Dutchwoman takes second stage win of this year’s race, deposes team-mate Pieters to retake lead
Winner on stage one and first home of the main bunch on Wednesday behind the break led in by team-mate Amy Pieters, Kirsten Wild was back on the top step of the podium Thursday in the women’s Tour of Qatar.
The Dutchwoman reacquired the leader’s jersey, overtaking Pieters due to the time bonuses at the finish and at the two intermediate sprints at Tenbek and Al Thakhira.
She was quickest of a ten woman sprint to the line, beating Elizabeth Armitstead (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team), Chloe Hosking (Hitec Products), Shelley Olds (Ale Cipollini) and others; Pieters was also in the group, placing ninth.
"It was a really hard finish today, actually the whole final ten kilometres was hard,” said Wild.
“We controlled the front group perfectly after the race split in the winds and made sure that Amy or I were always at the front.”
She’s back on top and is pleased with that, but also admits to mixed feelings. “I'm really happy to take the win and continue our success here. But it's never nice to take the jersey away from a teammate, especially after all the hard work Amy put in today,” she said. “But the plan was to keep the jersey in the team either way and see how the finish panned out. So it's worked out.”
The pace was fast from the start, reducing the peloton to 37 riders before the first intermediate sprint at Tenbek, 40.5 kilometres into the stage. There. Wild beat Maaike Polspoel (Team Giant - Shimano) and Emma Johansson (Orica - AIS), reducing her deficit to Pieters.
After a regrouping just under sixty kilometres into the stage, Aude Biannic (France) attacked and opened a 25 second lead. However she was caught a couple of kilometres after going clear.
Fourteen riders then pushed ahead inside the final 25 kilometres, with this group including Wild, Pieters and others. The former won the second bonus sprint at Al Thakhira (km 85), leading in Hosking and Johansson, after which the group hurtled on to the finish.
Wild’s success there ahead of Armitstead, Hosking, Olds and the others left her nine seconds ahead of Pieters, 21 up on Hosking, 35 in front of Johansson and 47 ahead of Trixi Worrack (Specialized - lululemon).
Just one stage remains and Wild is looking increasingly likely to take what would be her fourth overall victory in the race. The points classification also looks to be on, although nothing is certain just yet.
Team coach Ruud Verhagen was pleased with how things played out. “We knew it was going to be a tough day today but it worked out perfectly once again.
“The girls were really strong again and when Amy and Kirsten were in the front group of twelve the situation was perfect. They never lost control and even after working hard, Kirsten was still the fastest to the line.”
The final stage of the race is 85 kilometres from Sealine Beach Resort to Doha Corniche.
Women’s Tour of Qatar (2.1)
Stage 3, Katara Cultural Village to Al Khor Corniche:
1, Kirsten Wild (Team Giant - Shimano) 93.5 kilometres in 2 hours 27 mins 34 secs
2, Elizabeth Armitstead (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team)
3, Chloe Hosking (Hitec Products)
4, Shelley Olds (Ale Cipollini)
5, Emma Johansson (Orica - AIS)
6, Barbara Guarischi (Ale Cipollini)
7, Trixi Worrack (Specialized - lululemon)
8, Elena Cecchini (Italy)
9, Amy Pieters (Team Giant - Shimano)
10, Loes Gunnewijk (Orica - AIS) at 5 secs
11, Melissa Hoskins (Orica - AIS) at 15 secs
12, Gracie Elvin (Orica - AIS)
13, Katarzyna Pawlowska (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team) at 50 secs
14, Olga Zabelinskaya (RusVelo)
15, Pascale Jeuland (France)
16, Tiffany Cromwell (Specialized - lululemon)
17, Jolien D'Hoore (Lotto Belisol Ladies)
18, Chantal Blaak (Specialized - lululemon)
19, Jessie MacLean (Orica - AIS)
20, Elise Delzenne (Specialized - lululemon) at 1 min 16 secs
21, Charlotte Becker (Wiggle Honda)
