Jolien D’hoore Conquers Oxfordshire on Stage 3 of Women’s Tour

Boels Dolmans Cycling Team’s Jolien D’hoore continued her strong start to this year’s OVO Energy Women’s Tour as she sprinted to victory at historic Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, on Wednesday to claim her second win in three days.

D’hoore, wearing the Breast Cancer Care points jersey, edged out Lisa Brennauer (WNT-Rotor Pro Cycling) by a narrow margin to add to Monday’s victory in Stowmarket, Suffolk.

Brennaeur’s reward for the time bonuses she has accrued in this year’s race thus far is the OVO Energy green jersey of race leader.

Overnight race leader Marianne Vos was one of a number of riders forced to abandon mid-stage following a crash near Didcot. The Dutch rider required treatment to cuts on her face.

 

Interview – Jolien D’Hoore Stage 3 Winner OVO Women’s Tour 2019 by Cycling Shorts

Jolien D’Hoore talks to the press after taking the win on stage 3 of the OVO Energy Women’s Your 2019. ©All content © CyclingShorts.cc | www.chrismaher.co.uk

 

 

“I was hoping for a bunch sprint, it was a bit rolling the whole stage and it was quite hard in the beginning but we made it for a bunch sprint and I’m happy I could finish it off again.

“The pace was really high and I had Amy Pieters in front of me but I didn’t want to go in second position in the last corner so I let Lisa Brennauer in between and then someone started the sprint with 350 to go and I started as well, but then I realised this is still a long way to go so I went back behind Lisa again and then I started again.”

Jolien D'Hoore

Stage 3 Winner, Boels Dolmans Cycling Team

Trek Segafredo rider Anna Plichta earned the Wahooligan Combativity Award for a long solo break of just under 100 kilometres, one that saw her escape shortly after the opening SKODA Queen of the Mountains climb at Pishill above Henley-on-Thames in south Oxfordshire. She was eventually caught at Alvescot in west Oxfordshire with 41 kilometres remaining.

Brennauer’s runners up position moves her back into the lead of the race she won in 2015.

“I wanted to win the stage, I knew that the final would suit me; a flat finish, a long finish straight. But I did everything how I wanted to do it and I don’t think I did anything wrong it’s just Jolien is so fast and she passed me before the line and that’s how it is. She was just better today and so congrats for the stage victory.

“I think tomorrow is another good day for us as a team to step up and do good teamwork and we are ready for it and I’m excited.”

Lisa Brennauer

GC after Stage 3, Wnt Rotor Pro Cycling Team

 

Interview – Lisa Brennauer OVO Women’s Tour Green Jersey Stage 3 by Cycling Shorts

Lisa talks to the media after taking the Green Jersey on Stage 3 of the OVO Energey Women’sTour 2019. ©All content CyclingShorts.cc | www.chrismaher.co.uk

 

Speaking after the crash that eliminated her, 2014 race winner and overnight leader Marianne Vos said, “The speed went up in preparation for the second intermediate sprint. There was a fall before me, which I could not avoid. I fell hard on my head and, apart from a cut and some scratches, I don’t have any other injuries. Yet I went to the hospital because the cut had to be stitched. Very unfortunate, I was quite upset by it, because I was in such a good position. But even after a fall, the race continues, but this time without me.”

Marianne Vos

2014 race winner, Team CCC

Stage 3 Results

OVO Women's Tour Preview - Stage 4

Highlights of Stage Three will be shown on ITV4 at 20:00 on Wednesday 12 June with a repeat at 06:25 on Thursday 13 June on the same channel.  Programmes will be available on demand via the ITV Hub catch up service and via Eurosport in the UK and around the world.

The OVO Energy Women’s Tour moves a short distance north to Warwickshire on Thursday 13 June for Stage Four, featuring the first hill-top finish in race history.  Riders will race from Warwick to Burton Dassett Country Park, with three ascents of the 1.2 kilometre climb coming in the closing stages of the 158.9 kilometre / 98.9 mile stage.

