|
|
|
|
The Women's Tour
Preview |
|
|
|
|
|
Despite being only the second
edition the Women's Tour is already one of the biggest and
most important races on the calendar. Its position on the
calendar has moved and the mid June date sees it an important
warm up race for the European National Championships and the
Giro Rosa.
As you would expect all the big teams are here. The top six
teams Rabo, Boels Dolmans, Wiggle, Velocio-SRAM, Bigla and
Orica-AIS line up. 12 of the top 13 squads will start the race
with only Hitec Products absent. Reigning Time Trial World Champion Lisa Brennauer are here as is
Junior Road World Champion Amalie Dideriksen. Team Pursuit
World Champion Melissa Hoskins, Team Pursuit Omnium World
Champion on the track Nettie Edmondson anmd Junior Individual
and Team Pursuit Champion Alex Manly will also line up.
Last year Emma Johansson took the win on stage one and the
first leaders jersey. A break held off the chase on stage two
with Rossella Ratto crossing the line first and taking the
race lead. The final three stages went to then World Champion
Marianne Vos who also claimed the overall victory ahead of
Johansson with Ratto holding on for third overall.
2014 Results
1 Marianne VOS
2 Emma JOHANSSON +30
3 Rossella RATTO +35
4 Giorgia BRONZINI +38
5 Susanna ZORZI +44
6 Amy PIETERS +50
7 Lucy GARNER +50
8 Hannah BARNES +50
9 Lauren HALL +52
10 Elena CECCHINI +54
Stage 1 - Emma Johansson
Stage 2 - Rossella Ratto
Stage 3 - Marianne Vos
Stage 4 - Marianne Vos
Stage 4 - Marianne Vos
Past Winners
2014 - Marianne Vos
Classifications
Time Bonuses
Intermediate Sprint: 3-2-1 (Top 3)
Finish: 10-6-4 (Top 3)
Points Classification
Intermediate Sprint: 3-2-1 (Top 3)
Finish: 15-12-9-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (Top 10)
QoM
QoM Points: 6-5-4-3-2-1 (Top 6)
All climbs offer the same points.
Young Rider Classification
Born on or after 1 January 1992
The Route
Stage 1
The opening 112.6km stage starts in Bury St Edmunds winding
its way to a finish on the coast in Aldeburgh. The first of
two QoM's is 1.9km and comes in Hemingstone, starting at the
47.8km mark. Expect to see the points chased with the
opportunity to wear the first QoM jersey up for grabs. The two
sprint points are within 10 kilometres of each other the first
in Kesgrave (67.8km) followed by Melton (77.7km). The final
QoM is 1.2km in Snape and starts with just inside 20km
remaining
Stage 2
Second longest stage of the race at 138 kilometres. The first
QoM comes relatively early in the stage after 30.2km. The one
kilometre Finch Hill climb will give riders an opportunity to
chase more QoM points. It is rolling roads for the next 50
kilometres ahead of the two sprint points. Kirby Le Soken and
Great Bentley at the 95.9km and 111.2km points. The final QoM
point is the 1.1km Tenpenny Hill climb with that tops out with
13.9km remaining. The race again finishes on the ocean in
Clacton.
Stage 3
It was a long stage yesterday and stage three is longer,
though only marginally so. At 139.2 kilometres the Oundle to a
lot more climbing than the previous two days it is a chance
for the puncheurs and climbers to try and take one over the
sprinters.
The first sprint comes after 19km in Fotheringhay and expect
the bonus seconds to be chased by those targeting the overall.
After the sprint much of the stage is uphill with little
chance for recovery. Rockingam is the first QoM at 1km it is
short and steep. 20 kilometres later riders reach the second
sprint in Desborough at the 77km mark. The Harrington KoM
starts six kilometres later and while it is short at just 300
metres it doesn't mark the end of the climbing. Undulating
roads continue for much of the remaining stage before a
descent in to the finish. Don't expect to see a full peloton
contesting the finish today.
Stage 4
The penultimate stage starts in Waltham Cross and passes
through Cheshunt the home of Olympic Omnium Champion Laura
Trott. At 103.km the stage is considerably shorter than the
previous two days but it is by no means easy and the two QoM's
are not the only climbs on the course.