22, Liesbeth De Vocht (Lotto Belisol Ladies) at 1 min 18 secs
23, Iris Slappendel (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team)
24, Lisa Brennauer (Specialized - lululemon)
25, Romy Kasper (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team)
26, Sarah Roy (Australia)
27, Inga Cilvinaite (RusVelo)
28, Lauren Kitchen (Hitec Products)
29, Katrin Garfoot (Australia)
30, Chloe McConville (Australia)
31, Marta Tagliaferro (Ale Cipollini)
32, Marijn De Vries (Team Giant - Shimano)
33, Sara Mustonen (Team Giant - Shimano)
34, Anna Van Der Breggen (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team)
35, Maaike Polspoel (Team Giant - Shimano)
36, Thalita De Jong (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team) at 3 mins 45 secs
37, Aizan Zhaparova (RusVelo)
38, Xiaoling Luo (China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling)
39, Roxanne Knetemann (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team)
40, Celine Van Severen (Lotto Belisol Ladies)
41, Roxane Fournier (France)
42, Audrey Cordon (Hitec Products)
43, Dong Yan Huang (China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling)
44, Rochelle Gilmore (Wiggle Honda)
45, Emilie Moberg (Hitec Products)
46, Louisa Lobigs (Australia)
47, Malgorzata Jasinska (Ale Cipollini)
48, Alexandra Burchenkova (RusVelo)
49, Susanna Zorzi (Astana Bepink Womens Team)
50, Christine Majerus (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team)
51, Emily Roper (Australia)
52, Emilia Fahlin (Wiggle Honda)
53, Jessica Mundy (Australia)
54, Elena Kuchinskaia (RusVelo)
55, Valentina Scandolara (Orica - AIS)
56, Peta Mullens (Wiggle Honda)
57, Hong Yu Liang (China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling)
58, Simona Frapporti (Astana Bepink Womens Team)
59, Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle Honda)
60, Béatrice Bartelloni (Wiggle Honda)
61, Lucinda Brand (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team)
62, Aude Biannic (France)
63, Julia Soek (Team Giant - Shimano)
64, Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Italy) at 6 mins 51 secs
65, Thea Thorsen (Hitec Products)
66, Fanny Riberot (France)
67, Michela Pavin (Ale Cipollini)
68, Zita Stricker (Astana Bepink Womens Team)
69, Elena Berlato (Ale Cipollini) at 11 mins 18 secs
70, Marion Rousse (Lotto Belisol Ladies)
71, Alice Algisi (Astana Bepink Womens Team)
72, Marieke Van Wanroij (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team)
73, Aurore Verhoeven (France)
74, Chiara Vannucci (Italy)
75, Arianna Fidanza (Italy)
76, Fiona Dutriaux (France)
77, Alena Amialiusik (Astana Bepink Womens Team)
78, Anastasia Chulkova (RusVelo)
79, Claudia Cretti (Italy)
80, Annalisa Cucinotta (Italy)
81, Maeia Covrig (Astana Bepink Womens Team)
82, Ni Man Song (China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling) at 12 mins 59 secs
83, Wan Yiu Jamie Wong (China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling)
84, Tone Hatteland Lima (Hitec Products)
85, Yuan Yuan Tian (China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling) at 17 mins 27 secs
Intermediate sprints:
Tenbek:
1, Kirsten Wild (Team Giant - Shimano) 3 pts
2, Maaike Polspoel (Team Giant - Shimano) 2
3, Emma Johansson (Orica - AIS) 1
Al Thakhira:
1, Kirsten Wild (Team Giant - Shimano) 3 pts
2, Chloe Hosking (Hitec Products) 2
3, Emma Johansson (Orica - AIS) 1
Young riders:
1, Elena Cecchini (Italy) at 2 hours 27 mins 34 secs
2, Amy Pieters (Team Giant - Shimano)
3, Melissa Hoskins (Orica - AIS) at 15 secs
4, Thalita De Jong (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team) at 3 mins 45 secs
5, Celine Van Severen (Lotto Belisol Ladies)
6, Roxane Fournier (France)
7, Dong Yan Huang (China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling)
8, Emilie Moberg (Hitec Products)
9, Susanna Zorzi (Astana Bepink Womens Team)
10, Emily Roper (Australia)
Teams:
1, Orica - AIS, 7 hours 23 mins 2 secs
2, Ale Cipollini, at 58 secs
3, Team Giant - Shimano