Chris Maher

Chris Maher

Photographer & Writer

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.
Website: www.ChrisMaher.co.uk

Anna Magrath

Anna Magrath

Editor & Writer

Anna Magrath founded CyclingShorts.cc in 2008 and invited some of her cycling friends; coaches, photographers, writers and pro cyclists of different disciplines to join her, bringing you all things cycling related.

Over the years Anna has supported grass roots cycling events, riders and teams. Anna has a particular interest in Track, Road, womens cycling, recreational cycling and cycling related art. She has reported from the top cycle races on the world calendar including the Tour de France, Olympics, World Cups & World Championships.

Want to get involved? Why not get in touch.

CyclingShorts.cc are official sponsors of The Racing Chance Foundation, Team22 WRTTeam Jadan and cyclists Amy Gornall & Fraser Martin.

Marianne Vos dominates on Stage 2 – OVO Energy Women’s Tour

Marianne Vos (CCC Liv) sprinted to victory in the second stage of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour at the Gravesend Cyclopark in Kent, to take the overall lead of the race following day two.

Vos took the win ahead of Lizzie Deignan (Trek Segafredo) and Sarah Roy (Mitchelton Scott) at the end of the 25 lap race, run off in hot and sunny conditions, despite the initial weather forecast.

The win, her fifth stage win in the OVO Energy Women’s Tour, but first since the 2016 Tour, makes her the most successful rider in the race history.

 

Interview – Marianne Vos – Stage 2 Winner & Green Jersey – OVO Energy Womens Tour 2019 by Cycling Shorts

Marianne Vos talks to the media after winning Stage 2 of the OVO Women’s Tour and Green Jersey. © All content CyclingShorts.cc | www.chrismaher.co.uk

 

“I came from the back so I thought okay if I don’t go now I will be late so I will have to go and see if I can open up a gap and then I did but I felt okay now the legs are going to burn so I just kept going and I saw no wheels coming so that was of course a great feeling.”

[Speaking of Lizzie Deignan] “This is for her of course her home race and going to the next day’s she’s in great form, she’s always one to watch for GC, and the team is strong as well. They have a very strong team, we don’t fear anyone, but Trek is one of the teams that we are going to watch.”

Marianne Vos

Stage 2 Winner & Green Jersey Holder, CCC Liv Cycling Team

The CCC Liv rider survived a mid-race puncture and bike change to move into a nine second lead in the race ahead of Lizzie Deignan, with Amy Pieters (Boels Dolmans) also on the same time.  Having battled for numerous victories over the past decade, Vos believes that Deignan is one of the main threats to her overall lead.

Deignan takes over the HSBC UK British Cycling Best British Rider jersey as the leading home contender while defending champion Coryn Rivera (Team Sunweb) keeps the lead in the Eisberg Sprints jersey.

With a flat day at the Cyclopark, Christine Majerus (Boels Dolmans) retained the SKODA Queen of the Mountains jersey before the serious climbs of the 2019 race begin in the Chilterns on Stage Three from Henley-on-Thames to Blenheim Palace.

Stage 2 Results

OVO Women's Tour Preview - Stage 3

The Oxfordshire stage begins at 10:30 and passes through Wallingford, Didcot, Wantage and Charlbury, covering 145.1 kilometres / 90.2 miles with an expected finish of around 14:35 in front of the world famous Blenheim Palace.

 

Highlights of Stage Two will be shown on ITV4 at 20:00 on Tuesday 11 June with a repeat at 06:25 on Wednesday 12 June on the same channel.  Programmes will be available on demand via the ITV Hub catch up service and via Eurosport in the UK and around the world.

Chris Maher

Chris Maher

Photographer & Writer

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.
Website: www.ChrisMaher.co.uk

Anna Magrath

Anna Magrath

Editor & Writer

Anna Magrath founded CyclingShorts.cc in 2008 and invited some of her cycling friends; coaches, photographers, writers and pro cyclists of different disciplines to join her, bringing you all things cycling related.

