by Anna Magrath | May 9, 2014
Friends Life Women’s Tour 2014 | Stage Two ©Cycling Shorts / www.chrismaher.co.uk
Italian Rossella Ratto out sprinted compatriot Susanna Zorzi on Bedford’s Embankment to win the second stage of the Friends Life Women’s Tour, jumping into the lead of the race following her victory.
The Italian duo out foxed the sprinters into Bedford, holding off the Marianne Vos led bunch by six seconds to remain clear after Ratto had broken clear after 65-kilometres of racing.
Having instigated the move heading towards the second Strava Queen of the Mountains at Brixworth, Ratto was later joined by Zorzi, building a gap of two minutes approaching 20-kilometres to go.
With Lizzie Armitstead’s Boels Dolmans taking up the chase the deficit was halved, but Ratto and Zorzi remained clear, although only just with the peloton in sight behind the duo on the 400-metre long finishing straight.
Having outsprinted Zorzi, Estado de Mexico Faren rider Ratto said afterwards;
“I originally attacked to get the points for the Queen of the Mountains but I continued because I felt good – I am training for the time-trial at present – so I thought why not? I was on the point of giving up when Susanna came across to me from the peloton. Two is always better than one so we started to ride hard again. The gap started going up and we thought maybe we could do it.
“I was still afraid the peloton would get back to us in the final 4km but Suzanna, who is a good friend, helped me a lot and we were able to ride all the way to the finish it was a dream.”
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Behind the Italians Vos led home compatriot Amy Pieters and Lucy Garner, followed by Giorgia Bronzini and Lizzie Armitstead.
“We almost caught Rossella but not quite,” said Armitstead afterwards. “From our point of view it was really our team’s responsibility to lead the chase, we didn’t have the yellow jersey to defend and possibly GreenEdge made a slight mistake.
“In terms of the GC we are still in the hunt if the stages are challenging enough but realistically we need some wins to make it more interesting. I’ve been going for all the intermediate sprints so far, I have been in stage races before when it comes down to second so if it does get close on Sunday I don’t want to look back on any lost opportunity.”
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Armitstead moves up to fifth overall and pulls on the Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research Best British Rider jersey, while Ratto added the Matrix Fitness Best Young Rider jersey to her Bedfordshire haul.
In the Friends Life Overall Classification Ratto now leads Zorzi by five seconds, with Vos, who leads the YodelDirect Points Classification a further second in arrears. Day One winner Emma Johansson drops to fourth overall, having come home eleventh, with Hannah Barnes and Lucy Garner joining Armitstead as Brits in the top ten.
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling’s Sharon Laws retains the Strava Queen of the Mountains jersey after enjoying a competitive battle with Switzerland’s mountain bike champion Jolanda Neff, that saw the two competing for the points available at each of the day’s two Strava climbs.
Friday sees the Friends Life Women’s Tour head to Suffolk and Tendring, for Stage Three from Felixstowe to Clacton. Highlights of Stage Two are on ITV4 in the UK at 9pm this evening, with a repeat on Friday morning at 8am.
