Lizzie Deignan wins 2019 OVO Energy Women’s Tour

Great Britain’s Lizzie Deignan became the first rider to win two OVO Energy Women’s Tour titles as she sealed the 2019 crown at Pembrey Country Park, Carmarthenshire, on Saturday.

The Trek Segafredo rider, who only returned to racing in late April following maternity leave, finished eighth in a reduced bunch sprint to pip Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM Racing) to the overall crown by two seconds – the smallest winning margin in race history.

Dutch rider Amy Pieters (Boels Dolmans) claimed the final stage, beating Leah Kirchmann (Team Sunweb) and Roxane Fournier (Movistar Team) to the line. Pieters placed third overall, 23 seconds behind Deignan, while her team-mate Christine Majerus finished fifth to cap a successful week for the Dutch team.

Interview – Lizzie Deignan 2019 OVO Women’s Tour Winner by Cycling Shorts

Lizzie Deignan talks after winning the 2019 OVO Energy Women’s Tour. ©All content CyclingShorts.cc | www.chrismaher.co.uk

 

 

“It means a huge amount. I think the last time I came here I was probably one of the favourites to win the race – this time I wasn’t a favourite, so it was a different experience. It was totally a team experience.

“I won through just grit and determination. I’m away from my daughter for a reason. I’m here to do a job and I’ve got a fantastic team around me. I don’t want to let them down.

“It’s a huge honour. I’m just delighted, lost for words really. The perspective you gain from having a year out of the sport is amazing. My attitude is just about enjoying it, I’ve never had that attitude before and it’s really paying dividends. I’m in the best team in the world I feel like from a support perspective and just the women around me just lift me up.”

Lizzie Deignan

2019 OVO Energy Women's Tour Winner, Team Trek Segafredo

Deignan crossed the line in eighth position in the 33-rider front group to take victory, having doubled her overnight one-second lead thanks to a mid-race time bonus from the Eisberg Sprint at Penygroes.  As well as the OVO Energy Green jersey the Trek Segafredo rider takes the Breast Cancer Care Points jersey through her consistent finishing across the six stages, and the HSBC UK British Cycling Best British Rider jersey.

The stage win for Pieters was her third in OVO Energy Women’s Tour history, being added to previous victories in Stratford-upon-Avon (2016) and Stoke-on-Trent (2017).  With Majerus and double stage victor Jolien D’hoore providing the perfect lead-out, the Dutchwoman was delighted with the win.

“The plan was to try to win the stage,” said Pieters. “I think we had a good plan and a good week with the whole team, so I think we need to be happy with this.

“The girls did a really strong lead-out for me and I’m happy that I could finish it off. I felt really good today and I’m happy with that because it was a really hard week and I’m happy that the last day I was still good.”

Amy Pieters

Stage 6 Winner, Boels Dolmans

Defending OVO Energy Women’s Tour champion Coryn Rivera (Team Sunweb) took the Eisberg Sprints jersey for a second year, getting into a group of 11 riders that broke away early on the Carmarthenshire route to seal the jersey at the first intermediate Eisberg sprint.

The final classification jersey went to Warwickshire summit finish winner Niewiadoma, who withstood the challenge of Majerus for a one-point advantage in the SKODA Queen of the Mountains jersey, while the aggressive riding of Sarah Roy (Mitchelton Scott) was rewarded with the Wahooligan Combativity Award.

Cllr Peter Hughes Griffiths, Carmarthenshire County Council Executive Board Member for Culture Sport and Tourism, said: “The OVO Energy Women’s Tour has been a resounding success, and has been the perfect showcase of our best landscape and cycling facilities.

“As a local authority, we are proud of our significant investment in facilities and infrastructure to support the growing cycling enthusiasm that we’re working so hard to build. Today’s race started at the historic Carmarthen Velodrome, the oldest in the world, and ended at our purpose-built National Closed Road Circuit at Pembrey Country Park.

We are particularly proud of Manon Lloyd [Drops], who is from Carmarthenshire and who started her cycling career with Towy Riders in Carmarthen. It must have been a fantastic feeling for her to compete with the best in the world on home soil and I hope she felt the strength of the crowd behind her.”

