Jolien D,Hoore & Elinor Barker Womens Tour 2015 – Stage 2 Interview by Cycling Shorts
Jolien D,Hoore (Wiggle Honda) & Elinor Barker (Matrix Fitness) talk to the press after stage 2 of the Women’s Tour 2015.
Jolien D,Hoore (Wiggle Honda) & Elinor Barker (Matrix Fitness) talk to the press after stage 2 of the Women’s Tour 2015.
Read the full stage 2 report, results and view the race gallery here.
All Image ©www.chrismaher.co.uk / CyclingShorts.cc
The start of the Aviva Womens Tour 2015 got off to a ‘smashing’ start for Lizzie Armitstead and members of the media, not quite the finish everyone was anticipating.
With the profile of the 110km stage it looked like it would end in a bunch sprint but with QoM’s points to contest just before the finish there could be an upset.
Some of the big name riders in the hunt for a win were Bronzini and Armitstead, with their teams Wiggle Honda and Boels Dolman respectively keeping the pace high.
Katie Archibald, Pearl Izumi, “I think this race has been designed with the TV in mind with possible bunch sprint finishes. Stage 4 has a really technical finish but we hope to have everyone fighting it out to the end. My role in the team will be to sprint with the other Katie [Curtis], we will be looking for that kick at the end, Sarah Storey and Ciara Horne will be our main climbers.”
Archibald hit the deck approaching the first QoM (Queen of the Mountains) but Joanna Rowsell hung back to help her Pearl Izumi sprinter back into the pack, once she’d been seen by the race doctor. Armitstead looked to control the pace heading towards the QoM with Sharon Laws (last years QoM winner). Susanna Zorzi of Lotto Soudal unfortunately got a flat at the bottom of the climb.
6 pojnts went to Melissa Hoskins of Orica with Anouska Koster hot on her heels for the 5 points.
Lizzie Armitstead, “My form is good, I had a mini season break in May came back with two wins, I won the Tour of Qatar, I’ll take that confidence into the sprints but a much more lumpy race would really suit me.”
Orica AIS rider Emma Johansson, “ I’ve just come out of a tour in Spain that was really successful for me, I came away with 3 wins, I don’t feel like there is any pressure on me, I’m just gonna enjoy every day.”
The first sprint points were contested by a group of four riders but Coryn Rivera (UHC) won the sprint gaining the first 3 points of the tour followed by Marta Tagliaferro (2 points) and Elinor Barker (1 point).
Hannah Barnes UHC, “ I’m mostly looking at stage wins this Tour, last year was good with two top fours, Coryn and I are on form so the team is hoping to have a really good week.”
USA’s Heather Fischer took a nasty fall in the race for the second sprint, Tagliaferro took maximum points followed by Barker and Rivera.
Laura Trott, Matrix Fitness, “It went well at the Tour Series and the Milk Race for me, these stages are a bit longer than an hour race, two of the stages are 140km which isn’t what we train for, as long as I can get to the finish I think I can do ok.”
A five rider breakaway was established as the second QoM loomed ahead, the group consisted of the previous sprint contest riders, they were joined by Katie Archibald, and Coryn Rivera’s UHC team mate Katie Hall who was sitting on the back wheel waiting to pounce. The peloton chase was being led by Wiggle Honda with a 3 minute gap to the leaders at one point. Another gap developed as Katie Archibald struggled with the climb and was distanced from her breakaway companions. The UHC riders took the top two points available as the QoM summit (Katie Hall 6pts and Coryn Rivera 5pts). Archibald was last over the line for the breakaway taking 2 points as she started to slip slowly backwards, eventually when the peloton arrived at the QoM’s Sharon Laws mopped up the remaining point uncontested.
Giorgia Bronzini, Wiggle Honda, “For me and my team this race is a big goal, we are here with good riders and we are prepared for every solution that can be in the race.”
The leading group was down to four riders with 10km’s to go. Orica snd Wiggle had raised the pace on the front of the peloton and the lead groups advantage of 2 minutes 45 was eroded to 55 seconds.
Lisa Brennauer of Velcro SRAM, “I think there are more possibilities for a sprinter than just the bunch sprint this tour, I hope it’s going to be exciting and not predictable as to who’s going to win.”
With 5km’s to go the lead group were dangling like a carrot in front of the hungry peloton.
With 2km to go the race became exposed to the crosswinds of the coast with those hiding in the peloton at an advantage.
Under the Flame rouge and the breakaway was hanging in by a thread. They were quickly absorbed into the peloton. The sprinters came to the front and immediately Armitstead, Frapporti, Brennauer and Johansson showed their form. Crossing the line first was Lizzie Armitstead with Lisa Brennauer 2nd, and Emma Johansson 3rd.
The days spills didn’t end there, moments after the win Lizzie appeared to swerve to her left and in doing so hit a number of the press photographers, CyclingShorts.cc Chris Maher was one of them, they fell like a pack of cards. The photographers were in their correct position along with race organisers. Currently nothing is known about why Lizzie lost control of her bike but she went down very hard. She was rushed to hospital with a suspected broken femur, she was released later luckily with nothing more serious than bruises. Lizzie thanked everyone for their concern and also thanked the NHS staff who treated her.
Armitstead has a 4 second lead after stage one with a time of 2h39’43”. We wish Lizzie well and hope she’s able to defend her jersey tomorrow.
Stage One | Bury St Edmonds to Alderburgh
U23 – Coryn Rivera
Best British – Lizzie Armitstead
Points – Lizzie Armitstead
Queen of the Mountains – Katie Hall
Team – UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling
Useful Links…
Twitter www.twitter.com/thewomenstour Event Hashtag #AvivaWT2015
Facebook www.facebook.com/thewomenstour
Instagram www.instagram.com/thetourcycling
YouTube www.youtube.com/thetourcycling
Aviva Women’s Tour Women’s Tour
Thursday 18th June 2015 | Stage Two | Braintree to Clacton
Words by Anna, Images by Chris Maher
All Images ©www.chrismaher.co.uk / CyclingShorts.cc
Aviva Womens Tour 2015 – Final Start List
It was more than the warm sunshine that welcomed the ninety four riders on to the stage in Bury St Edmonds, for the Aviva Women’s Tour 2015.
A large crowd had gathered to watch and listen to each and every team member, as they were presented to the public. Among then, Olympic, World and National Champions from both Road and Track.
Soprano Laura Wright entertained the crowd with a couple of beautifully renditions from her latest album “Sound of Strength”. One was the theme tune from last years Invictus Games.
As each Team arrived to go on stage. They were escorted on by the local school children, whom had designed a banner to present them.
Lisa Brennauer, “The race looks harder than last year, and should make for an exciting race.”
Dame Sarah Storey, “We are always looking for a break to go.” This is her maiden Women’s Tour, and the girls are performing really well both here at home in the UK, and at their recent trip to the Tour Of California.
Lizzie Armitstead, When asked if they (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team) would target a stage win or overall victory. “Yeh! We are going for everything” She laughed. Lizzie went on to say that she wasn’t well last year, but is in good form, and has a super strong team around her.
Most of the girls agree that the longer distances in this years “Women’s Tour” are more favourable to them, and should suit the race leaning towards breaks going away most days. The girls that rode last year also mentioned that the enthusiasm of the crowds and schools that lined the route, were a big bonus to the overall feel-good factor of the Tour, and are hoping for more of the same. They want to hear you all scream and shout as they pass through the towns and villages.
The race starts in Bury St Edmonds at 11:00am June 17th on Angel Hill, after a neutralised start, the race officially gets underway on Airfield Road.
