Lucy Garner (Argos-Shimano) proved a worthy stand in for injured teammate Kirsten Wild as she sprinted to her first ever professional victory in the opening stage of the Tour of Chongming Island in Chongbei. The World junior champion beat Australian Chloe Hosking (Hitec Products) and Oksana Kozonchuk (RusVelo) in the dash for the line after a crash in the final two kilometres had disrupted a number of teams.
“I’m so happy that I took the win today. In the finale it was a bit hectic and l lost the wheel of my teammates, but I moved up to the front in the final kilometres and because there was a tough headwind I waited as long as possible to start sprinting,” said Garner afterwards.
“Today everything fell into place. I feel like I’ve finally reached my top form these last few weeks. It is an amazing feeling to win my first race with the elite women. I had hoped for good results this season, of course, but to be given the opportunity to sprint and finish the job is incredible.”
The 73.4km stage saw the peloton stay together throughout, with the only obstacle on the wide, flat course being a strong wind. Hosking took first place in the first intermediate sprint after 28km, netting a three-second time bonus, ahead of Nettie Edmondson and Emma Johansson (both Orica-AIS); Edmondson took the second, ahead of Johansson once again, with Sara Mustonen (Faren-Let’s Go Finland) third.
Orica-AIS then led the peloton into the finish, but a wayward rider brought down Edmondson with just under two kilometres to go. The crash disrupted a number of sprinters’ teams, including that of two-time World champion Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle-Honda), and Orica-AIS had lost its principle sprinter.
Hosking was among the first to open up her sprint but, with a strong crosswind in the finishing straight, the Australian had gone too early and Garner was able to come past to take her first senior victory.
Result stage 1
1. Lucy Garner (GBr) Argos-Shimano
2. Chloe Hosking (Aus) Hitec Products
3. Oksana Kozonchuk (Rus) RusVelo
4. Emma Johansson (Swe) Orica-GreenEdge
5. Shelley Olds (USA) Team Tibco-To The Top
6. Marta Bastianelli (Ita) Faren-Let’s Go Finland
7. Simona Frapporti (Ita) Be Pink
8. Marta Tagliaferrro (Ita) MCipollini-Giordana
9. Pascale Jeuland (Fra) France National Team
10. Sara Mustonen (Swe) Faren-Let’s Go Finland
Standings after stage 1
1. Lucy Garner (GBr) Argos-Shimano
2. Chloe Hosking (Aus) Hitec Products @ 1s
3. Annette Edmondson (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge @ 5s
4. Oksana Kozonchuk (Rus) RusVelo @ 6s
5. Emma Johansson (Swe) Orica-GreenEdge @ 7s
6. Sara Mustonen (Swe) Faren-Let’s Go Finland @ 9s
7. Shelley Olds (USA) Team Tibco-To The Top @ 10s
8. Marta Bastianelli (Ita) Faren-Let’s Go Finland
9. Simona Frapporti (Ita) Be Pink
10. Marta Tagliaferrro (Ita) MCipollini-Giordana