{"id":8667,"date":"2021-10-03T18:50:40","date_gmt":"2021-10-03T18:50:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chrismaher.co.uk\/?p=8667"},"modified":"2021-10-05T21:11:29","modified_gmt":"2021-10-05T21:11:29","slug":"aj-bell-womens-tour-stage-1-bicester-to-banbury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrismaher.co.uk\/?p=8667","title":{"rendered":"AJ Bell Women’s Tour | Stage 1 Bicester to Banbury"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Elisa Balsamo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

PRESS RELEASE<\/strong><\/p>\n

MONDAY 04 OCTOBER 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n

MARTA BASTIANELLI SPRINTS TO FIRST-EVER AJ BELL WOMEN\u2019S TOUR STAGE VICTORY IN BANBURY<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Stage 1 Winner Marta Bastianelli<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Former world champion Marta Bastianelli claimed her first-ever AJ Bell Women\u2019s Tour stage victory in Banbury, Oxfordshire, on Monday following a perfectly-timed sprint.<\/p>\n

Images by Chris Maher - Updated Daily Throughout the Race<\/pre>\n
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Close Bunch Sprint into Banbury after 147Kms<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Bastianelli (Al\u00e9 BTC Ljubljana) managed to pass Chloe Hosking (Trek-Segafredo) and FDJ Nouvelle \u2013 Aquitaine Futuroscope\u2019s Clara Copponi in sight of the line to take the win and the race\u2019s first leader\u2019s jersey of 2021.<\/p>\n
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Sigma Points Jersey Marta Bastianelli<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Speaking after the finish Bastianelli said; \u201cIt\u2019s a very nice win for me.\u00a0 There are lots of people, lots of babies, for me it is good, because I think of my daughter. <\/em><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a crash with 1km to go, and luckily I did not crash but I am sorry for those that did.\u00a0 I started the sprint in third position, and for me it was the maximum because my coach has seen me win sprints from there. <\/em><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
\u201cThe sprint was not easy because it is a little bit tougher and uphill, and I think it is not for the sprinters, but for me it is a good race and a good day.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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Start-line in Bicester<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The 2007 World Champion headed into the final corner on Banbury\u2019s South Bar Street in third position but on the gently rising road to the finish line it was Bastianelli who powered to the line.\u00a0 Victory was the first for an Italian rider at the AJ Bell Women\u2019s Tour since Stage Two of the inaugural edition in May 2014.<\/p>\n
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AJ Bell Women’s Tour leaves Bicester<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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AJ Bell Women’s Tour leaves Bicester<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Top Brit was Hannah Barnes (Canyon SRAM Racing) in sixth while defending champion Lizzie Deignan (Trek-Segafredo) finished 40th, 26 seconds down, after working for team-mate Hosking in the sprint.<\/p>\n
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Demi Vollering (SD Worx) takes the \u0160KODA Queen of the Mountains.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Bastianelli also takes the Sigma Sports Points jersey while Nina Kessler (Team TIBCO Silicon Valley Bank) holds the Eisberg Sprints jersey and Demi Vollering (SD Worx) takes the \u0160KODA Queen of the Mountains.<\/p>\n
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April Tacey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Talking to April Tacey Drops \u2013 Le Col s\/b Tempur<\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
How excited are you to be taking part in this year\u2019s AJ Bell Women\u2019s Tour? \u201cI\u2019m really excited about riding my first (AJ Bell) Women\u2019s Tour. It\u2019s home roads. I can\u2019t wait to get racing.\u201d<\/p>\n
What stages are you looking forward to? \u201cI\u2019m looking forward to the Crit (Stage 2 circuit course in Wallsall) and the Time Trial (Stage 3 in Atherstone). I\u2019ve done a lot of Crits as a Junior & the Time Trial I\u2019ve been focusing with the new Ribble TT bike. It\u2019s really nice & I\u2019ve got a good position on that. I\u2019m excited\u201d.<\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
After the race I asked her how the race went. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t too bad. On the last Queen of the Mountain when they went hard \u2013 full gas \u2013 I was left in a little group. Hopefully later in the week I will have good legs\u201d.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