Stage One | Bury St Edmonds to Alderburgh
Useful Links…
Twitter www.twitter.com/thewomenstour
Facebook www.facebook.com/thewomenstour
Instagram www.instagram.com/thetourcycling
YouTube www.youtube.com/thetourcycling
Event Hashtag #AvivaWT2015
Aviva Women’s Tour Women’s Tour
Cycling Shorts
Cycling Shorts will be following this years Aviva Women’s Tour, from beginning to end. You can follow the race daily for information. Today you can find a Provisional Start-Sheet to download, Jerseys to look-out for, and Route Maps. Further Updates will be issued as the Race Day approaches with Daily Reports and exclusive images. Firstly, we will be attending the Team Presentation, where a final Start List will be issued, and we will meet the girls taking part.
The second edition of the Women’s Tour brings on a new title sponsor in Aviva.
The race covers five individual stages, with a total distance of 596.2 kilometres.
There are no less than eleven “National Road Race Champions” due to ride in the Aviva Women’s Tour.
Lisa Brennauer, Germany, Velocio SRAM
Jolien D’hoore, Belgium, Wiggle Honda
Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, France, Rabo Liv
Megan Guarnier, USA, Boels Dolmans
Emma Johansson, Sweden, Orica AIS
Leah Kirchmann, Canada, Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
Lotta Lepistö, Finland, Bigla Pro Cycling
Christine Majerus, Luxembourg, Boels Dolmans
Iris Slappendel, Netherlands, Bigla Pro Cycling
Laura Trott, Great Britain, Matrix Fitness
Linda Villumsen, New Zealand, UnitedHeathcare Pro Cycling
There are sixteen Teams comprising of six Team Members, competing in this years Tour. They will be presented to the Public on Tuesday 16th June in Bury St Edmonds one at a time from 5.30pm until 7pm.
Aviva Women’s Tour Rider List 2015 – Provisional
1730, Lotto Soudal
51 Susanna Zorzi ITA
52 Lieselot Decroix BEL
53 Chantal Hoffmann LUX
54 Anouk Rijff NED
55 Carlee Taylor AUS
56 Sarah Rijkes AUT
1735, Ale Cipollini
11 Beatrice Bartelloni ITA
12 Elena Berlato ITA
13 Maria Giulia Confalonieri ITA
14 Annalisa Cucinotta ITA
15 Arianna Fidanza ITA
16 Simona Frapporti ITA
1740, Team Liv Plantur
111 Lucy Garner GBR
112 Claudia Lichtenberg GER
113 Sara Mustonen-Lichan SWE
114 Molly Weaver GBR
115 Julia Soek NED
116 Sabrina Stultiens NED
1745, USA
131 Lauren Hall USA
132 Allie Dragoo USA
133 Heather Fischer USA
134 Hannah Ross USA
135 Lauren Komanski USA
136 Lauren Stephens USA
1750, Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International
91 Dame Sarah Storey GBR
92 Katie Archibald GBR
93 Katie Curtis GBR
94 Ciara Horne GBR
95 Joanna Rowsell GBR
96 Gabriella Shaw GBR
1755, Matrix Fitness
61 Laura Trott GBR
62 Elinor Barker GBR
63 Lucy Martin GBR
64 Mel Lowther GBR
65 Kimberley Le Court MAU
66 Helen Wyman GBR
1800, Velocio SRAM
141 Lisa Brennauer GER
142 Tiffany Cromwell AUS
143 Elise Delzenne FRA
144 Barbara Guarischi ITA
145 Loren Rowney AUS
146 Trixi Worrack GER
1805, Rabo Liv
1 Pauline Ferrand-Prevot FRA
2 Thalita De Jong NED
3 Anna Knauer GER
4 Roxanne Knetemann NED
5 Anouska Koster NED
6 Moniek Tenniglo NED
1810, Intermission
1820, Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
71 Leah Kirchmann CAN
72 Annie Ewart CAN
73 Ariane Horbach GER
74 Maura Kinsella USA
75 Alexxa Albrecht CAN
76 Brianna Walle USA