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.

Highlights of Stage Six will be shown on ITV4 at 20:00 on Saturday15 June with a repeat at 06:10 on Sunday 16 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.

Stage 6 - overall Tour Results

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.

Lizzie Deignan takes control of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour in Wales

Britain’s Lizzie Deignan claimed her first victory since returning from maternity leave in Friday’s fifth OVO Energy Women’s Tour stage in Builth Wells, Powys, to move into the race lead with just one stage remaining. 

Deignan, the race’s 2016 champion, out-sprinted Thursday’s stage victor Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM Racing) and her Trek-Segafredo team-mate Elisa Longo Borghini in the Royal Welsh Showground after the trio broke clear on the day’s final SKODA Queen of the Mountains climb of Eypnt with approximately 22 kilometres remaining.

Interview – Lizzie Deignan – Stage 5 Winner & Green Jersey Holder OVO Women’s Tour 2019 by Cycling Shorts

Lizzie Deignan talks to the press after winning stage 5, taking control of the Green Jersey and GC in the OVO Energy Women’s Tour 2019. All Content ©CyclingShorts.cc | www.chrismaher.co.uk

 

“Hannah Barnes was pacing pretty hard from the bottom of the climb” said Niewiadoma. “It was funny because when I wanted to attack, then Lizzie went, so we kind of went at the same time. We continued and at the top of the climb there were three of us: Elisa [Longo Borghini], Lizzie and myself. From then on we tried to go full gas.

“Tomorrow is going to be the final battle. I’m actually pretty excited and curious to see how it’s going to be because of course Trek has a strong team and they’re going to control the race from the start. Although there are so many teams eager to fight and split the race, we’ll see.”

Katarzyna Niewiadoma

Team CCC

“I can’t quite really describe it; it was probably the nicest win I’ve had in a very long time. I really savoured it and really enjoyed it and I will do for a long time,” said Deignan on taking her first win in 657 days.

“It was instinctive,” said Deignan on her attack. “It wasn’t the plan but I kept looking over at Lisa [teammate Longo Borghini] and noticed she was looking back at me and at one moment I just thought go on then we’ll give it a try.  I went and Kasia [Niewiadoma] took over then.  Her takeover was much stronger than my initial attack and I kind of survived with them two over the top and we worked together then until the finish.”

Lizzie Deignan

Stage 5 Winner, GC Leader & Green Jersey Holder, Trek-Segafredo

The Yorkshire rider leads Niewiadoma by just one second going into Saturday’s finale in Carmarthenshire, with Boels Dolmans rider Amy Pieters a further 31 seconds in arrears. In addition to retaining her lead in the HSBC UK | British Cycling Best British Rider jersey, Deignan also moves to the top of the standings in the Breast Cancer Care points jersey.

Niewiadoma’s efforts on the climbs see her take the lead in the SKODA Queen of the Mountains jersey, while 2018 overall champion Coryn Rivera (Team Sunweb) retains the Eisberg sprints jersey.

Overnight race leader Liane Lippert (Team Sunweb) finished 22nd, losing two minutes and 19 seconds to fall away in the overall classification and lose her OVO Energy green jersey.

The German had been in the main pack featuring all of the general classification contenders approaching the final SKODA Queen of the Mountains climb of Epynt, before the race was sparked into life by the aggressive riding of Trek-Segafredo duo Deignan and Longo Borghini.

That saw the final two riders from the day’s breakaway, Erica Magnaldi (WNT – Rotor Pro Cycling) and Amalie Dideriksen (Boels Dolmans), reeled in and the chasing pack splintered, with just 20 riders reaching the Royal Welsh Showground within two minutes of Deignan.

First over the summit of the Epynt climb moved Niewiadoma into the SKODA Queen of the Mountains climb, with a one-point advantage over previous incumbent Christine Majerus (Boels Dolmans).

Stage 5 Results

OVO Women's Tour Preview - Stage 6 (Final Stage)

The world’s best riders will tackle a 125.9-kilometre (79-mile) stage between Carmarthen and Pembrey Country Park on day six of Britain’s most prestigious women’s cycle race (Saturday 15 June).