The road starts climbing almost immediately and will likely
see riders putting in attacks from the start. The road
descends before a quick rise and the 600m Port Hill QoM after
10.8km. Undulating roads face the peloton for much of the
stage again ahead of the two sprints that again come within
just over 10km of each other. Barkway after 62.1km and Royston
at the 72.6km mark. Expect to see the second sprint closely
fought after not just for potential bonus seconds but
positioning ahead of the steep Therfield Heath QoM. Coming
immediately after the sprint the 900m climb will likely test
the legs of many but with much of the remaining kilometres
downhill riders will have a chance to rejoin. Ahead of the
finish the road kicks up before a quick descent in to
Stevenage proving one last opportunity for riders to attack
and avoid a sprint.
Stage 5
At 102.6 kilometres the final stage is the shortest but it
will not be a procession for the sprinters. It is up and down
all day with little in the way of flat roads. Uphill almost
from the start again and while there is a lot of climbing in
the first half the majority of the action is likely to come in
the final 55 kilometres.
The 1.2km Cryers Hill QoM stats at the 48.1km mark and is
closely followed by the Prestwood sprint after 54km. The final
QoM and sprint point are again closely clustered together.
Tom's Hill Road QoM at 1.1km in length is the last chance to
score QoM points. The Little Gaddesden sprint after 86.5km
could be important with the bonus seconds on offer.
Another uncategorised climb inside the final 10km which will
likely see plenty of attacking from those wanting for avoid a
sprint. With a quick descent in to Hemel Hempsted if a strong
group gets away they could hold on.
The Contenders
Start list available
here
Emma Johansson and Orica-AIS
The Queen of Consistency is back at her best after breaking
her collarbone earlier in the year. Whatever the race you can
be sure Johansson will be around the mark and here is no
different. Won the opening stage last year getting the better
of then World Champion Marianne Vos before going on to finish
second overall. Three wins in the past week have put Johansson
seasons back on track. First the Swedish Champion won
Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria before picking up two stages
and third overall at Euskal Emakumeen Bira, where her only
time loss came in the short prologue.
Johansson is at her best after a hard days racing and with the
field and course here it suits her perfectly. Several of the
stages are up and down all day and should thin out the bunch
but Johansson has prove multiple times can go up against the
fastest finishers in the bunch.
Expect the team to ride for Johansson while giving the other
riders opportunities. After a maiden European win Gracie Elvin
will be full of confidence. Packs a quick finish from a select
group and is capable of putting in strong attacks on the
climb. Look as well to Team Pursuit World Champion Melissa
Hoskins. Hoskins climbs and sprints well and if the
opportunity presents itself can be fighting for the overall
win.
Giorgia Bronzini and Wiggle Honda
It is a home race for the British squad and while Dani King is
the only British rider in the team they will be looking for a
strong result and they bring a team to do it. Two time World
Champion Giorgia Bronzini is back after finishing fourth last
year. It is a team where really any one of them could win in
the right situation and they bring arguably the two fastest
sprinters in the race in Bronzini and Jolien D'hoore.
Bronzini has two wins Molecaten Drentse Acht van Westerveld
and the Tour of Chongming Island World Cup and has largely
been seen playing a support role. D'hoore has had the best
season of her career to date with four wins so far including
Diamond Tour on the weekend. While the field there wasn't
loaded with competition it is a sign of her form after a
nearly two month break.
Audrey Cordon is very strong on rolling terrain and packs a
quick finish, while Ronde van Vlaanderen winner Elisa Longo
Borghini might prefer a slightly hillier route is still very
capable. With a strong team of sprinters the duo are likely to
have their chances off the front allowing their sprinters to
conserve energy in the peloton.
Lizzie Armitstead
On British roads Armitstead will be looking to return to her
best. Became a household name after claiming silver in the
road race at the 2012 Olympics and with the opportunity to
race in the UK expect her to be competing for the win. Was
around the mark last year before being forced to abandon due
to illness.
Armitstead has taken five wins this year including two world
cup rounds Trofeo Alfredo Binda and The Parx Casino Philly
Cycling Classic earlier this month. One of the quickest
finishers in the race and able to handle the climbs. Backed by
a very strong team including Christine Majerus who can also go
well here. Megan Guarnier has been mastering everything and
will no doubt be on the attack on the climbs. Watch out as
well for Junior World Champion Amalie Dideriksen.
Rabo
Two of Rabo Liv's big young talents put in a strong
performance at Frauen Grand Prix Gippingen on the weekend.
Anouska Koster won a two up sprint while Thalita De Jong
rounded out the podium in third. Both are young but are
gaining experience with every race. Neither is a pure sprinter
and the field here is much strong that it was in Switzerland.