1825, Wiggle Honda
151 Giorgia Bronzini ITA
152 Audrey Cordon FRA
153 Jolien D’hoore BEL
154 Dani King GBR
155 Elisa Longo Borghini ITA
156 Annette Edmonson AUS
1830, Poitou Charentes – Futuroscope-86
101 Aude Biannic FRA
102 Charlotte Bravard FRA
103 Eugenie Duval FRA
104 Roxane Fournier FRA
105 Pascale Jeuland FRA
106 Amelie Rivat FRA
1835, Germany
41 Stephanie Pohl GER
42 Lisa Küllmer GER
43 Kathrin Hammes GER
44 Corinna Lechner GER
45 Madeleine Ortmüller GER
46 Gudrun Stock GER
1840, Bigla Pro Cycling
21 Sharon Laws GBR
22 Emilie Aubry SUI
23 Vera Koedooder NED
24 Caroline Baur SUI
25 Lotta Lepestö FIN
26 Iris Slappendel NED
1845, UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
121 Hannah Barnes GBR
122 Rushlee Buchanan NZL
123 Katie Hall USA
124 Coryn Rivera USA
125 Alexis Ryan USA
126 Linda Villumsen NZL
1850, Orica AIS
81 Emma Johansson SWE
82 Gracie Elvin AUS
83 Alexandra Manly AUS
84 Melissa Hoskins AUS
85 Chloe McConville AUS
86 Sarah Roy AUS
1855, Boels Dolmans
31 Lizzie Armitstead GBR
32 Megan Guarnier USA
33 Romy Kasper GER
34 Christine Majerus LUX
35 Kasia Pawlowska POL
36 Amalie Dideriksen DEN
You can catch daily TV highlights every evening on ITV4 at 20.00pm on the day of each stage. Repeated the following morning.
Wednesday 17th June 2015
The race starts in Bury St Edmonds at 11:00am June 17th on Angel Hill, after a neutralised start, the race officially gets underway on Airfield Road.
Stage One | Bury St Edmonds to Alderburgh
Useful Links…
Twitter www.twitter.com/thewomenstour Event Hashtag #AvivaWT2015
Facebook www.facebook.com/thewomenstour
Instagram www.instagram.com/thetourcycling
YouTube www.youtube.com/thetourcycling
Aviva Women’s Tour Women’s Tour
Canary Wharf
The Championship took a twist in Canary Wharf, when Tom Stewart (Madison Genesis) crashed early-on in round eight.
Dropping back by around half a lap, Stewart had put Series Leaders Madison Genesis under pressure, as close rivals ONE Pro Cycling, took advantage of the situation.
Being a five man team event this year, meant that all the riders finishing positions, accounted for the final tally on the day.
Madison Genesis took a gamble and sent the rest of their team back to help pace Stewart and themselves back into contention for the overall title.
ONE Pro Cycling turned up the heat, and all five team-members turbo-charged their way to victory for Round Eight. NFTO Pro Cycling’s Steele Von Hoff took the individual win.
This seemed like a great opportunity at the time, but had detrimental effect on the points tally for the evening. Because Madison Genesis has chased hard as a team to get back into the race, the other teams were less fortunate, as their men had been blown out of the race and ended the evening a lap behind.
Madison Genesis, hadn’t lost the leadership after-all. But ONE Pro Cycling had ebbed a little closer.
Peterborough
Going into the penultimate round in Peterborough, ONE Pro Cycling had closed the gap in the leadership battle to with-in one point.
The race got underway on a flat, fast 1.1Km circuit in Cathedral Square at 7.30pm.
ONE Pro Cycling’s Marcin Bialoblocki started the nights action after the two neutral laps and clipped off the front of the peloton, where he stayed, taking the first of the Chain Reaction Points that were on offer.