 <\/p>\n
April finished 53rd<\/sup> at 3.02 down after stage one.<\/p>\n
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A tough day in the saddle for CAMS-Basso’s Becky Storey in her first Women’s Tour<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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AJ Bell Women’s Tour leaves Bicester<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Stage One Top 20<\/strong><\/pre>\n
1 31 BASTIANELLI Marta ALE ITA B:10″ <\/em>00″<\/p>\n
2 3 HOSKING Chloe TFS AUS B:06″ <\/em>‘ ‘<\/p>\n
3 62 COPPONI Clara FDJ FRA B:04″ <\/em>‘ ‘<\/p>\n
4 121 GUTIERREZ RUIZ Sheyla MOV ESP ‘ ‘<\/p>\n
5 23 CECCHINI Elena SDW ITA ‘ ‘<\/p>\n
6 13 *BARNES Hannah CSR GBR ‘ ‘<\/p>\n
7 92 BERTIZZOLO Sofia LIV ITA ‘ ‘<\/p>\n
8 41 *NELSON Josie HPU GBR ‘ ‘<\/p>\n
9 21 PIETERS Amy SDW NED ‘ ‘<\/p>\n
10 154 KIRCHMANN Leah DSM CAN ‘ ‘<\/p>\n
11 141 ROY Sarah BEX AUS B:03″ <\/em>‘ ‘<\/p>\n
12 155 LABOUS Juliette DSM FRA ‘ ‘<\/p>\n
13 24 MAJERUS Christine SDW LUX ‘ ‘<\/p>\n
14 26 VOLLERING Demi SDW NED B:01″ <\/em>‘ ‘<\/p>\n
15 22 BLAAK Chantal SDW NED ‘ ‘<\/p>\n
16 61 DUVAL Eug\u00e9nie FDJ FRA ‘ ‘<\/p>\n
17 14 CHABBEY Elise CSR SUI ‘ ‘<\/p>\n
18 122 BIANNIC Aude MOV FRA ‘ ‘<\/p>\n
19 105 KESSLER Nina TIB NED B:06″ <\/em>‘ ‘<\/p>\n
20 32 BUJAK Eugenia ALE SLO ‘ ‘<\/p>\n
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Janneke Ensing solo’s to the first Queen of the Mountain at Iron Down Hill<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
GC After Stage One<\/strong><\/pre>\n
1 31 BASTIANELLI Marta ALE ITA 3h44’31” 00″<\/p>\n
2 3 HOSKING Chloe TFS AUS 3h44’35” 04″<\/p>\n
3 105 KESSLER Nina TIB NED ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘<\/p>\n
4 62 COPPONI Clara FDJ FRA 3h44’37” 06″<\/p>\n
5 141 ROY Sarah BEX AUS 3h44’38” 07″<\/p>\n
6 93 JACKSON Alison LIV CAN 3h44’39” 08″<\/p>\n
7 26 VOLLERING Demi SDW NED 3h44’40” 09″<\/p>\n
8 121 GUTIERREZ RUIZ Sheyla MOV ESP 3h44’41” 10″<\/p>\n
9 23 CECCHINI Elena SDW ITA ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘<\/p>\n
10 13 *BARNES Hannah CSR GBR ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘<\/p>\n
11 92 BERTIZZOLO Sofia LIV ITA ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘<\/p>\n
12 41 *NELSON Josie HPU GBR ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘<\/p>\n
13 21 PIETERS Amy SDW NED ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘<\/p>\n
14 154 KIRCHMANN Leah DSM CAN ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘<\/p>\n
15 155 LABOUS Juliette DSM FRA ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘<\/p>\n
16 24 MAJERUS Christine SDW LUX ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘<\/p>\n
17 22 BLAAK Chantal SDW NED ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘<\/p>\n
18 61 DUVAL Eug\u00e9nie FDJ FRA ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘<\/p>\n
19 14 CHABBEY Elise CSR SUI ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘<\/p>\n
20 122 BIANNIC Aude MOV FRA ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘<\/p>\n
21 32 BUJAK Eugenia ALE SLO ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘<\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
Full Results Stage One Bicester to Banbury PDF 01_Full_Results<\/a><\/p>\n
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With Ensing ahead… The Peloton are in no rush.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Stage Two of the AJ Bell Women\u2019s Tour starts and finishes in Walsall tomorrow (Tuesday 5 October) and features 10 laps of a 10-kilometre circuit around the \u0160KODA Queen of the Mountains climb of Barr Beacon.\u00a0 The 102.2-kilometre (63.6-mile) stage starts from Walsall Arboretum at 11:30 and is due to finish on Lichfield Street in the town centre around 14:25.<\/p>\n
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Over Iron Down Hill & the Peloton are all together…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Anna Christian tries a solo break over the line for the first pass at Banbury. Seen heading back out of Town.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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L-R Alison Jackson, Elisa Balsamo & Alice Barnes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Alice Barnes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A welcome to the AJ Bell Women’s Tour for World Champion Elisa Balsamo from Race Director Mick Bennett<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Team Presentation in Bicester Stage 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The fastest legs on the Planet for an Hour! Joss Lowden<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Team Presentation in Bicester Stage 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
PRESS RELEASE - PRE RACE<\/strong><\/pre>\n
SUNDAY 3 OCTOBER 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n