Stage Results:
Overall:
| Jerseys : |
| Leader Jersey : |
34 – |
RATTO Rossella |
 |
EMF |
| Points Jersey : |
1 – |
VOS Marianne |
 |
RBW |
| Mountain Jersey : |
144 – |
LAWS Sharon |
 |
UHC |
| Young Riders Jersey : |
14 – |
ZORZI Susanna |
|
BPK |
| Best British Jersey : |
21 – |
ARMITSTEAD Lizzie |
|
DLT |
by Chris Maher | May 8, 2014
Rossella Ratto – Friends Life Women’s Tour 2014 | Stage Two – ©Cycling Shorts / www.chrismaher.co.uk
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Overall Results After Stage 2
| Jerseys : |
| Leader Jersey : |
34 – |
RATTO Rossella |
|
EMF |
| Points Jersey : |
1 – |
VOS Marianne |
|
RBW |
| Mountain Jersey : |
144 – |
LAWS Sharon |
|
UHC |
| Young Riders Jersey : |
14 – |
ZORZI Susanna |
|
BPK |
| Best British Jersey : |
21 – |
ARMITSTEAD Lizzie |
|
DLT |
|
|
by Chris Maher | May 8, 2014
Friends Life Women’s Tour 2014 | Stage Two | Marianne Vos & Lizzie Armitstead – ©Cycling Shorts / www.chrismaher.co.uk
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/148842435″ params=”color=00aabb&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Overall
| Jerseys : |
| Leader Jersey : |
34 – |
RATTO Rossella |
|
EMF |
| Points Jersey : |
1 – |
VOS Marianne |
|
RBW |
| Mountain Jersey : |
144 – |
LAWS Sharon |
|
UHC |
| Young Riders Jersey : |
14 – |
ZORZI Susanna |
|
BPK |
| Best British Jersey : |
21 – |
ARMITSTEAD Lizzie |
|
DLT |
Stage 2
by Chris Maher | May 8, 2014
Emma Johannsson Podium Stage 1 Women’s Your 2014 – © Cycling Shorts. / www.chrismaher.co.uk
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Audio interview with Emma Johannsson after winning Stage 1 of the Friends Life Women’s Tour 2014
Yodel Sprints – Emma Johannsson
Strava Queen of the Sprints – Sharon Laws
Young Riders – Hannah Barnes
Best British Rider – Hannah Barnes
by Chris Maher | May 8, 2014
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/148889642″ params=”color=00aabb&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Women’s Tour 2014 Stage 1 – Hannah Barnes (Best Young & British Rider) & Sharon Laws (QoM)
Yodel Sprints – Emma Johannsson
Strava Queen of the Sprints – Sharon Laws
Young Riders – Hannah Barnes
Best British Rider – Hannah Barnes
by Chris Maher | May 8, 2014
All images ©Cycling Shorts. / www.chrismaher.co.uk
Click here to listen to our interview with Emma Johannsson
Click her to listen to our interview with Hannah Barnes & Sharon Laws
Results for Stage 1
Yodel Sprints – Emma Johannsson
Strava Queen of the Sprints – Sharon Laws
Young Riders – Hannah Barnes
Best British Rider – Hannah Barnes
1 JOHANSSON Emma Orica – AIS 02:28:29
2 VOS Marianne Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team
3 BARNES Hannah UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Women’s Team
4 WORRACK Trixi Specialized-lululemon
5 BRONZINI Giorgia Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
6 GARNER Lucy Great Britain
7 CECCHINI Elena Estado de México-Faren Kuota
8 ARMITSTEAD Elizabeth Boels – Dolmans Cycling Team
9 PIETERS Amy Netherlands
10 CROMWELL Tiffany Specialized-lululemon
11 HALL Lauren Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
12 KIRCHMAN Leah Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
13 NEFF Jolanda Switzerland
14 VERHOEVEN Aurore Lointek
15 BIANNIC Aude Lointek
16 HOSKING Chloe Hitec Products
17 DE VOCHT Liesbet Lotto Belisol Ladies
18 WALKER Jessie Matrix Racing Academy
19 MUCCIOLI Dalia Astana BePink Womens Team
20 VAN DIJK Ellen Boels – Dolmans Cycling Team
21 PIJNENBORG Mascha Netherlands
22 LONGO BORGHINI Elisa Hitec Products
23 RAMSDEN Denise Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
24 BRENNAUER Lisa Specialized-lululemon
