Interview: Jolien D,Hoore & Elinor Barker Stage 2 Womens Tour 2015

 

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.

Aviva Women’s Tour 2015 – Stage 1

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.

Aviva Women's Tour 2015 | Stage OneKatie 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.

Aviva Women's Tour 2015 | Stage OneUnder 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

Stage1Results

 

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

AvivaWT_Stage2_Map-1

Words by Anna, Images by Chris Maher

Aviva Women’s Tour 2015

WT_15_Logo_WithDates_RGB

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.

 

WT2015_OverallMap-1Wednesday 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

 

Race Report – Women’s Tour 2014 Finale

 

 

Marianne Vos takes Friends Life Women’s Tour overall victory

Marianne Vos cemented victory in the inaugural Friends Life Women’s Tour by taking her third consecutive stage victory in Bury St Edmunds, out sprinting Giorgia Bronzini and Amy Pieters on Angel Hill.

The ensuing time bonuses ensured Vos finished 30 seconds clear of stage winners Emma Johansson and Rossella Ratto in second and third places, with the latter also claiming the Matrix Fitness Best Young Rider jersey for the highest placed Under-23 rider.

Italian duo Bronzini and Susanna Zorzi, who claimed the week’s overall combativity award, were fourth and fifth overall, with Pieters just edging Lucy Garner and Hannah Barnes in sixth, seventh and eighth places.

Garner also took the Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research Best British Rider jersey, inheriting it on Sunday morning in Harwich after Lizzie Armitstead withdrew through illness and then defending it from Barnes in the final sprint, despite clipping the barriers in the final corners.

For the second day running Lotto Belisol Ladies’ Emma Pooley was in the thick of the action, winning the Combativity Award for her constant attacking on the 108.3 kilometre stage through Tendring and Suffolk.

Loes Gunnewijk, Lauren Hall and Lisa Brennauer joined Pooley, but with no Rabo Liv rider in the font group they were brought back, setting up the final sprint finish of the week into Bury St Edmunds’ Angel Hill, where packed crowds awaited.

For the third day running it was Vos who powered clear, our sprinting Bronzini, with Pieters and Barnes in close attendance behind.

Vos’ consistent run of top three finishes and bonus points saw her claim the YodelDirect Points jersey, while Sharon Laws and Jolanda Neff’s week long battle for the Strava Queen of the Mountains jersey ended in favour of the British rider, three points ahead of her Swiss counterpart.

Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies claimed the overall Team Classification, with American rider Hall their highest finisher in ninth overall.

Highlights of Stage Five are on ITV4 at 9pm on Sunday evening, with a repeat at 8.10am on Monday morning.

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