Winner of stages one and three, Kirsten Wild took her third sprint victory on the concluding stage of the women’s Tour of Qatar on Friday. The Giant Shimano rider underlined her superb early season form, holding off former world champion Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle Honda), Melissa Hoskins (Orica - AIS), Trixi Worrack (Specialized - lululemon) and the rest of the bunch on the Doha Corniche.
In doing so, she completed her fourth career overall victory in the event.
“That was awesome, what a way to dominate a race,” she said. “The whole team have been great out here all week, and the overall win is thanks to them.
"It was great for Amy [Pieters] to get a stage too, showing that each of us is strong enough to win stages. I really like this race, as you can see and it is a great way to start the season, giving us confidence going forward, and to thank our sponsors.”
She ended the race 22 seconds ahead of stage two winner Pieters and 36 up on Chloe Hosking (Hitec Products), with Emma Johansson (Orica - AIS) at 50 seconds and Trixi Worrack (Specialized - lululemon) just over one minute adrift.
The final stage ran 85 kilometres from Sealine Beach Resort to Doha Corniche. Despite multiple attempts by riders to break clear, the peloton disputed the first intermediate sprint at Al Wakra, 38 kilometres after the start.
There, Wild underlined her dominance of the race’s sprints by beating Christine Majerus (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team) and Amy Pieters (Team Giant - Shimano) to the line. Soon after that Jessie MacLean (Orica-AIS) and Alexandra Burchenkova (RusVelo) jetted clear, and opened a lead of over one minute at kilometre fifty.
However they were gradually reeled in and things came back together at kilometre 63. This recapture was followed by several attacks, with Chantal Blaak (Specialized - lululemon) impressive in her move. She jumped away just before the fourth passage over the finish line, remaining out front for several kilometres and taking the Doha Corniche intermediate sprint.
Wild and her Giant Shimano team-mate Amy Pieters were second and third. Blaak continued out front but was reeled in with nine kilometres to go.
Her team-mate Tiffany Cromwell attacked immediately but was soon joined by the bunch. The tall figure of race leader Wild was very close by, keeping an eye on her rivals.
Other attacks were fired off but everything was together with one lap to go. A bunch sprint was looking more and more likely but this didn’t prevent others trying to slip clear. The attackers included Emma Johansson (Orica AIS), who clipped away inside the final five kilometres but was immediately marked by Wild.
A strong attack followed with Sarah Roy (Australia) driving a three-woman group. She was riding very strongly and kept the group clear for several minutes, but they were hauled back with two kilometres to go.
Blaak led the riders into the final kilometre with former world champion Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle Honda) prominently placed. Wild muscled her way to the front and led out the gallop; Bronzini sat on her wheel, choosing the best moment to kick, but didn’t have the power to overtake Wild and couldn’t get any closer than her chainset before cracking and settling for second.
That cemented the German’s overall victory and also her grip on the points classification. Pieters was best young rider, while Orica AIS won the team competition.
Women’s Tour of Qatar (2.1):
Stage 4: Sealine Beach Resort - Doha Corniche:
1, Kirsten Wild (Team Giant - Shimano) 85 kilometres in 2 hours 6 mins 23 secs
2, Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle Honda)
3, Melissa Hoskins (Orica - AIS)
4, Trixi Worrack (Specialized - lululemon)
5, Jolien D'Hoore (Lotto Belisol Ladies)
6, Shelley Olds (Ale Cipollini)
7, Pascale Jeuland (France)
8, Roxane Fournier (France)
9, Elizabeth Armitstead (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team)
10, Xiaoling Luo (China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling)
11, Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Italy)
12, Fiona Dutriaux (France)
