Melissa Hoskins (Orica-GreenEdge) sprinted to stage three, and overall victory in the Tour of Chongming Island in Chengqiao. The 21-year-old Australian, had only managed fourth on the previous stage, losing her overall lead to Monia Baccaille (MCIpollini-Giambenini), but beat the former two-time Italian champion to the line this time to take back the yellow jersey.
Former Belgian champion Liesbet De Vocht (Rabobank) managed to outsprint American Shelley Olds (AA Drink-Leontien.nl) for third place at the end of the 79.2km circuit race, with the time bonus ensuring that the final overall podium matched that of the stage.
“We went into the day only three seconds down on the race lead,” said directeur sportif Dave McPartland. “We had a plan to go hard, early, for the three intermediate sprints. We didn't want to leave things until the final sprint even though it had the most bonus seconds. If we hadn’t gone for the intermediate sprints, the overnight leader [Baccaille] would have increased her lead.”
With three, two and one seconds available on the intermediate sprint line, the Orica-GreenEdge strategy was clear, and so made every effort to get Hoskins to the line first each time. The team led her out to victory in both of the first two, with Baccaille taking second each time, which cut the Italian’s overnight lead from three seconds to just one.
Realising however, that - with the two rivals going one-two each time - Hoskins would need to win the stage to take the overall race anyway, the Australian team allowed MCipollini-Giambenini to control the third sprint; Baccaille won, with Hoskins taking third, and so the gap between the two riders overall was back up to three seconds.
Orica-GreenEdge then set about delivering Hoskins to the finish line first, where the ten point bonus for first would guarantee her victory.
“The whole team was fresh after having sat out the third sprint,” McPartland explained. “They lined it up and took control ten kilometres from the finish. They delivered Mel perfectly to the line. She won the stage, and with the bonus seconds available at the line, she won the Tour by one second. She had to win the stage to win the race, and she did it. It was an awesome team effort and great sprinting by Mel, as well.”
Baccaiile took second, but with only six bonus seconds - to Hoskins ten - the race was won by the Australian by a single second.
The women’s peloton was to remain in China for two more days, in order to contest the Tour of Chongming Island World Cup race on Sunday, May 13th, where Hoskins would now be a strong favourite.
Result stage 3
1. Melissa Hoskins (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
2. Monia Baccaille (Ita) MCipollini-Giambenini
3. Liesbet De Vocht (Bel) Stichting Rabo Women
4. Shelley Olds (USA) AA Drink-Leontien.nl
5. Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Faren-Honda
6. Jessie MacLean (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
7. Jutatip Maneephan (Tha) Thailand
8. Liu Xin (Chn) China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling
9. Romy Kasper (Ger) RusVelo
10. Emilie Moberg (Nor) Hitec Products-Mistral Home
Final overall standings
1. Melissa Hoskins (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
2. Monia Baccaille (Ita) MCipollini-Giambenini @ 1s
3. Liesbet De Vocht (Bel) Stichting Rabo Women @ 26s
4. Shelley Olds (USA) AA Drink-Leontien.nl @ 27s
5. Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Faren-Honda @ 30s
6. Jutatip Maneephan (Tha) Thailand @ 36s
7. Emilie Moberg (Nor) Hitec Products-Mistral Home
8. Liu Xin (Chn) China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling
9. Romy Kasper (Ger) RusVelo
10. Jessie MacLean (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge