Marianne Vos is the new leader in the Ladies Tour of Norway after she sprinted to the 2nd place in stage 2. Chloe Hosking could just about stay ahead. Marianne already had collected bonus points in 3 intermediate sprints and remains the leader in the points classification.
It already became clear from the start that the windy conditions would not make for an easy stage. Several riders tried to get away from the peloton. Silvia Valsecchi was the first to succeed with a maximum gap of 2 minutes and 10 seconds.
Battle for the bonus points
With the first intermediate sprint approaching, several teams started to stir the peloton, including WM3 Pro Cycling. The gap was quickly reduced and Valsecchi got caught before the 50-kilometre-mark. Marianne Vos won the intermediate sprint and gladly took the extra seconds in the battle for the yellow leader’s jersey.
The peloton acted nervously afterwards. The wind did not make it easy for the rider and at times, it looked like the bunch would fall apart. Also, the unpaved zones which were also part of the 2nd stage, were challenging. There were some crashes, luckily without any consequences for WM3 Pro Cycling.
Marianne was again on target for the next intermediate sprint, ending 2nd after Megan Guarnier and taking additional bonus points. Right after this sprint, WM3 Pro Cycling positioned themselves at the front in order to control the stage until the following intermediate sprint in which Marianne stayed ahead of Ellen van Dijk.
The final
In the first of 3 local laps (over 7 kilometres each), four riders attacked: Katarzyna Pawlowska, Leah Kirchmann, Mieke Kröger and Rossella Ratto. Moniek Tenniglo was able to sneak into the chasing group. The peloton, including WM3 Pro Cycling, started chasing the 2 groups with the only goal to finish the stage in a bunch sprint.
Shortly before the final lap, only the 4-headed leading group remained. Moniek, Anouska Koster and Kasia Niewiadoma, amongst others, went full speed ahead in an attempt to catch the leaders.
An awkward situation arose at 5 kilometres from the finish line when a bridge suddenly closed which stalled the leading group. The entire peloton was allowed to re-start as a group, including the original leaders who had a 25 seconds lead.
Marianne seemed to be sprinting to victory, but was ultimately passed by a fast Chloe Hosking. Ellen van Dijk completed the podium.
One more stage to go
“We had to fight hard and the success was not handed to us. It was a nervous stage with quite some wind. Forested areas were alternated with open sections, so we had to be constantly attentive”, says DS Jeroen Blijlevens.
“On Sunday, the programme foresees the longest and toughest stage. Many things can happen but I am very satisfied with our team. Our riders show character and fight for one another. They know what to do”, according to Blijlevens.