25 VAN VLEUTEN Annemiek Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team
26 HOLCOMB Janel Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
27 LAWS Sharon UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Women’s Team
28 VILLUMSEN Linda Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
29 KING Danielle Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
30 KAY Emily Great Britain
31 VAN DER MEER Janine Netherlands
32 LEUMANN Katrin Switzerland
33 EDMONDSON Annette Orica – AIS
34 MARTIN Lucy Estado de México-Faren Kuota
35 ELVIN Gracie Orica – AIS
36 MOOLMAN PASIO Ashleigh Hitec Products
37 BECKER Charlotte Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
38 TROTT Laura Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
39 MULLENS Peta Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
40 INDERGRAND Linda Switzerland
41 ARZUFFI Alice Maria Astana BePink Womens Team
42 PAWLOWSKA Katarzyna Boels – Dolmans Cycling Team
43 KASPER Romy Boels – Dolmans Cycling Team
44 KOSTER Anouska Netherlands
45 ZORZI Susanna Astana BePink Womens Team
46 SLAPPENDEL Iris Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team
47 BLAAK Chantal Specialized-lululemon
48 WOERING Henriette Netherlands
49 HORNE Ciara Great Britain
50 FORCHINI Ramona Switzerland
51 LóPEZ MORALES Belén Lointek
52 SCANDOLARA Valentina Orica – AIS
53 GUNNEWIJK Loes Orica – AIS
54 RATTO Rossella Estado de México-Faren Kuota
55 GONZáLEZ BLANCO Lucía Lointek
56 DELZENNE Elise Specialized-lululemon
57 GILLOW Shara Orica – AIS
58 WYMAN Helen Matrix Racing Academy
59 RIBEROT Fanny Lointek
60 CANUEL Karol-ann Specialized-lululemon
61 HALL Katie UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Women’s Team
62 SCHWEIZER Doris Astana BePink Womens Team
63 KNAUER Anna Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team
64 JONES Hayley Great Britain
65 DAAMS Jessie Boels – Dolmans Cycling Team
66 ARCHIBALD Katie Great Britain
67 VALSECCHI Silvia Astana BePink Womens Team
68 KNETEMANN Roxane Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team
69 POOLEY Emma Lotto Belisol Ladies
70 YÉPEZ Erika Estado de México-Faren Kuota
71 TAMAYO Lauren UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Women’s Team
72 TROTT Emma Boels – Dolmans Cycling Team
73 HIGGINS Cari UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Women’s Team
74 WINDER Ruth UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Women’s Team
75 WILCOXSON Jade Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
76 HOFFMANN Chantal Lotto Belisol Ladies
77 BRAND Lucinda Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team 00:24
78 CURE Amy Lotto Belisol Ladies 01:25
79 FERNANDES SOUZA Uenia Estado de México-Faren Kuota 01:51
80 STIENEN Jutta Switzerland 02:46
81 THORSEN Thea Hitec Products 02:49
82 LUPERINI Fabiana Estado de México-Faren Kuota 02:52
83 GUTIéRREZ RUIZ Sheyla Lointek 02:59
84 TINDLEY Jo Matrix Racing Academy 03:09
85 HILL Amy Great Britain 08:44
86 BAUR Caroline Switzerland
87 LOWTHER Melissa Matrix Racing Academy
88 BECKERS Isabelle Lotto Belisol Ladies
89 ROWSON Penny Matrix Racing Academy
90 OWEN Harriet Matrix Racing Academy 17:55
OVERALL
1 JOHANSSON Emma Orica – AIS 02:28:17
2 VOS Marianne Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team 00:04
3 BARNES Hannah UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Women’s Team 00:08
4 VAN DIJK Ellen Boels – Dolmans Cycling Team 00:09
5 DELZENNE Elise Specialized-lululemon
6 ARMITSTEAD Elizabeth Boels – Dolmans Cycling Team 00:10
7 WORRACK Trixi Specialized-lululemon 00:12
8 BRONZINI Giorgia Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
9 GARNER Lucy Great Britain
10 CECCHINI Elena Estado de México-Faren Kuota
11 PIETERS Amy Netherlands