Over the years Anna has supported grass roots cycling events, riders and teams. Anna has a particular interest in Track, Road, womens cycling, recreational cycling and cycling related art. She has reported from the top cycle races on the world calendar including the Tour de France, Olympics, World Cups & World Championships.

Want to get involved? Why not get in touch.

CyclingShorts.cc are official sponsors of The Racing Chance Foundation, Team22 WRTTeam Jadan and cyclists Amy Gornall & Fraser Martin.

Jolien D’hoore wins in Suffolk – Stage 1 – OVO Energy Women’s Tour

Belgian rider Jolien D’hoore sprinted to victory on the opening day of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour in Suffolk for the second year running, leading a Boels Dolmans Cycling Team one-two across the line after a testing day in gruelling conditions.

D’hoore, winner in Southwold 12 month ago, led home Dutch team-mate Amy Pieters in Stowmarket to take the first OVO Energy green jersey of this year’s race.

 

Interview – Jolien D’Hoore Stg 1 Winner 2019 – OVO Women’s Tour – Stowmarket by Cycling Shorts

Jolien D’Hoore talks to the media after her stage 1 win in the 2019 OVO Women’s Tour in Stowmarket. ©All contents CyclingShorts.cc | www.chrismaher.co.uk

 

“It was a pretty good day for us, I’m feeling alright, I did Bira two weeks ago and then straight after Thüringen, it’s pretty hard but now I’m feeling pretty good and it was pretty hard and I’m happy I could show it today with the stage win. The team was really strong, and they brought me actually to the perfect position going into the sprint and they dropped me off at 150 to go and Amy Pieters got second herself, so it really proves that we are a strong team here.”

“I think I like Suffolk now. It’s really nice and also last year was the first stage so there’s the advantage of having all the jerseys now, so I really like it and today a bunch sprint was expected and I am happy it was this way.”

Jolien D'Hoore

Stage 1 Winner & GC Leader, Boels Dolmans Cycling Team

The pair were at the head of the peloton that chased down British rider Abby-Mae Parkinson (Drops) who held a one and a half minute lead as the race passed through Stowmarket for the first time, with WNT ROTOR’S Lisa Brennauer taking third.

Parkinson’s reward for her efforts that brought the finish crowds in Stowmarket to life on a rain soaked stage was the first Wahooligan Combativity Award of the week.  The Drops rider crossed the finish line 67th, while team-mate Ellie Dickinson was the leading British rider on the stage, finishing 12th.  

Having now taken three of her four stage wins in the OVO Energy Women’s Tour in the East of England, the Belgian continued, “I think I like Suffolk now. It’s really nice and also last year was the first stage so there’s the advantage of having all the jerseys now, so I really like it and today a bunch sprint was expected and I am happy it was this way.”

In addition to the race lead, D’hoore also takes the initial lead in the Breast Cancer Care Points Jersey, while Boels Dolmans team-mate Christine Majerus leads the SKODA Queen of the Mountains Jersey.

Defending champion Coryn Rivera (Team Sunweb) began her campaign by taking the Eisberg Sprints jersey on day one and with it six seconds of time bonuses.

Once more the OVO Energy Women’s Tour will offer prize money parity with the men’s Tour of Britain, thanks to award winning independent energy supplier OVO Energy, the title sponsors for a third edition of the race.

Stage 1 Results

OVO Women's Tour Preview - Stage 2

Highlights of Stage One will be shown on ITV4 at 20:00 on Monday 10 June with a repeat at 06:25 on Tuesday 11 June on the same channel.  Programmes will be available on demand via the ITV Hub catch up service and via Eurosport in the UK and around the world.

Cyclopark will make OVO Energy Women’s Tour history this June as it hosts the race’s first-ever Kent stage.

Outlining the race’s support for existing cycle infrastructure in Great Britain, the world’s best riders will tackle a 62.5-kilometre (25-lap) kermesse around the Gravesend circuit on Tuesday 11 June – day two of the 2019 race.