13, Fanny Riberot (France)
14, Chloe Hosking (Hitec Products)
15, Elena Cecchini (Italy)
16, Aurore Verhoeven (France)
17, Olga Zabelinskaya (RusVelo)
18, Simona Frapporti (Astana Bepink Womens Team)
19, Sarah Roy (Australia)
20, Tiffany Cromwell (Specialized - lululemon)
21, Christine Majerus (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team)
22, Claudia Cretti (Italy)
23, Amy Pieters (Team Giant - Shimano)
24, Romy Kasper (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team)
25, Lucinda Brand (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team)
26, Annalisa Cucinotta (Italy)
27, Anna Van Der Breggen (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team)
28, Anastasia Chulkova (RusVelo)
29, Katrin Garfoot (Australia)
30, Emma Johansson (Orica - AIS)
31, Celine Van Severen (Lotto Belisol Ladies)
32, Louisa Lobigs (Australia)
33, Rochelle Gilmore (Wiggle Honda)
34, Marion Rousse (Lotto Belisol Ladies)
35, Inga Cilvinaite (RusVelo)
36, Arianna Fidanza (Italy)
37, Peta Mullens (Wiggle Honda)
38, Aizan Zhaparova (RusVelo)
39, Charlotte Becker (Wiggle Honda)
40, Katarzyna Pawlowska (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team)
41, Marta Tagliaferro (Ale Cipollini)
42, Chantal Blaak (Specialized - lululemon) at 11 secs
43, Thalita De Jong (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team)
44, Iris Slappendel (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team)
45, Lauren Kitchen (Hitec Products)
46, Aude Biannic (France)
47, Liesbeth De Vocht (Lotto Belisol Ladies)
48, Elise Delzenne (Specialized - lululemon)
49, Chloe McConville (Australia)
50, Sara Mustonen (Team Giant - Shimano)
51, Ni Man Song (China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling) at 18 secs
52, Elena Kuchinskaia (RusVelo)
53, Béatrice Bartelloni (Wiggle Honda)
54, Lisa Brennauer (Specialized - lululemon)
55, Gracie Elvin (Orica - AIS)
56, Roxanne Knetemann (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team)
57, Malgorzata Jasinska (Ale Cipollini) at 20 secs
58, Julia Soek (Team Giant - Shimano)
59, Maaike Polspoel (Team Giant - Shimano)
60, Wan Yiu Jamie Wong (China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling) at 25 secs
61, Thea Thorsen (Hitec Products)
62, Emilie Moberg (Hitec Products)
63, Michela Pavin (Ale Cipollini)
64, Hong Yu Liang (China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling)
65, Barbara Guarischi (Ale Cipollini)
66, Elena Berlato (Ale Cipollini)
67, Alexandra Burchenkova (RusVelo)
68, Emily Roper (Australia)
69, Jessica Mundy (Australia)
70, Jessie MacLean (Orica - AIS)
71, Alice Algisi (Astana Bepink Womens Team)
72, Chiara Vannucci (Italy)
73, Marijn De Vries (Team Giant - Shimano)
74, Alena Amialiusik (Astana Bepink Womens Team)
75, Emilia Fahlin (Wiggle Honda)
76, Valentina Scandolara (Orica - AIS)
77, Maeia Covrig (Astana Bepink Womens Team)
78, Loes Gunnewijk (Orica - AIS)
79, Tone Hatteland Lima (Hitec Products) at 2 mins 37 secs
80, Audrey Cordon (Hitec Products)
81, Zita Stricker (Astana Bepink Womens Team)
82, Marieke Van Wanroij (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team) at 5 mins 50 secs
83, Susanna Zorzi (Astana Bepink Womens Team) at 7 mins 30 secs
84, Yuan Yuan Tian (China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling) at 15 mins 50 secs
DNF: Dong Yan Huang (China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling)
Intermediate sprints:
Al Wakra:
1, Kirsten Wild (Team Giant - Shimano) 3 pts
2, Christine Majerus (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team) 2
3, Amy Pieters (Team Giant - Shimano) 1
Doha Corniche:
1, Chantal Blaak (Specialized - lululemon) 3 pts
2, Kirsten Wild (Team Giant - Shimano) 2
3, Amy Pieters (Team Giant - Shimano) 1
Young riders:
1, Melissa Hoskins (Orica - AIS) at 2:6 mins 23 secs
2, Roxane Fournier (France)
3, Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Italy)
4, Elena Cecchini (Italy)
5, Claudia Cretti (Italy)
6, Amy Pieters (Team Giant - Shimano)
7, Celine Van Severen (Lotto Belisol Ladies)
8, Marion Rousse (Lotto Belisol Ladies)
9, Arianna Fidanza (Italy)