12 CROMWELL Tiffany Specialized-lululemon
13 HALL Lauren Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
14 KIRCHMAN Leah Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
15 NEFF Jolanda Switzerland
16 VERHOEVEN Aurore Lointek
17 BIANNIC Aude Lointek
18 HOSKING Chloe Hitec Products
19 DE VOCHT Liesbet Lotto Belisol Ladies
20 WALKER Jessie Matrix Racing Academy
21 MUCCIOLI Dalia Astana BePink Womens Team
22 PIJNENBORG Mascha Netherlands
23 LONGO BORGHINI Elisa Hitec Products
24 RAMSDEN Denise Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
25 BRENNAUER Lisa Specialized-lululemon
26 VAN VLEUTEN Annemiek Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team
27 HOLCOMB Janel Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
28 LAWS Sharon UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Women’s Team
29 VILLUMSEN Linda Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
30 KING Danielle Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
31 KAY Emily Great Britain
32 VAN DER MEER Janine Netherlands
33 LEUMANN Katrin Switzerland
34 EDMONDSON Annette Orica – AIS
35 MARTIN Lucy Estado de México-Faren Kuota
36 ELVIN Gracie Orica – AIS
37 MOOLMAN PASIO Ashleigh Hitec Products
38 BECKER Charlotte Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
39 TROTT Laura Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
40 MULLENS Peta Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
41 INDERGRAND Linda Switzerland
42 ARZUFFI Alice Maria Astana BePink Womens Team
43 PAWLOWSKA Katarzyna Boels – Dolmans Cycling Team
44 KASPER Romy Boels – Dolmans Cycling Team
45 KOSTER Anouska Netherlands
46 ZORZI Susanna Astana BePink Womens Team
47 SLAPPENDEL Iris Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team
48 BLAAK Chantal Specialized-lululemon
49 WOERING Henriette Netherlands
50 HORNE Ciara Great Britain
51 FORCHINI Ramona Switzerland
52 LóPEZ MORALES Belén Lointek
53 SCANDOLARA Valentina Orica – AIS
54 GUNNEWIJK Loes Orica – AIS
55 RATTO Rossella Estado de México-Faren Kuota
56 GONZáLEZ BLANCO Lucía Lointek
57 GILLOW Shara Orica – AIS
58 WYMAN Helen Matrix Racing Academy
59 RIBEROT Fanny Lointek
60 CANUEL Karol-ann Specialized-lululemon
61 HALL Katie UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Women’s Team
62 SCHWEIZER Doris Astana BePink Womens Team
63 KNAUER Anna Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team
64 JONES Hayley Great Britain
65 DAAMS Jessie Boels – Dolmans Cycling Team
66 ARCHIBALD Katie Great Britain
67 VALSECCHI Silvia Astana BePink Womens Team
68 KNETEMANN Roxane Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team
69 POOLEY Emma Lotto Belisol Ladies
70 YÉPEZ Erika Estado de México-Faren Kuota
71 TAMAYO Lauren UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Women’s Team
72 TROTT Emma Boels – Dolmans Cycling Team
73 HIGGINS Cari UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Women’s Team
74 WINDER Ruth UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Women’s Team
75 WILCOXSON Jade Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
76 HOFFMANN Chantal Lotto Belisol Ladies
77 BRAND Lucinda Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team 00:36
78 CURE Amy Lotto Belisol Ladies 01:37
79 FERNANDES SOUZA Uenia Estado de México-Faren Kuota 02:03
80 STIENEN Jutta Switzerland 02:58
81 THORSEN Thea Hitec Products 03:01
82 LUPERINI Fabiana Estado de México-Faren Kuota 03:04
83 GUTIéRREZ RUIZ Sheyla Lointek 03:11
84 TINDLEY Jo Matrix Racing Academy 03:21
85 HILL Amy Great Britain 08:56
86 BAUR Caroline Switzerland
87 LOWTHER Melissa Matrix Racing Academy
88 BECKERS Isabelle Lotto Belisol Ladies
89 ROWSON Penny Matrix Racing Academy
90 OWEN Harriet Matrix Racing Academy 18:07