This stage will see Kent play host to its biggest international sporting event since the 2007 Tour de France Grand Depart, which was delivered in part by SweetSpot Group,

Chris Maher

Chris Maher

Photographer & Writer

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.
Website: www.ChrisMaher.co.uk

Anna Magrath

Anna Magrath

Editor & Writer

Anna Magrath founded CyclingShorts.cc in 2008 and invited some of her cycling friends; coaches, photographers, writers and pro cyclists of different disciplines to join her, bringing you all things cycling related.

Over the years Anna has supported grass roots cycling events, riders and teams. Anna has a particular interest in Track, Road, womens cycling, recreational cycling and cycling related art. She has reported from the top cycle races on the world calendar including the Tour de France, Olympics, World Cups & World Championships.

Want to get involved? Why not get in touch.

CyclingShorts.cc are official sponsors of The Racing Chance Foundation, Team22 WRTTeam Jadan and cyclists Amy Gornall & Fraser Martin.

2019 OVO Energy Women’s Tour Preview

Ahead of the opening stage of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour on Monday (10 June) in Suffolk, four of the race’s previous five champions, Lizzie Deignan, Marianne Vos, Kasia Niewiadoma and Coryn Rivera, spoke at a pre-race media event in Ipswich, looking ahead to the six day race.

The quartet, along with 2015 winner Lisa Brennauer (WNT ROTOR Pro Cycling), feature in a 16-team, 96-rider start list for the sixth edition of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour, which concludes in Carmarthenshire on Saturday 15 June.

[on parcours] “I think like always we’re going to have to be very prepared for the unpredictability of the stages. The only thing we can be sure of is that the first stage is flat and from there on in we have to be prepared for anything because I think those Welsh stages will be really difficult.

“I think our team is really focused on having the opportunity every night on TV to showcase Women’s cycling; we’ll be aggressive and make the racing interesting, and normally that leads to victory.”

[on ambitions] “We’ll be aggressive and make the racing interesting and normally that leads to victories.”

[on her return to racing] “This race was my first idea of when I would return to racing so I’ve come back earlier than expected, and thank goodness because this would be a pretty brutal beginning. I’m going to take a rest after this race, so this is the last block of racing for me before I have a rest.”

[on Stage 2 at the Kent Cyclopark] “I think it’s going to be really painful! It’s been about 15 years since I’ve done a criterium, I might be in trouble. It’s going to be fast, technical and aggressive. There will be lots of accelerations and I think it’ll be a hard stage.”

[on winning the OVO Energy Women’s Tour in 2016] “I think winning overall for me was a huge deal. I’d never won a stage race before – I barely finish stage races normally, so to finish it and win it was very special. I think I probably had some of the strongest legs of my career at the Women’s Tour that year, and to race in front of a British crowd is always incredibly special for me.”

Lizzie Deignan

2016 winner, Trek Segafredo

[on parcours] “This race is always unpredictable so things can happen in every stage and when it’s flat it’s rolling and the weather can play a role as well, the first few can be decisive for the general already.”

[on form] “It’s exciting to be back racing, tomorrow I will feel the first race back again like Kasia [Niewiadoma] said.”

[on team and leadership] “It’s unpredictable and that’s also how we go into this race with an open strategy and see how it turns out and we’ll play that card and it’s better when you have more cards to play especially when it is this hard. Of course a stage victory is always great and we hope to do well in GC.”

Marianne Vos

2014 winner, CCC Liv

[on ambitions] “With my team, we are ready to do our best as everyone and of course it will be great to get some stage victories and GC at the end but it’s always easier said and done.”

[on parcours] “Somehow, I feel even tomorrow will be super difficult, even though it’s flat I know how I won this race was a stupid attack, so maybe tomorrow someone will do it as well.” 

[on solo win] “I do believe there are a lot of riders have the opportunity to win from just a solo attack.”