4, Specialized - lululemon, at 1 min 20 secs
5, Boels Dolmans Cycling Team, at 1 min 48 secs
6, Australia, at 3 mins 34 secs
7, Hitec Products, at 4 mins 43 secs
8, RusVelo, at 5 mins 33 secs
9, Lotto Belisol Ladies
10, Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team, at 6 mins 1 secs
11, France, at 8 mins 0 secs
12, Wiggle Honda, at 8 mins 26 secs
13, China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling, at 10 mins 55 secs
14, Astana Bepink Womens Team, at 14 mins 1 secs
15, Italy, at 17 mins 49 secs
General classification after stage 3:
1, Kirsten Wild (Team Giant - Shimano) 7 hours 30 mins 53 secs
2, Amy Pieters (Team Giant - Shimano) at 9 secs
3, Chloe Hosking (Hitec Products) at 21 secs
4, Emma Johansson (Orica - AIS) at 35 secs
5, Trixi Worrack (Specialized - lululemon) at 47 secs
6, Melissa Hoskins (Orica - AIS) at 55 secs
7, Jolien D'Hoore (Lotto Belisol Ladies) at 1 min 29 secs
8, Elena Cecchini (Italy) at 1 min 40 secs
9, Tiffany Cromwell (Specialized - lululemon) at 1 min 48 secs
10, Iris Slappendel (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team) at 2 mins 5 secs
11, Charlotte Becker (Wiggle Honda) at 2 mins 18 secs
12, Anna Van Der Breggen (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team)
13, Olga Zabelinskaya (RusVelo) at 2 mins 20 secs
14, Inga Cilvinaite (RusVelo) at 2 mins 23 secs
15, Lauren Kitchen (Hitec Products) at 2 mins 58 secs
16, Liesbeth De Vocht (Lotto Belisol Ladies) at 3 mins 20 secs
17, Sara Mustonen (Team Giant - Shimano) at 3 mins 49 secs
18, Christine Majerus (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team) at 4 mins 32 secs
19, Valentina Scandolara (Orica - AIS)
20, Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle Honda) at 5 mins 25 secs
21, Julia Soek (Team Giant - Shimano) at 5 mins 47 secs
22, Shelley Olds (Ale Cipollini) at 11 mins 59 secs
23, Elizabeth Armitstead (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team)
24, Barbara Guarischi (Ale Cipollini) at 12 mins 7 secs
25, Loes Gunnewijk (Orica - AIS) at 12 mins 16 secs
26, Pascale Jeuland (France) at 12 mins 57 secs
27, Chantal Blaak (Specialized - lululemon) at 13 mins 1 secs
28, Gracie Elvin (Orica - AIS) at 13 mins 15 secs
29, Romy Kasper (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team) at 13 mins 25 secs
30, Katarzyna Pawlowska (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team) at 13 mins 50 secs
31, Jessie MacLean (Orica - AIS)
32, Elise Delzenne (Specialized - lululemon) at 14 mins 16 secs
33, Maaike Polspoel (Team Giant - Shimano)
34, Sarah Roy (Australia) at 14 mins 18 secs
35, Katrin Garfoot (Australia)
36, Marta Tagliaferro (Ale Cipollini)
37, Marijn De Vries (Team Giant - Shimano)
38, Susanna Zorzi (Astana Bepink Womens Team) at 15 mins 52 secs
39, Thalita De Jong (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team) at 16 mins 45 secs
40, Rochelle Gilmore (Wiggle Honda)
41, Roxanne Knetemann (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team)
42, Lucinda Brand (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team)
43, Lisa Brennauer (Specialized - lululemon) at 17 mins 55 secs
44, Chloe McConville (Australia)
45, Aizan Zhaparova (RusVelo) at 19 mins 17 secs
46, Hong Yu Liang (China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling)
47, Dong Yan Huang (China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling) at 20 mins 22 secs
48, Elena Kuchinskaia (RusVelo)
49, Alexandra Burchenkova (RusVelo)
50, Roxane Fournier (France)
51, Emilie Moberg (Hitec Products)
52, Xiaoling Luo (China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling)
53, Audrey Cordon (Hitec Products)
54, Celine Van Severen (Lotto Belisol Ladies)
55, Peta Mullens (Wiggle Honda)
56, Béatrice Bartelloni (Wiggle Honda)
57, Emilia Fahlin (Wiggle Honda)
58, Simona Frapporti (Astana Bepink Womens Team)
59, Aude Biannic (France)
60, Malgorzata Jasinska (Ale Cipollini)
61, Louisa Lobigs (Australia)
62, Jessica Mundy (Australia)
63, Emily Roper (Australia)
