcar – Travel & Service 03:44:41

43 Jelena ERIC [SRB] Movistar Team 03:44:41

44 Liane LIPPERT [GER] Team DSM 03:44:41

45 Ingvild GÅSKJENN [NOR] Team Coop – Hitec Products 03:44:41

46 Pfeiffer GEORGI [GBR] Team DSM 03:44:41

47 Jeanne KOREVAAR [NED] Liv Racing 03:44:41

48 Lucy KENNEDY [AUS] Team BikeExchange 03:45:07

49 Elizabeth DEIGNAN [GBR] Trek – Segafredo 03:45:07

50 Maaike BOOGAARD [NED] Ale BTC Ljubljana 03:45:16

51 Amber VAN DER HULST [NED] Parkhotel Valkenburg 03:45:58

52 Femke MARKUS [NED] Parkhotel Valkenburg 03:46:00

53 Danielle CHRISTMAS [GBR] Drops – Le Col S/B TEMPUR 03:46:00

54 Janneke ENSING [NED] Team BikeExchange 03:46:05

55 Veronica EWERS [USA] Team TIBCO – Silicon Valley Bank 03:46:13

56 Connie HAYES [GBR] AWOL O’Shea 03:46:26

57 April TACEY [GBR] Drops – Le Col S/B TEMPUR 03:47:43

58 Kirstie VAN HAAFTEN [NED] Parkhotel Valkenburg 03:47:43

59 Margaux VIGIE [FRA] Valcar – Travel & Service 03:47:43

60 Anna CHRISTIAN [GBR] Drops – Le Col S/B TEMPUR 03:47:44

61 Alice LETHBRIDGE [GBR] AWOL O’Shea 03:47:44

62 Becky STORRIE [GBR] CAMS – Basso 03:47:44

63 Elena PIRRONE [ITA] Valcar – Travel & Service 03:47:47

64 Femke GERRITSE [NED] Parkhotel Valkenburg 03:47:52

65 Audrey CORDON RAGOT [FRA] Trek – Segafredo 03:47:58

66 Trixi WORRACK [GER] Trek – Segafredo 03:47:58

67 Mari Hole MOHR [NOR] Team Coop – Hitec Products 03:47:58

68 Teniel CAMPBELL [TTO] Team BikeExchange 03:47:58

69 Alicia GONZALEZ BLANCO [ESP] Movistar Team 03:47:58

70 Gloria RODRIGUEZ SANCHEZ [ESP] Movistar Team 03:47:58

71 Lorena WIEBES [NED] Team DSM 03:48:28

72 Megan JASTRAB [USA] Team DSM 03:50:15

73 Maria Apolonia VAN ‘T GELOOF [NED] Drops – Le Col S/B TEMPUR 03:50:19

74 Jessica FINNEY [GBR] CAMS – Basso 03:56:43

75 Katie SCOTT [GBR] CAMS – Basso 03:56:43

76 Alice TOWERS [GBR] Drops – Le Col S/B TEMPUR 03:56:43

77 Phoebe MARTIN [GBR] AWOL O’Shea 03:56:43

78 Hannah BAYES [GBR] AWOL O’Shea 03:56:43

79 Francesca MORGANS-SLADER [GBR] AWOL O’Shea 03:56:46

80 Emma EDWARDS [USA] CAMS – Basso 03:56:46

81 Caroline ANDERSSON [SWE] Team Coop – Hitec Products 03:56:46

82 Olivia BENT [GBR] AWOL O’Shea 03:56:46

83 Jessica ALLEN [AUS] Team BikeExchange 03:56:49

84 Maelle GROSSETETE [FRA] FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope 03:56:49

85 Evy KUIJPERS [NED] Liv Racing 03:56:49

86 Pernille Larsen FELDMANN [NOR] Team Coop – Hitec Products 03:56:52

SIGMA SPORTS POINTS JERSEY

Marta BASTIANELLI [ITA] Ale BTC Ljubljana 15pts

1 Marta BASTIANELLI [ITA] Ale BTC Ljubljana 15pts

2 Chloe HOSKING [AUS] Trek – Segafredo 12pts

3 Clara COPPONI [FRA] FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope 9pts

4 Sheyla GUTIERREZ RUIZ [ESP] Movistar Team 7pts

5 Elena CECCHINI [ITA] Team SD Worx 6pts

6 Hannah BARNES [GBR] Canyon SRAM Racing 5pts

7 Sofia BERTIZZOLO [ITA] Liv Racing 4pts

8 Josie NELSON [GBR] Team Coop – Hitec Products 3pts

9 Amy PIETERS [NED] Team SD Worx 2pts

10 Leah KIRCHMANN [CAN] Team DSM 1pt

SKODA QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS JERSEY

1 Demi VOLLERING [NED] Team SD Worx 7

1 Demi VOLLERING [NED] Team SD Worx 7

2 Janneke ENSING [NED] Team BikeExchange 6

3 Alison JACKSON [CAN] Liv Racing 5

4 Elise CHABBEY [SUI] Canyon SRAM Racing 4

5 Chiara CONSONNI [ITA] Valcar – Travel & Service 3

6 Joscelin LOWDEN [GBR] Drops – Le Col S/B TEMPUR 2

7 Evita MUZIC [FRA] FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope 2

8 Femke MARKUS [NED] Parkhotel Valkenburg 2

9 Ane SANTESTEBAN GONZALEZ [ESP] Team BikeExchange 1

