Marianne Vos (Nederland Bloeit) won the third stage of the Holland Ladies Tour in Gieten, in the Drenthe region. The World Cup winner outsprinted Kirsten Wild (Cervélo TestTeam) and Giorgia Bronzini (Mixteam Merida/Gauss) at the end of the rainy 107.6km stage.
After the successful breakaway of yesterday the peloton kept together for most of the stage, which crossed some cobbled sections typical of the Drenthe region. Irene Van Den Broek (Leontien.nl) and Belgian champion Liesbet De Vocht (Nederland Bloeit) both had solo breakaways, but the sprinters’ teams, especially Wild’s Cervélo TestTeam, were determined not to let them stay away.
In the twisting finishing straight Vos took the front early and managed to hold off Wild to the finish. Such was the speed of the front four riders that they detached from the front of the peloton.
With the time bonus for the win, as well as the 3 seconds gained on the line, Vos has moved to within 27 seconds of race leader Martine Bras (Mixteam Merida/Gauss); the top three places are still held by the riders from the stage 2 breakaway.
Result stage 3
1. Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit
2. Kirsten Wild (Ned) Cervélo TestTeam
3. Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Mixteam Merida/Gauss
4. Emma Johansson (Swe) RedSun Cycling Team
5. Denise Zuckermandel (Ger) German National Team @ 3s
6. Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned) Nederland Bloeit
7. Ina Teutenberg (Ger) HTC-Columbia
8. Joelle Numainville (Can) Canadian National Team
9. Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Lotto Ladies Team
10. Janneke Kanis (Ned) Nederland Bloeit
Standings after stage 3
1. Martine Bras (Ned) Mixteam Merida/Gauss
2. Valentina Bastianelli (Ita) Top Girls-Fassa Bortolo-Ghezzi @ 7s
3. Janneke Ensing (Ned) Dolmans Landscaping Wielerteam @ 13s
4. Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit @ 27s
5. Kirsten Wild (Ned) Cervélo TestTeam @ 31s