Friends Life Women’s Tour 2014
Author: Chris Maher, Pictures courtesy of: Chris Maher | Photography
Thursday 08th May 2014
Stage Two
Official Press Release
Rossella Ratto wins in Bedford to take Friends Life Women’s Tour lead
Italian Rossella Ratto outsprinted compatriot Susanna Zorzi on Bedford’s Embankment to win the second stage of the Friends Life Women’s Tour, jumping into the lead of the race following her victory.
The Italian duo out foxed the sprinters into Bedford, holding off the Marianne Vos led bunch by six seconds to remain clear after Ratto had broken clear after 65-kilometres of racing.
Having instigated the move heading towards the second Strava Queen of the Mountains at Brixworth, Ratto was later joined by Zorzi, building a gap of two minutes approaching 20-kilometres to go.
With Lizzie Armitstead’s Boels Dolmans taking up the chase the deficit was halved, but Ratto and Zorzi remained clear, although only just with the peloton in sight behind the duo on the 400-metre long finishing straight.
Having outsprinted Zorzi, Estado de Mexico Faren rider Ratto said afterwards;
“I originally attacked to get the points for the Queen of the Mountains but I continued because I felt good – I am training for the time-trial at present – so I thought why not? I was on the point of giving up when Susanna came across to me from the peloton. Two is always better than one so we started to ride hard again. The gap started going up and we thought maybe we could do it.
“I was still afraid the peloton would get back to us in the final 4km but Suzanna, who is a good friend, helped me a lot and we were able to ride all the way to the finish it was a dream.”
Behind the Italians Vos led home compatriot Amy Pieters and Lucy Garner, followed by Giorgia Bronzini and Lizzie Armitstead.
“We almost caught Rossella but not quite,” said Armitstead afterwards. “From our point of view it was really our team’s responsibility to lead the chase, we didn’t have the yellow jersey to defend and possibly GreenEdge made a slight mistake.
“In terms of the GC we are still in the hunt if the stages are challenging enough but realistically we need some wins to make it more interesting. I’ve been going for all the intermediate sprints so far, I have been in stage races before when it comes down to second so if it does get close on Sunday I don’t want to look back on any lost opportunity.”
Stage Two | Hinkley to Bedford
- Rossella Ratto Estado de Mexico Faren
- Susanna Zorzi Astana Bepink Women’s Team
- Marianne Vos Rabo Liv Women’s Cycling Team
- Amy Pieters Netherlands
- Lucy Garner Great Britain
- Giorgia Bronzini Wiggle Honda
- Lizzie Armitstead Boels Dolmans Cycling Team
- Aurore Verhoeven Liontek
- Aude Biannic Liontek
- Chloe Hoskins Hitec Products
Friends Life Women’s Tour
British Cycling Official Results
Team Jadan
Cycling Shorts