10, Thalita De Jong (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team) at 11 secs
11, Aude Biannic (France)
12, Béatrice Bartelloni (Wiggle Honda) at 18 secs
13, Thea Thorsen (Hitec Products) at 25 secs
14, Emilie Moberg (Hitec Products)
15, Michela Pavin (Ale Cipollini)
Teams:
1, France, at 6 hours 19 mins 9 secs
2, Italy
3, Boels Dolmans Cycling Team
4, Lotto Belisol Ladies
5, Wiggle Honda
6, RusVelo
7, Australia
8, Specialized - lululemon, at 11 secs
9, Team Giant - Shimano
10, Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team
11, Orica - AIS, at 18 secs
12, Ale Cipollini, at 20 secs
13, Hitec Products, at 36 secs
14, China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling, at 43 secs
15, Astana Bepink Womens Team, at 50 secs
Final overall standings:
1, Kirsten Wild (Team Giant - Shimano) 9 hours 37 mins 1 secs
2, Amy Pieters (Team Giant - Shimano) at 22 secs
3, Chloe Hosking (Hitec Products) at 36 secs
4, Emma Johansson (Orica - AIS) at 50 secs
5, Trixi Worrack (Specialized - lululemon) at 1 min 2 secs
6, Melissa Hoskins (Orica - AIS) at 1 min 6 secs
7, Jolien D'Hoore (Lotto Belisol Ladies) at 1 min 44 secs
8, Elena Cecchini (Italy) at 1 min 55 secs
9, Tiffany Cromwell (Specialized - lululemon) at 2 mins 3 secs
10, Iris Slappendel (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team) at 2 mins 31 secs
11, Charlotte Becker (Wiggle Honda) at 2 mins 33 secs
12, Anna Van Der Breggen (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team)
13, Olga Zabelinskaya (RusVelo) at 2 mins 35 secs
14, Inga Cilvinaite (RusVelo) at 2 mins 38 secs
15, Lauren Kitchen (Hitec Products) at 3 mins 24 secs
16, Liesbeth De Vocht (Lotto Belisol Ladies) at 3 mins 46 secs
17, Sara Mustonen (Team Giant - Shimano) at 4 mins 15 secs
18, Christine Majerus (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team) at 4 mins 45 secs
19, Valentina Scandolara (Orica - AIS) at 5 mins 12 secs
20, Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle Honda) at 5 mins 34 secs
21, Julia Soek (Team Giant - Shimano) at 6 mins 22 secs
22, Shelley Olds (Ale Cipollini) at 12 mins 14 secs
23, Elizabeth Armitstead (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team)
24, Barbara Guarischi (Ale Cipollini) at 12 mins 47 secs
25, Loes Gunnewijk (Orica - AIS) at 12 mins 56 secs
26, Pascale Jeuland (France) at 13 mins 12 secs
27, Chantal Blaak (Specialized - lululemon) at 13 mins 24 secs
28, Romy Kasper (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team) at 13 mins 40 secs
29, Gracie Elvin (Orica - AIS) at 13 mins 48 secs
30, Katarzyna Pawlowska (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team) at 14 mins 5 secs
31, Jessie MacLean (Orica - AIS) at 14 mins 30 secs
32, Sarah Roy (Australia) at 14 mins 33 secs
33, Katrin Garfoot (Australia)
34, Marta Tagliaferro (Ale Cipollini)
35, Elise Delzenne (Specialized - lululemon) at 14 mins 42 secs
36, Maaike Polspoel (Team Giant - Shimano) at 14 mins 51 secs
37, Marijn De Vries (Team Giant - Shimano) at 14 mins 58 secs
38, Rochelle Gilmore (Wiggle Honda) at 17 mins 0 secs
39, Lucinda Brand (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team)
40, Thalita De Jong (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team) at 17 mins 11 secs
41, Roxanne Knetemann (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team) at 17 mins 18 secs
42, Chloe McConville (Australia) at 18 mins 21 secs
43, Lisa Brennauer (Specialized - lululemon) at 18 mins 28 secs
44, Aizan Zhaparova (RusVelo) at 19 mins 32 secs
45, Hong Yu Liang (China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling) at 19 mins 57 secs
46, Roxane Fournier (France) at 20 mins 37 secs
47, Xiaoling Luo (China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling)
48, Celine Van Severen (Lotto Belisol Ladies)
49, Simona Frapporti (Astana Bepink Womens Team)
50, Peta Mullens (Wiggle Honda)
51, Louisa Lobigs (Australia)
52, Aude Biannic (France) at 20 mins 48 secs
53, Elena Kuchinskaia (RusVelo) at 20 mins 55 secs
54, Béatrice Bartelloni (Wiggle Honda)
55, Malgorzata Jasinska (Ale Cipollini) at 20 mins 57 secs
56, Emilie Moberg (Hitec Products) at 21 mins 2 secs
57, Alexandra Burchenkova (RusVelo)