64, Annalisa Cucinotta (Italy) at 23 mins 25 secs
65, Michela Pavin (Ale Cipollini) at 23 mins 28 secs
66, Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Italy)
67, Thea Thorsen (Hitec Products)
68, Fanny Riberot (France)
69, Zita Stricker (Astana Bepink Womens Team)
70, Fiona Dutriaux (France) at 24 mins 18 secs
71, Aurore Verhoeven (France)
72, Anastasia Chulkova (RusVelo) at 26 mins 48 secs
73, Alice Algisi (Astana Bepink Womens Team) at 27 mins 55 secs
74, Marieke Van Wanroij (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team)
75, Marion Rousse (Lotto Belisol Ladies)
76, Chiara Vannucci (Italy)
77, Alena Amialiusik (Astana Bepink Womens Team)
78, Maeia Covrig (Astana Bepink Womens Team)
79, Claudia Cretti (Italy) at 29 mins 8 secs
80, Arianna Fidanza (Italy) at 29 mins 17 secs
81, Wan Yiu Jamie Wong (China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling) at 29 mins 36 secs
82, Ni Man Song (China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling)
83, Tone Hatteland Lima (Hitec Products) at 31 mins 40 secs
84, Elena Berlato (Ale Cipollini) at 34 mins 38 secs
85, Yuan Yuan Tian (China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling) at 36 mins 0 secs
Points:
1, Kirsten Wild (Team Giant - Shimano) 53 pts
2, Chloe Hosking (Hitec Products) 31
3, Shelley Olds (Ale Cipollini) 21
4, Elizabeth Armitstead (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team) 20
5, Amy Pieters (Team Giant - Shimano) 17
6, Emma Johansson (Orica - AIS) 12
7, Anna Van Der Breggen (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team) 12
8, Jolien D'Hoore (Lotto Belisol Ladies) 11
9, Charlotte Becker (Wiggle Honda) 9
10, Barbara Guarischi (Ale Cipollini) 9
11, Inga Cilvinaite (RusVelo) 7
12, Trixi Worrack (Specialized - lululemon) 5
13, Melissa Hoskins (Orica - AIS) 5
14, Pascale Jeuland (France) 5
15, Elena Cecchini (Italy) 3
16, Olga Zabelinskaya (RusVelo) 3
17, Iris Slappendel (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team) 2
18, Maaike Polspoel (Team Giant - Shimano) 2
19, Loes Gunnewijk (Orica - AIS) 1
Young riders:
1, Amy Pieters (Team Giant - Shimano) 7 hours 31 mins 2 secs
2, Melissa Hoskins (Orica - AIS) at 46 secs
3, Elena Cecchini (Italy) at 1 min 31 secs
4, Susanna Zorzi (Astana Bepink Womens Team) at 15 mins 43 secs
5, Thalita De Jong (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team) at 16 mins 36 secs
6, Dong Yan Huang (China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling) at 20 mins 13 secs
7, Roxane Fournier (France)
8, Emilie Moberg (Hitec Products)
9, Celine Van Severen (Lotto Belisol Ladies)
10, Béatrice Bartelloni (Wiggle Honda)
11, Aude Biannic (France)
12, Jessica Mundy (Australia)
13, Emily Roper (Australia)
14, Michela Pavin (Ale Cipollini) at 23 mins 19 secs
15, Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Italy)
16, Thea Thorsen (Hitec Products)
17, Zita Stricker (Astana Bepink Womens Team)
18, Alice Algisi (Astana Bepink Womens Team) at 27 mins 46 secs
19, Marion Rousse (Lotto Belisol Ladies)
20, Chiara Vannucci (Italy)
21, Maeia Covrig (Astana Bepink Womens Team)
22, Claudia Cretti (Italy) at 28 mins 59 secs
23, Arianna Fidanza (Italy) at 29 mins 8 secs
24, Yuan Yuan Tian (China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling) at 35 mins 51 secs
Teams classification:
1, Orica – AIS, 22 hours 35 mins 4 secs
2, Team Giant - Shimano, at 1 min 51 secs
3, Specialized - lululemon, at 13 mins 11 secs
4, Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team, at 18 mins 49 secs
5, Hitec Products, at 21 mins 32 secs
6, RusVelo, at 21 mins 33 secs
7, Wiggle Honda, at 22 mins 7 secs
8, Lotto Belisol Ladies, at 22 mins 48 secs
9, Boels Dolmans Cycling Team, at 24 mins 44 secs
10, Ale Cipollini, at 36 mins 7 secs
11, France, at 44 mins 2 secs
12, Australia, at 44 mins 6 secs
13, Italy, at 46 mins 8 secs
14, Astana Bepink Womens Team, at 57 mins 17 secs
15, China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling, at 57 mins 36 secs