Marianne Vos wins stage two of the OVO Energy Women's Tour at the Cyclopark
Published: 16:00, 11 June 2019
Updated: 16:49, 11 June 2019
London Olympic champion Marianne Vos won stage two of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour at the Cyclopark.
Vos, the first-ever winner of the Tour in 2014, showed her class with a perfectly-judged finish, crossing the line in a provisional time of 1hr 34min 17sec.
The Dutch woman, one of the greatest-ever female riders, pipped Britain’s Lizzie Deignan, herself a former winner.
Sarah Roy, from the Mitchelton Scott team, finished third.
An unexpectedly hot day at the Cyclopark - the forecast had been grim as recently as yesterday - greeted riders.
It was the first time the Tour - now in its sixth year - had visited Kent and also the first time a closed race circuit had been used.
Ninety-three riders from 16 teams took to the line and an enthusiastic crowd had early reason to cheer as Kent-born rider Alice Barnes - sister of Hannah - made an an attack on the opening lap of 25.
The field were soon back together before the Barneses’ Canyon-Sram team-mate, Italian rider Elena Cecchini, built a 14-second lead.
Cecchini was reeled back in by the end of lap eight and on lap 10 the first Eisberg Sprint, earning bonus points and bonus seconds, was won by Vos, the 2012 Olympic champion.
Riders quickly settled back down around the sun-drenched 2.5km track, with little sign of any attacks.
The second Eisberg Sprint, after 15 laps, was won by Sheyla Gutierrez from the Movistar team, while Liane Lippert (Team Sunweb) took the final sprint.
A sprint finish was looking increasingly likely as the laps whittled away, with nothing between the fancied riders.
Deignan’s Trek-Segafredo team were driving the pace in the closing laps with the blue and white jerseys at the front of the field and making a big effort to ensure the 2015 world road race champion got over the line first.
Vos had other ideas, though, and took victory and with it the green jersey as overall leader.
Stage three of the tour takes place in Henley-on-Thames tomorrow.
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Craig Tucker