10 Liane LIPPERT [GER] Team DSM 1

ISBERG SPRINTS JERSEY

1 Nina KESSLER [NED] Team TIBCO – Silicon Valley Bank 6pts

1 Nina KESSLER [NED] Team TIBCO – Silicon Valley Bank 6pts

2 Sarah ROY [AUS] Team BikeExchange 3pts

3 Alison JACKSON [CAN] Liv Racing 2pts

4 Demi VOLLERING [NED] Team SD Worx 1pts

Stage 2 Preview

Walsall will welcome the Women’s Tour, the world’s leading international women’s cycle race, for the first time in 2021.

Stage two will start at the Walsall Arboretum, the area’s famous Victorian park, and culminate with a finish on Lichfield Street in the heart of the town and in the shadows of Walsall Town Hall. However, action aplenty is guaranteed on the 10-kilometre clockwise circuit around Hayhead Woods, Barr Beacon nature reserve and Pool Green that will be tackled 10 times.

The circuit will include three intermediate sprints at Barr Common (on laps four, six and eight) as well as offering points towards the ŠKODA Queen of the Mountains competition atop the Barr Beacon climb (1.2km long, maximum gradient of 5.7%) on laps five, seven and nine. A thrilling run in to the line is guaranteed, as the top of the climb on lap 10 comes just 6.5 largely downhill kilometres from the finish. In total the stage measures 103 kilometres (64 miles).

Walsall will become only the third venue – after both Stoke-on-Trent and Chesterfield in 2017 – in history to welcome both the start and finish of a Women’s Tour road stage on the same day.

Stage 2 Timetable

ROUTE DETAILS							ESTIMATED TIMETABLE
kms	kms to go	Miles	Miles to go	Feature	Instruction	Description	Base Speed	35	38	42
							Base Speed	110%	100%	90%
							Duration	02:57	02:41	02:25
0.00	4.20	0.00	2.50	Start Neutralised		Arboretum, Walsall	38	11:30	11:30	11:30
0.00	102.2	0.00	63.6	Start Proper		A454 Walsall Road	38	11:45	11:45	11:45
0.4	101.8	0.2	63.3	T.Lights	Right	A4154 Bosty Lane	38	11:45	11:45	11:45
0.8	101.4	0.5	63.1			Green Zone in operation from Race Start	38	11:46	11:46	11:46
1.9	100.3	1.2	62.4	Sprint		Laps 4, 6 & 8	38	11:48	11:48	11:47
2.5	99.7	1.6	62.0	R/about	3rd Exit	Erdington Road	38	11:49	11:48	11:48
3.2	99.0	2.0	61.6	R/about	2nd Exit	Aldridge Road	38	11:50	11:50	11:49
4.4	97.8	2.7	60.8	X.Roads	Right	Bride Lane	38	11:52	11:51	11:51
4.4	97.8	2.7	60.8	QoM	Start		38	11:52	11:51	11:51
5.7	96.5	3.5	60.0	QoM Cat 3	Finish	Laps 5,7 & 9	38	11:54	11:54	11:53
5.7	96.5	3.5	60.0	T.Junction	Right	B4154 Beacon Lane	38	11:54	11:54	11:53
6.8	95.4	4.2	59.3	Junction	Left	Little Johnsons Lane	38	11:56	11:55	11:54
7.0	95.2	4.4	59.2	T.Junction	Left	B4151 Sutton Road	38	11:57	11:56	11:54
8.6	93.6	5.3	58.2	Junction	Right	Longwood Lane	38	11:59	11:58	11:57
9.7	92.5	6.0	57.5	R/about	2nd Exit	A454 Walsall Road	38	12:01	12:00	11:58
10.0	92.2	6.2	57.3			1 x full circuit of 9	38	12:02	12:00	11:59
98.6	3.6	61.3	2.2		Straight	Exit Circuit B4151 Sutton Road	38	14:36	14:20	14:05
100.2	2.0	62.3	1.2	R/about	2nd Exit	Sutton Road	38	14:39	14:23	14:07
101.1	1.1	62.9	0.7	R/about	2nd Exit	Springhill Road Keep Left!	38	14:40	14:24	14:08
101.4	0.8	63.1	0.5	R/about	2nd Exit	Ablewell Street	38	14:41	14:25	14:09
101.5	0.7	63.1	0.4	T.Lights	Straight	Ablewell Street Caution! Against One Way!	38	14:41	14:25	14:09
101.7	0.5	63.2	0.3	T.Lights	Straight	Bridge Street	38	14:41	14:25	14:09
101.7	0.5	63.2	0.3	T.Lights	Straight	Bridge Street	38	14:41	14:25	14:09
101.9	0.3	63.4	0.2		Keep Right	Lichfield Street	38	14:41	14:25	14:09
102.2	0.0	63.6	0.0	Finish		Lichfield Street, Walsall	38	14:42	14:26	14:10

Stage 2 Map

Stage 2 Race Profile

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