Chloe Hosking wins Warwickshire stage of OVO Women’s Tour
Alé Cipollini’s Australian Chloe Hosking sprinted to victory in Royal Leamington Spa at the end of the third stage of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour, as WM3 Pro Cycling’s Katarzyna Niewiadoma retained her hold on the race leader’s OVO Energy Green Jersey.
Hosking came off Giorgia Bronzini’s wheel with around 100-metres to go on the Parade in Leamington Spa with only Drops rider Alice Barnes providing a challenge on the long, straight gently rising drag to the finish line.
It feels really great, this is a highlight race for most riders on the calendar so I feel really privileged to come away with my first win and first podium here. It’s a phenomenal event, I feel like I’ve entered an elite group!
It seemed like a number of the teams wanted the finish to be from the group. There was a group of five that got away and for me that was a bit worrying. There were girls like Shara Gillow and Gracie Elvin – both Australians, both really, really strong – and the course wasn’t dead flat. It took a bit of effort to drag them in. Once we caught them everybody switched their mindset to a bunch sprint. It was a bit chaotic, which is strange because it was probably the least technical finish we have all week. But it was nice that the sprinters got a chance.
Behind Hosking came Alice Barnes, retaking the Adams Best British riders jersey from her sister Hannah, who was sixth, with the pair now sitting third and fourth overall, both 1-minute and 46-seconds back from Niewiadoma.
Thanks to time bonuses Ellen Van Dijk, third on the stage, moves up to second overall, 1-minute and 43-seconds behind Niewiadoma with two stages remaining.
It was another hard stage, but not as hard as yesterday, All teams were expecting a bunch sprint and they wanted to take their chance. At one point a breakaway of five riders was clear but I was pretty calm as I knew that they were not competitors for me on GC. My team controlled the whole race. After the two SKODA Queen of the Mountains climbs other teams were eager to help at the front to chase them down and take a big bunch to the finish line. It was a long day for sure – 150 kilometres – but I really enjoyed it. It’s so nice in the UK, I have to admit. The scenery is really beautiful.
Interview – Alice Barnes, Best British Rider Stage 3 OVO Womens Tour by Cycling Shorts
Alice Barnes of Drops Cycling talks to the media after taking control of the Best British Rider Jersey after Stage 3 of the OVO Womens Tour. Image ©www.chrismaher.couk | www.cyclingshorts.cc
Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, the leading young rider in the UCI Women’s World Tour briefly threatened Niewiadoma’s leading as the best placed of five riders who hit the front and built an almost two-minute lead, but were finally reigned back in at five kilometres to go, setting up the thrilling sprint finish.
While Niewiadoma kept her OVO Energy Green Jersey and Wiggle Points Jersey for WM3 Pro Cycling, some shine was taken off the day as teammate Marianne Vos fell to fifth overall and was unable to contest the finish after crashing within the final 500-metres.
Wiggle HIGH5 kept the SKODA Queen of the Mountains jersey with Audrey Cordon-Ragot, now seven points clear of Lucinda Brand, while the team also took the Eisberg Sprints Jersey thanks to Jolien D’hoore who picked up points at both intermediate sprints in Kenilworth and Wellesbourne.
Interview – Katarzyna Niewadoma Green Jersey Holder OVO Women’s Tour – Stage 3 by Cycling Shorts
Katarzyna Niewadoma, the Green Jersey Holder in the OVO Women’s Tour chats to the media at the end of Stage 3. Image ©www.chrismaher.co.uk | www.cyclingshorts.cc
Interview – Chloe Hoskins Stage 3 Winner – OVO Women’s Tour by Cycling Shorts
Chloe Hoskins winner of Stage 3 – OVO Women’s Tour chats to the media after her win. Image ©www.chrismaher.co.uk | www.cyclingshorts.cc
Highlights of the third stage of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour are on ITV4 at 23:00 on Friday 9 June, with a repeat at 08:55 the following morning on the same channel. The highlights will also be available on demand via the ITV Hub catch-up service.
Saturday 10 June sees Stage Four of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour starting and finishing in the centre of Chesterfield, where Lizzie Deignan won a stage in 2016. The 123-kilometre route takes place entirely within Derbyshire, taking in Wirksworth, Belper and Bolsover before the finish in the heart of Chesterfield town centre.
One week after the OVO Energy Women’s Tour, amateur cyclists will have the chance to ride sections of the Northamptonshire route in the Tour Ride, the official sportive of the race on Sunday 18 June. Riders can take part in 40 or 80-mile routes, starting and finishing at Delapre Abbey in Northamptonshire, or tackle a fun, 10-mile Family Ride. For more details visit www.tourride.co.uk
Stage 3 Results
- Results - Stage 3
- Points Jersey Stage 3
- QoM Stage 3
- Sprint Stage 3
- Team Results Stage 3
- Best British Rider Stage 3
Overall Standings
Chris Maher
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Based in the North East of England; photographer Chris Maher specialises in sports photography with his main interests in Cycling and Super Bikes. Chris has covered sports events from local and national level right up to the Olympics for CyclingShorts.cc.
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