58, Emilia Fahlin (Wiggle Honda)
59, Jessica Mundy (Australia)
60, Emily Roper (Australia)
61, Audrey Cordon (Hitec Products) at 23 mins 14 secs
62, Susanna Zorzi (Astana Bepink Womens Team) at 23 mins 37 secs
63, Annalisa Cucinotta (Italy) at 23 mins 40 secs
64, Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Italy) at 23 mins 43 secs
65, Fanny Riberot (France)
66, Michela Pavin (Ale Cipollini) at 24 mins 8 secs
67, Thea Thorsen (Hitec Products)
68, Fiona Dutriaux (France) at 24 mins 33 secs
69, Aurore Verhoeven (France)
70, Zita Stricker (Astana Bepink Womens Team) at 26 mins 20 secs
71, Anastasia Chulkova (RusVelo) at 27 mins 3 secs
72, Marion Rousse (Lotto Belisol Ladies) at 28 mins 10 secs
73, Alice Algisi (Astana Bepink Womens Team) at 28 mins 35 secs
74, Chiara Vannucci (Italy)
75, Alena Amialiusik (Astana Bepink Womens Team)
76, Maeia Covrig (Astana Bepink Womens Team)
77, Claudia Cretti (Italy) at 29 mins 23 secs
78, Arianna Fidanza (Italy) at 29 mins 32 secs
79, Ni Man Song (China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling) at 30 mins 9 secs
80, Wan Yiu Jamie Wong (China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling) at 30 mins 16 secs
81, Marieke Van Wanroij (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team) at 34 mins 0 secs
82, Tone Hatteland Lima (Hitec Products) at 34 mins 32 secs
83, Elena Berlato (Ale Cipollini) at 35 mins 18 secs
84, Yuan Yuan Tian (China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling) at 52 mins 5 secs
Points:
1, Kirsten Wild (Team Giant - Shimano) 73 pts
2, Chloe Hosking (Hitec Products) 31
3, Shelley Olds (Ale Cipollini) 26
4, Elizabeth Armitstead (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team) 22
5, Amy Pieters (Team Giant - Shimano) 19
6, Jolien D'Hoore (Lotto Belisol Ladies) 17
7, Melissa Hoskins (Orica - AIS) 14
8, Emma Johansson (Orica - AIS) 12
9, Trixi Worrack (Specialized - lululemon) 12
10, Anna Van Der Breggen (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team) 12
11, Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle Honda) 12
12, Charlotte Becker (Wiggle Honda) 9
13, Barbara Guarischi (Ale Cipollini) 9
14, Pascale Jeuland (France) 9
15, Inga Cilvinaite (RusVelo) 7
16, Chantal Blaak (Specialized - lululemon) 3
17, Elena Cecchini (Italy) 3
18, Olga Zabelinskaya (RusVelo) 3
19, Roxane Fournier (France) 3
20, Iris Slappendel (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team) 2
Young riders:
1, Amy Pieters (Team Giant - Shimano) 9 hours 37 mins 23 secs
2, Melissa Hoskins (Orica - AIS) at 44 secs
3, Elena Cecchini (Italy) at 1 min 33 secs
4, Thalita De Jong (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team) at 16 mins 49 secs
5, Roxane Fournier (France) at 20 mins 15 secs
6, Celine Van Severen (Lotto Belisol Ladies)
7, Aude Biannic (France) at 20 mins 26 secs
8, Béatrice Bartelloni (Wiggle Honda) at 20 mins 33 secs
9, Emilie Moberg (Hitec Products) at 20 mins 40 secs
10, Jessica Mundy (Australia)
11, Emily Roper (Australia)
12, Susanna Zorzi (Astana Bepink Womens Team) at 23 mins 15 secs
13, Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Italy) at 23 mins 21 secs
14, Michela Pavin (Ale Cipollini) at 23 mins 46 secs
15, Thea Thorsen (Hitec Products)
16, Zita Stricker (Astana Bepink Womens Team) at 25 mins 58 secs
17, Marion Rousse (Lotto Belisol Ladies) at 27 mins 48 secs
18, Alice Algisi (Astana Bepink Womens Team) at 28 mins 13 secs
19, Chiara Vannucci (Italy)
20, Maeia Covrig (Astana Bepink Womens Team)
Teams:
1, Orica – AIS, 28 hours 54 mins 31 secs
2, Team Giant - Shimano, at 1 min 44 secs
3, Specialized - lululemon, at 13 mins 4 secs
4, Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team, at 18 mins 42 secs
5, RusVelo, at 21 mins 15 secs
6, Wiggle Honda, at 21 mins 49 secs
7, Hitec Products, at 21 mins 50 secs
8, Lotto Belisol Ladies, at 22 mins 30 secs
9, Boels Dolmans Cycling Team, at 24 mins 26 secs
10, Ale Cipollini, at 36 mins 9 secs
11, France, at 43 mins 44 secs
12, Australia, at 43 mins 48 secs
13, Italy, at 45 mins 50 secs
14, Astana Bepink Womens Team, at 57 mins 49 secs
15, China Chongming-Giant Pro Cycling, at 58 mins 1 secs