photo credits @ Women’s Tour of California
After chasing down the day’s final breakaway group, Marianne Vos (Rabo-Liv) succeeded in outsprinting Coryn Rivera (UnitedHealthcare) to claim stage 3 of the Women’s Tour of California today, while Megan Guarnier (Boels-Dolmans) managed to retain her hold on the overall classification, after finishing safely in the main bunch.
Today’s win marked Vos’ first victory of the season, and her first in the newly established Women’s WorldTour.
“It’s incredible,” Vos said of her victory. “It’s a big race. It’s a WorldTour race, and actually it’s my first WorldTour win of the season. To take it here in California is pretty special.”
Race Highlights
Mara Abbott (WIGGLE-High5) attempted several of her signature “off the front” breakaway attempts throughout the day, eventually creating a 1:20 advantage along second and final climb to Coleman Road.
However, her efforts were later brought to close during the last 10 kilometers, after she was reined in by the chase group of Guarnier, Kristin Armstrong, Evelyn Stevens and Katie Hall.
From there, the quartet went on to open up a slight margin of 35 seconds over the chase.
But, a few kilometers later, the leaders relented, and were quickly reclaimed by the peloton.
Despite the field coming back together, a lead group of only 24 riders made their way into downtown Santa Rosa for three finishing circuits.
Ruth Winder (USA Cycling) and Chloe Dygert (Twenty16-Ridebiker) both had a go in the final closing circuits, but with several big name sprinters such as UnitedHealthcare’s Linda Villumsen and Hall, driving the pace at the front, the race was destined for a field sprint.
Rivera decided to make the first move by opening up her sprint during the closing 50 meters, but she was easily overtaken by Vos.
“When I felt like the time was right I started my sprint and had a bit of a jump,” Rivera said. “I had a gap on everyone and then Vos did the same to me. Maybe I went a little early but I did my own sprint.”
Top 20 Finishers
1 Marianne Vos (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team 2:52:51 2 Coryn Rivera (USA) UnitedHealthcare Women 3 Emma Johansson (Swe) Wiggle High5 4 Megan Guarnier (USA) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team 5 Brianna Walle (USA) Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank 6 Alena Amialiusik (Blr) Canyon-SRAM 7 Heather Fischer (USA) Rally Cycling 8 Chloe Dygert (USA) Twenty16 – Ridebiker 9 Lauren Stephens (USA) Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank 10 Danielle King (GBr) Wiggle High5 11 Sharon Laws (GBr) Podium Ambition Pro Cycling p/b Club La Santa 12 Emma White (USA) Rally Cycling 13 Nikki Harris (GBr) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team 14 Tayler Wiles (USA) USA National Team 15 Nina Marie Laughlin (USA) Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cycling 16 Scotti Lechuga (USA) Hagens Berman / Supermint Pro Cycling Team 17 Evelyn Stevens (USA) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team 18 Leah Thomas (USA) Twenty16 – Ridebiker 19 Katie Hall (USA) UnitedHealthcare Women 20 Kristin Armstrong (USA) Twenty16 – Ridebiker
General classification after stage 3
1 Megan Guarnier (USA) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team 6:25:24 2 Kristin Armstrong (USA) Twenty16 – Ridebiker 0:00:15 3 Evelyn Stevens (USA) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team 0:00:25 4 Marianne Vos (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team 0:00:43 5 Coryn Rivera (USA) UnitedHealthcare Women 0:00:44 6 Leah Thomas (USA) Twenty16 – Ridebiker 0:00:47 7 Katie Hall (USA) UnitedHealthcare Women 0:00:52 8 Chloe Dygert (USA) Twenty16 – Ridebiker 0:00:56 9 Emma Johansson (Swe) Wiggle High5 0:01:01 10 Shara Gillow (Aus) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team 0:01:06 11 Lauren Stephens (USA) Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank 0:01:22 12 Alena Amialiusik (Blr) Canyon-SRAM 0:01:23 13 Danielle King (GBr) Wiggle High5 0:01:24 14 Brianna Walle (USA) Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank 0:01:35 15 Linda Melanie Villumsen (NZl) UnitedHealthcare Women 0:01:36 16 Mara Abbott (USA) Wiggle High5 0:01:44 17 Nikki Harris (GBr) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team 0:01:51 18 Karol Ann Canuel (Can) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team 19 Sharon Laws (GBr) Podium Ambition Pro Cycling p/b Club La Santa 0:01:59 20 Audrey Cordon (Fra) Wiggle High5 0:02:14
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