Race Writeup

Kirsten Wild (Cervelo Test Team) was the stonger sprinter on the day today, beating Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (HTC Columbia) in the sprint to victory in the second stage of the Tour of Chongming Island. Rochelle Gilmore (Australia) was third.  

The weather conditions, improved for the second day of racing. It was was sunny albeit through a haze. which meant conditions were calm for the 79.8km race. There was definately more people on the route, which took the riders out along the south west coast of Chongming Island along the wall that keeps the Yansea river away from the mainland. The route was very pretty and lined with trees intersected with on lookers who stopped what they were doing for the 1 hour of closed roads as the race passed by. Like the first stage, the locals showed appreciation for the racing with displays of music and dance along the course.

Like the first stage, an attack started within the first 1km of the race. It was again Valentina Bastianelli (Top Girls Fassa Bortolo), this time the bunch were happy to let the break go. Bastinelli managed to get a maximum gap of 2 minutes 10 seconds ahead of the peloton, which was controlled by HTC Columbia.  At 27km a crash involving, China, Vienne Futuroscope and a couple of Austrian riders disrupted the chase that had just started to close the gap to the lone leader. 

At the front of the race, the Australian National team had moved to the front to close the gap and provide their sprinter Gilmore with an opportunity to gain some extra time and sprint bonuses in the first of the intermediate sprints at 33.4km. 

By the time the leader Bastinelli, reached the first sprint, the bunch were within 30 seconds and this time it was Wild who got the better of Teutenberg and Gilmore (Australia) in the sprint for valuable bonus points and seconds.. 

The split, that had been caused by the crash, took some time to chase back. It was led by Norris Cycling, Cervelo and Australia and by 38km the peloton were all together. The speed was high as they approached the wide Xingcun Highway and the attacks started. Charlotte Becker (Cervelo Test Team) tried to attack but she was immediately chased by HTC Columbia. Within 6km another attack which included five riders, managed to get 15m on the peloton before this time being chased by Cervelo Test Team and Norris Cycling. 

As they approached the second and final intermediate sprint, again it was Wild who got the better of Teutenberg and Gilmore. It had to be decided by a photo finish and took a long time to decide the placings.  

With only 15km of racing left, an attack from Melissa Holt (New Zealand) threatened to disrupt the sprinters plans but it was quickly quashed. 

The final 5km was flat straight and fast and controlled by the big teams, HTC Columbia, Cervelo Test Team, Australia, Norris Cycline and Top Girls Fassa Bortolo all had their sprinters lined up. Wild hit the front at 200m crossed the line the victor ahead of Teutenberg and Gilmore. 

With the additional bonus seconds for the sprint wins during the stage, Wild moved into first place on the General Classification on equal time to Teutenberg. Teutenberg wears the Points (Green Jersey) and she is on equal points with Wild.  Choi Hye Kyeong from the South Korea National Team continues to hold the Best Asian Rider on the Individual Classification.
  

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