Pedal Heaven’s Alex Paton took-up the lead soon after, but didn’t get too far either.
The race settled down after that, where Team Raleigh GAC’s Morgan Kneisky took the next set of Chain Reaction Points with Jon Mould second, then former title holder Tom Stewart third.
Team Raleigh GAC then controlled the latter part of the race, with Steve Lampier gaining a hundred or so metres, as his team-mates defended Kneisky’s Points Jersey challenge sweeping up most of the points between them.
As the race approached the final five laps, a seven man group formed including Track Olympic Champion Ed Clancy, who’s team had won last seasons Tour Series.
Team Raleigh GAC’s Morgan Kneisky went for a long one, covering a couple of laps before been caught by Chris Lawless and Dave McGowan. The chasers then re-formed with a lap and a half to go.
Pedal Heaven’s Dave McGowen broke free once more, and looked like he would go all the way to the end. But JLT Condor presented by Mavic’s Ed Clancy had other ideas and sprinted past McGowan with only fifty metres to go. Clancy claimed his second win of this series, his third in Peterborough.
NFTO’s Steel Von Hoff took second, with Madison Genesis’s Tobyn Horton third.
ONE Pro Cycling’s Marcin Bialoblocki took the bunch sprint over half a minuet down.
A considerable amount of time went by before confirmation of the Championship lead was announced. It became evident that the top two positions were on equal points, so a count-back was in process to decide who would wear the Leaders Jerseys going in-to the final battle in round ten, in Bath.
ONE Pro Cycling were the new Championship Leaders.
Individual Classification
1 Ed Clancy JLT Condor presented by Mavic
2 Steele Von Hoff NFTO
3 Tobyn Horton Madison Genesis
4 Yanto Barker ONE Pro Cycling
5 David McGowan Pedal Heaven
6 Morgan Kneisky Team Raleigh GAC
7 Chris Lawless Team WIGGINS
8 Marcin Bialoblocki ONE Pro Cycling
9 Mark McNally Madison Genesis
10 Jon Mould ONE Pro Cycling
Team Classification Overall
1 ONE Pro Cycling 102
2 Madison Genesis 102
3 Pedal Heaven 84
4 Team Raleigh GAC 70
5 NFTO Pro Cycling 60
6 SportGrub Kuota 52
7 Velosure Starley Primal 48
8 JLT Condor presented by Mavic 45
9 Team WIGGINS 31
Costa Express Fastest Lap, Yanto Barker, ONE Pro Cycling in 1:20.990
Chain Reaction Cycles Points Classification Overall
1 Morgan Kneisky Team Raleigh GAC 71
2 Tom Stewart Madison Genesis 60
3 Jon Mould ONE Pro Cycling 46
4 Kristian House JLT Condor 46
Bath
The epic battle for the Championship Win was over before the race had really began in Bath.
ONE Pro Cycling’s Yanto Barker’s mechanical failure saw him retire from the race soon after, in effect, relinquishing the Title to Madison Genesis.
Marcin Bialoblocki went on to win the race on the night, giving ONE Pro Cycling something out of the days racing.
Bath has proven to be a difficult and hard circuit to race around, with a beautiful backdrop for the Series finale. Should the Series return for another round next year, then a different approach may be required.
Mike Bennett, the race director said that he was pleased with the overall Series and new format. Saying that the team managers would need to re-think their strategy’s for overall contention.
All-in-all, the points system has proven to add additional impetus to the race dynamics and I think it will be retained for the 2016 Championship Battle!