Expect to see them on the attack.
Velocio-SRAM
It is another case of who do they ride for. Time Trial World
Champion and road race silver medallist has been a bit quieter
this year than usual and will no doubt be looking to build
form ahead of a defence of her German National titles and the
Giro Rosa. Won the Energiewacht Tour back in May and finished
third at the Diamond Tour on the weekend. The form is there
and with a quick finish can be in contention.
After a consistent start to the year Tiffany Cromwell's form
looks to be improving. The past few weeks have seen her finish
tenth at Winston Salem Cycling Classic, fourth at Grand Prix
Cycliste de Gatineau before helping Brennauer to third at
Diamond Tour and finishing 11th herself. The short climbs are
perfect from Cromwell and her sprinting has been an area she
has been improving the past 12 months.
Italian sprinter Barbara Guarischi can go well in the sprints
and has been very close to a big win this year. The question
is can she get over the climbs if the pace is really on.
Roxane Fournier
The French squad comes here with a very strong team with
several cards to play and two sprinters who are getting
quicker and quicker. Roxane Fournier is a sprinter on the rise
and after some good results in smaller French races those
results are being repeated elsewhere. Fournier won the final
stage and finished second overall at the Tour of Chongming
Island and is not to be discounted.
Pascale Jeuland, Aude Biannic and Amelie Rivat are all riders
who will be important to Fournier's chances in the sprints. If
Fournier cannot hold on over the climbs look to Amelie Rivat.
Matrix Fitness
A home race for the young British team and a race they will be
looking to do well at. While they might not have a standout
favourite for the overall it would be a mistake to discount
them. Reigning British Champion Laura Trott will look to show
off the jersey on home roads for what will probably be the
last time for the moment. A regular winner in the UK but with
the sprinting talent here and the climbing it is a much bigger
test.
Lucy Martin brings experience and a quick finish and could be
contending for a top 10 finish by the end of the race. The
most exciting rider to watch on the team though is Elinor
Barker. Only time will tell how big of a star Elinor Barker
will be.
Lucy Garner and Sabrina Stultiens
At 20 Garner is one of the youngest riders in the women's
peloton but after winning two world titles as a junior a lot
has always been expected of her. Especially after claiming a
stage of the Tour of Chongming Island in 2013 as a first year
professional. Results have been quieter since but is regularly
around the podium. If knee issues are behind her expect to see
her fighting for stage wins and even the overall if she can
hold on on the climbs.
After a late change to the team Sabrina Stultiens has stepped
up in a big way this year. Finished 14th at Fleche Wallonne
Feminine. Earlier this month finished second overall at
Auensteiner-Radsporttage. Handles shorter climbs very well and
might even take the opportunity to attack and while is not
going to beat the pure sprinters has a quick finish.
Hannah Barnes and Coryn Rivera
Can the American UnitedHealthcare squad upstage some of the
biggest names in women's cycling. The much talked about 22
year old Hannah Barnes could step up here and improve on her
eighth overall last year. A third and fourth place stage
finish last year shows she can be up there. Races little in
Europe so is still really to test herself against the best.
Coryn Rivera who like Barnes is just 22 is capable of a strong
showing. Largely thought of as a sprinter but also climbs well
and finished an impressive fifth at The Parx Casino Philly
Cycling Classic. On British roads expect the team to support
Barnes but the combination of Barnes and Rivera will make for
a dangerous combination in the sprints.
Leah Kirchmann
The Canadian Time Trial and Road Race Champion can do a little
bit of everything - climbs, sprints and time trials very well.
A harder course suits her best but even in a bunch sprint can
finish very well. Finished third and ahead of some more
favoured competition at La Course last year behind Vos and
Wild. Has limited experience racing in Europe but has been
consistent all year in North America. Teams will have to keep
an eye on her as she has the potential to upset everyone.
Iris Slappendel
After a mostly quiet 2015 the Dutch Champion produced her best
result of the season last weekend finishing fifth at Frauen
Grand Prix Gippingen. Bigla doesn't really have a pure
sprinter here and Slappendel is a rider who you certainly do
not want to give a big gap is she attacks. Teammate Vera
Koedooder is a rider who usually can't help but attack and
attack and attack. Has had some injury issues this season but
expect to see her head down the road.
Other names to watch: Roxane Knetemann, Claudia Lichtenberg,
Sarah Storey, Katie Archibald, Maria Giulia Confalonieri, Lauren Komanski and Lauren
Stephens. |
|
|
|