In a first for the Women’s Tour, the field of Olympic, world and national champions will notably complete a lap of the Carmarthen Velodrome as part of the stage’s ceremonial start, as well as taking in part of Pembrey’s new, closed-road cycle circuit on the approach to the finish line.

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.

Highlights of Stage Five will be shown on ITV4 at 20:00 on Friday 14 June with a repeat at 06:25 on Saturday 15 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.

Kasia Niewiadoma wins first-ever Women’s Tour hill-top finish

Canyon//SRAM Racing’s Kasia Niewiadoma made light of inclement conditions to win the OVO Energy Women’s Tour’s first hill-top finish at Burton Dassett Country Park, Warwickshire, on Wednesday.

The Polish rider, who won the 2017 race, outsprinted Team Sunweb’s Liane Lippert after the duo had broken away from the peloton with Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo) on the first of three ascents of Burton Dassett.

Longo Borghini’s team-mate Lizzie Deignan finished third on the stage, while German rider Lippert replaces her compatriot Lisa Brennauer (WNT-Rotor Pro Cycling) in the OVO Energy green jersey of race leader with just two stages in Wales to come.

 

Interview – Kasia Niewiadoma – Stage 4 Winner – OVO Women’s Tour 2019 by Cycling Shorts

Kasia chats to the media after winning stage 4 of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour 2019. ©All content CyclingShorts.cc | www.chrismaher.co.uk

 

“I was already on the team bus when I heard I was in the leader’s jersey and I had to climb off and everyone was cheering for me, it was funny. 

“I went all out and saw Kasia in front of me. I tried to get closer but she was super strong and I’m happy with my second place. I first need to realise what just happened. I’m in the leader’s jersey now and it’s my first UCI Women’s WorldTour podium finish ever. I have a really strong team. Now I’m in the jersey but we’ll see. I hope to [win the overall], I will try my best.”

Liane Lippert

Green Jersey Holder, Team Sunweb

“Once I saw all the stage details I knew this one was for me. I really like this kind of climb – short, punchy; hills where I can really make an advantage over the others. I knew I needed to be there and have a great position at the bottom of the climb and then see what happens.

“I felt like a piece of crap, I felt so bad because of the rain and cold. But once you attack you go into this weird suffering mode, you forget about everything and you just want to get to the line first.

 “Once I crossed the finish line, I thought about this morning’s conversation with my boyfriend [professional rider Taylor Phinney] because he woke up and told me I was going to win today. He doesn’t say that often. I thought: ‘OK, he believes in me.”

Kasia Niewiadoma

Stage 4 Winner

Lippert moves into the OVO Energy Green jersey, although on equal time with Niewiadoma, and was surprised to take the lead.

A trio of riders – Charlotte Becker (FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine-Futuroscope), Femke Markus (Parkhotel Valkenburg) and last year’s Warwickshire winner Sarah Roy (Mitchelton-SCOTT) – built an eight-minute lead.  Becker was the first to lose contact from the front on the day’s second SKODA Queen of the Mountains climb with Markus and Roy being caught before the second passage of the finish line at Burton Dassett.

Roy’s efforts earned her the Wahooligan Combativity Award, while Niewiadoma’s victory moves her to within a point of Christine Majerus (Boels Dolmans) in the SKODA Queen of the Mountains jersey.

Both the Eisberg Sprints jersey and HSBC UK British Cycling Best British Rider jersey remained on the shoulders of Coryn Rivera (Team Sunweb) and Lizzie Deignan (Trek-Segafredo) going into stage five.

Stage 4 Results

OVO Women's Tour Preview - Stage 5

Highlights of Stage Four will be shown on ITV4 at 20:00 on Thursday 13 June with a repeat at 06:25 on Friday 14 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 to Wales for stage five on Friday 14 June with Powys hosting the penultimate stage of the race from Llandrindod Wells to Builth Wells.  Supported by the Welsh Government, the 140-kilometre (87-mile) route through Powys – the first time the county has welcomed the Women’s Tour – features the SKODA Queen of the Mountains climbs of Gorddwr Bank and Pennau along its unrelenting course.

The total elevation gain of 2,206 metres makes stage five of this year’s race the hardest in the event’s history.

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 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.

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