Individual Classification
1 Marcin Bialoblocki ONE Pro Cycling
2 Tobyn Horton Madison Genesis
3 Kristian House JLT Condor presented by Mavic
4 Steele Von Hoff NFTO Pro Cycling
5 Morgan Kneisky Team Raleigh GAC
Team Classification Overall & Pearl Izumi Tour Series Championship Title Holder 2015
1 Madison Genesis 112
2 ONE Pro Cycling 108
3 Pedal Heaven 93
4 Team Raleigh GAC 78
5 NFTO Pro Cycling 62
6 SportGrub Kuota 57
7 Velosure Starley Primal 55
8 JLT Condor presented by Mavic 49
9 Team WIGGINS 34
Costa Express Fastest Lap, ED Clancy, JLT Condor presented by Mavic, 1:53.864
Chain Reaction Cycles Points Classification Overall
1 Morgan Kneisky Team Raleigh GAC 84
2 Tom Stewart Madison Genesis 64
3 Kristian House JLT Condor 54
4 Jon Mould ONE Pro Cycling 48
5 Marcin Bialoblocki ONE Pro Cycling 40
Full Official Race Results http://www.tourseries.co.uk/home.php
Images ©www.chrismaher.co.uk / CyclingShorts.cc
JLT Condor presented by Mavic clinch the 1-2 on the cobbled streets of round 5 in Durham.
Arguably the toughest round of the Pearl Izumi Tour Series, the cobbled climb is every two minutes or so, and is a circuit you either love or loath!
Ed Clancy “I love the City, but I hate the circuit” he told the crowd after the finish.
Returning to the Cathedral City of Durham for the sixth consecutive year. It’s one of the most popular rounds for the spectators to watch.
The race got underway with two neutral laps, before starting the 30 or so expected ascends of South Street!
Several attempts were made by ONE Pro Cycling, Starley Primal & JLT Condor to make a break stick.
JLT Condor’s Richard Handley made that break, easing away every lap until he started picking up back markers.
Jon Mould, ONE Pro Cycling lead the peloton around, with Madison Genesis also helping to reel-in the escapee, whilst Round Four winner and team-mate Kristian House marshalled the moves.
Team WIGGINS strongest man Chris Lawless, helped chase down Handley, as the group dwindled down to ten.
With three laps left, the back markers were with-drawn, leaving only ten riders on the circuit.
Handley had almost caught the main group on the final lap, but House & Lawless were around half a lap behind.
An easy win for Handley in the end, with House sprinting into second, to make it a JLT Condor presented by Mavic 1-2. Lawless resigned his-self to third, whilst Scully beat Mould to the line for fourth.
Clancy, losing steam early on, in the race, gathered enough strength to blast around the course for the Quickest Lap contest. Whilst Handley had mopped up the Chain Reaction Points leading most of the nights race.
Madison Genesis retain the Pearl Izumi Leaders Jerseys once more going into tomorrows Round Six, in Barrow-in-Furness.
Durham Individual Top Ten Results
1: Richard Handley JLT Condor presented by Mavic
2: Kristian House JLT Condor presented by Mavic
3: Chris Lawless Team WIGGINS
4: Tom Scully Madison Genesis
5: Jon Mould ONE Pro Cycling
6: Marcin Bialoblocki ONE Pro Cycling
7: Tom Stewart Madison Genesis
8: Adria Moreno Sala Velosure Starley Primal
9: Steve Lampier Team Raleigh GAC
10: Stephen WilliamsPedal Heaven
Durham Team Classification
1: ONE Pro Cycling
2: Madison Genesis
3: Pedal Heaven
4: NFTO Pro Cycling
5: Velosure Starley Primal
6: JLT Condor presented by Mavic
7: Team Raleigh GAC
8: SportGrub Kuota
9: Team WIGGINS
Costa Express Fastest Lap: Ed Clancy – JLT Condor presented by Mavic 2:00.560
Chain Reaction Cycles Points: Richard Handley – JLT Condor presented by Mavic
Team Leader board after round 5
1: Madison Genesis
2: ONE Pro Cycling
3: Pedal Heaven
Full Official Race Results http://www.tourseries.co.uk/home.php
Join our mailing list to receive the latest cycling news and updates from our team. Receive 10% off your first order placed in our online shop!
You must be logged in to post a comment.