Kasia Niewiadoma

2017 winner, Canyon SRAM Racing

[on parcours] “Definitely the last two stages in Wales are pretty hard and then an interesting stage two with the circuit is different but will definitely be exciting, quite a bit harder than last year.”

[on form] “I’m confident in my form and also I my team, I think we’re here with a strong squad and we will do our best.”

Coryn Rivera

2018 winner, Team Sunweb

 

OVO Energy Womens Tour Pre Race Press Conference 2019 by Cycling Shorts

Sunday 9th June, all the teams and media assembled for a pre race press conference for the OVO Energy Women’s Tour 2019. All content ©Cyclingshorts.cc | www.chrismaher.co.uk

Once more the OVO Energy Women’s Tour offers prize money parity with the men’s Tour of Britain, thanks to award winning independent energy supplier OVO Energy, the title sponsors for a third edition of the race.

Stage One takes place in Suffolk, getting underway from Beccles at 10:30 and featuring a 157.9-kilometre / 98-mile that finishing in Stowmarket, with an expected finish of around 15:00 in the town centre.

Highlights of Stage One will be shown on ITV4 at 20:00 on Monday 10 June with a repeat at 06:25 on Tuesday 11 June on the same channel.  Programmes will be available on demand via the ITV Hub catch up service and via Eurosport in the UK and around the world.

Chris Maher

Chris Maher

Photographer & Writer

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.
Website: www.ChrisMaher.co.uk

Anna Magrath

Anna Magrath

Editor & Writer

Anna Magrath founded CyclingShorts.cc in 2008 and invited some of her cycling friends; coaches, photographers, writers and pro cyclists of different disciplines to join her, bringing you all things cycling related.

Over the years Anna has supported grass roots cycling events, riders and teams. Anna has a particular interest in Track, Road, womens cycling, recreational cycling and cycling related art. She has reported from the top cycle races on the world calendar including the Tour de France, Olympics, World Cups & World Championships.

Want to get involved? Why not get in touch.

CyclingShorts.cc are official sponsors of The Racing Chance Foundation, Team22 WRTTeam Jadan and cyclists Amy Gornall & Fraser Martin.

Interview – Becks Durrell – Lincoln GP Winner & Series Leader

Becks Durrell chats after her win at the Lincoln GP, this win making her the current leader in the Series.

Interview – Rebecca Durrell – Lincoln GP Winner 2019 & Series Leader by Cycling Shorts

Beck Durrell chats after her win at the Lincoln GP, this win making her the current leader in the Series. All Content ©CyclingShorts.cc | www.chrismaher.co.uk

 

Image ©CyclingShorts.cc | www.chrismaher.co.uk

Chris Maher

Chris Maher

Photographer & Writer

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.
Website: www.ChrisMaher.co.uk

Tour de Yorkshire Finale Stage 4 Race Report – Halifax to Leeds

Four years on from their win in the inaugural Tour de Yorkshire, newly re-launched Team INEOS made their strength and intentions known with a dominant performance that saw Chris Lawless ride away as 2019 Tour de Yorkshire champion.

The Queen stage of the Tour de Yorkshire, dubbed ‘The Yorkshire Classic’, was built to suit a Spring classics style rider; and there are none better than reigning TDY and Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet.

However, INEOS’ dominance was shown early on in the race as they controlled it from the off.

Last year’s final stage saw Stephane Rosetto produce one of the most awe-inspiring rides of any professional cycling race ever, riding over 100km in a lone breakaway on his own to take the stage.

This year was very different, challenged by Rawal Readynez and their willingness to get their man, and stage 3 winner, Alexander Kamp to the finish line in Leeds first, the World Tour teams INEOS and CCC realised they had to control the the pace and INEOS’ Ian Stannard producing another gruelling ride to help his team set up for a grandstand finish in Leeds.

A breakaway of nine riders formed early on in the race and opened up a gap of around three minutes. These riders were Pierre Rolland, Jonathan Hivert, Jake Scott, Johnny McEvoy, Joey Walker, Arnaud Courteille, Julien Irizar, Ethan Hayter and Victor Lafay.