AJ BELL WOMEN\u2019S TOUR RETURNS TO THE ROADS ON MONDAY 4 OCTOBER<\/strong><\/pre>\n
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Image SWPix<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
842 days after Lizzie Deignan (Trek-Segafredo) won the last edition of the race, the AJ Bell Women\u2019s Tour returns tomorrow (Monday 4 October).<\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
Two days after her historic victory in the first ever women\u2019s Paris Roubaix Deignan heads the start list as the race gets underway in Oxfordshire with a 147.7-kilometre (91.8-mile) stage between Bicester and Banbury.<\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
In total 16 different nationalities are represented on the start line in the 89-rider field.\u00a0 Britain is the most represented nation with 24 riders in the peloton.<\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
A trio of riders \u2013 Hannah Barnes (Canyon SRAM Racing), Leah Kirchmann (Team DSM), and Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo) \u2013 will be competing in their seventh edition of the AJ Bell Women\u2019s Tour, having started and finished all six editions to date.<\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
The youngest rider in the race is Alice Towers (Drops \u2013 Le Col s\/b TEMPUR) at 18 years and 358 days, while Trek-Segafredo rider Trixi Worrack\u2019s in one of the final races of her career at 40 years and 6 days.<\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
This year\u2019s AJ Bell Women\u2019s Tour features its first-ever individual time trial, taking place in Atherstone on stage three (Wednesday 6 October), with the overall champion set to be crowned in Felixstowe on Saturday (9 October).<\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
Double AJ Bell Women\u2019s Tour stage winner Sarah Roy (Team BikeExchange) said; \u201cVeloViewer has been great to see what the courses will be like this year. The stages look like it will be really fun and interesting racing across the whole week and the terrain really suits our team.<\/em><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
\u201cI like that there\u2019s a \u2018short\u2019 time trial this year as well. It\u2019ll really sort out the GC which can open the racing up a bit differently for non-time trial riders.\u00a0 It\u2019s also been a special year with the Olympics and the first time we\u2019ve had a really popular, strong stage race after the World Championships. I expect to see some great racing though, our peloton is relentless.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
Liv Racing\u2019s Sofia Bertizzolo comes into the AJ Bell Women\u2019s Tour fresh having missed Paris \u2013 Roubaix; \u201cI don\u2019t have a lot of experience in the Women\u2019s Tour. It\u2019s only the second time I\u2019ve ridden it. <\/em><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
\u201cI have studied the course and expect a very attacking race. The stage profiles don\u2019t seem too difficult, so the attack might be worth it for those who are aiming for the general classification. The time trial could also be decisive for the general classification. I expect a fast race where everyone is sharp. The latter certainly applies to me. The last few weeks I have not ridden any races. But I\u2019ve had good quality training sessions and I\u2019m fresh and ready to go.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
The AJ Bell Women\u2019s Tour is sponsored by AJ Bell, one of the UK\u2019s leading online investment platforms, helping people invest for the long term via ISAs, pensions and general investment accounts.\u00a0 It has a rich history of supporting elite level sport including badminton, cricket, rugby, squash and triathlon, and recently sponsored the men\u2019s AJ Bell Tour of Britain in September, won by Wout van Aert<\/p>\n
AJ_Bell_Womens_Tour_final_start_list<\/a>\u00a0Download PDF<\/p>\n
About the 2021 AJ Bell Women\u2019s Tour<\/strong><\/pre>\n
Stages<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Stage One<\/strong><\/td>\nMonday 4 October<\/td>\nBicester to Banbury<\/td>\n147.6km<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Stage Two<\/strong><\/td>\nTuesday 5 October<\/td>\nWalsall to Walsall<\/td>\n103km<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Stage Three<\/strong><\/td>\nWednesday 6 October<\/td>\nAtherstone individual time trial<\/td>\n16.6km<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Stage Four<\/strong><\/td>\nThursday 7 October<\/td>\nShoeburyness to Southend-on-Sea<\/td>\n117.5km<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Stage Five<\/strong><\/td>\nFriday 8 October<\/td>\nColchester to Clacton-on-Sea<\/td>\n95.3km<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Stage Six<\/strong><\/td>\nSaturday 9 October<\/td>\nHaverhill to Felixstowe<\/td>\n155km<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
Competing teams<\/em><\/p>\n