The two sprints and five classified climbs would be taken by two riders that had formed this initial breakaway with Jacob Scott taking the first sprint and first climb and Arnaud Courteille claiming everything else on offer to secure himself the King of the Mountains jersey.

The nine-man break was reeled in to leave just three riders, Courteille, Hivert and Lafay, and they held onto a lead of around a minute and half for a while but the way that Team INEOS was starting to control the race, it was thought that they would inevitably attack this race to put their riders in with a chance of the stage and overall win.

This was never more evident than when four-time Tour de France Champion Chris Froome offered a big attack on top of Otley Chevin with just over 20km to go.

Knowing the danger of a move such as this Van Avermaet followed the move before Eddie Dunbar took the reins and launched a vicious attack that caught the leading pair and, despite it seeming like his day was over at Otley Chevin, Chris Lawless rode on with Van Avermaet to set up a sprint finish in which 2018 champion Van Avermaet took the stage but Lawless stayed on to take the overall stage win.

With this fantastic performance, Lawless became the first ever British winner of the Tour de Yorkshire in a race that also saw Yorkshireman Scott Thwaites return to form with an 8th place finish; Yorkshire’s highest placed rider since the race’s inception.

Interview – Chris Lawless – Winner of the 2019 Tour de Yorkshire by Cycling Shorts

Winner of the 2019 Tour de Yorkshire; Chris Laweless of Team Ineos (formerly Team Sky)talks to the press after his win. ©All content CyclingShorts.cc | chrismaher.co.uk

 

 

Interview – Greg van Avermaet – Winner of the Final Stage of Le Tour de Yorkshire 2019 by Cycling Shorts

Greg van Avermaet talks to the media after winning the final stage of the 2019 Tour de Yorkshire narrowly missing out on taking the GC win. ©All content CyclingShorts.cc | chrismaher.co.uk

 

 

Stage 4 and Overall Race Results

STAGE RESULT
1.     Greg van Avermaet – CCC (BEL) 
2.     Chris Lawless – INS (GBR) 
3.     Edward Dunbar – INS (IRL)
4.     Tom-Jelte Slagter – TDD (NED)
5.     James Shaw – SCB (GBR)
OVERALL INDIVIDUAL TIME CLASSIFICATION
1.     Chris Lawless – INS (GBR) 15h18’12’’ 00″
2.     Greg van Avermaet – CCC (BEL) 15h18’14” 02″
3.     Edward Dunbar – INS (IRL) 15h18’23” 11″
4.     Alexander Kamp – RIW (DEN) 15h18’27” 15″
5.     James Shaw – SCB (GBR) 15h18’37” 25″

Chris Lawless (Team INEOS)

Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries GC Jersey

Chris Lawless (Team INEOS)

Asda Points Jersey

Arnaud Corteille (Vital Concept)

LNER King of the Mountains Jersey

Lucas Eriksson (Riwal Readynez)

Dimension Data Most Aggressive

All images ©CyclingShorts.cc | Anna Magrath | www.chrismaher.co.uk

Chris Maher

Chris Maher

Photographer & Writer

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.
Website: www.ChrisMaher.co.uk
Anna Magrath

Anna Magrath

Editor & Writer

Anna Magrath founded CyclingShorts.cc in 2008 and invited some of her cycling friends; coaches, photographers, writers and pro cyclists of different disciplines to join her, bringing you all things cycling related.

Over the years Anna has supported grass roots cycling events, riders and teams. Anna has a particular interest in Track, Road, womens cycling, recreational cycling and cycling related art. She has reported from the top cycle races on the world calendar including the Tour de France, Olympics, World Cups & World Championships.

Want to get involved? Why not get in touch.

CyclingShorts.cc are official sponsors of The Racing Chance Foundation, Team22 WRTTeam Jadan and cyclists Amy Gornall & Fraser Martin.

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