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Tour of Chongming Island, 2012

WCN quicklink >>    Stage 1      Stage 1 Full       Stage 2     Stage 2 Full     Stage 3    Stage 3 Full   General photos

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Stage 3 -Hoskins snatches victory and overall

Shanghai East Beach - Chenjia Town Cup City Circuit Race, 78km

Race Writeup

The general classification of the 2012 Tour of Chongming Island came down to the intermediate sprint bonuses and the final sprint itself. Beginning the day just 3 seconds ahead of Melissa Hoskins (Orica-AIS), Monia Baccaille (Cipollini) knew it was not going to be a processional stage. Complicating matters were the three intermediate sprints during the stage and the bonus seconds available to the top three finishers in the finale.

The intermediate sprints were contested with aggression - MCipollini, Orica-AIS, Rabo Women's Team, Specialized-lululemon, Faren and AA Drink all had interest in the results - the separate battles for first and second and then third could be decided on the bonus seconds up for grabs.

The first sprint was won by Hoskins from Baccaille, putting the pair even on time on the road. Third was Shelley Olds (AA Drink), which moved her one second ahead of Rochelle Gilmore (Faren) for third place.

The second sprint also went to Hoskins, Baccaille was second again. Third was Liesbet De Vocht. The result moved Hoskins ahead of Baccaille for general classification and took De Vocht to equal third with Olds.

The pace was kept high in the intervening laps before the final intermediate sprint. Lisa Brannaur and then Charlotte Becker (Specialized-lululemon) both tried separate attempts to upset the result by breaking away solo and disrupting the bonifications for the sprinters - their team-mate, Chloe Hosking was just one second behind De Vocht and Olds on the road and with a potential stage winning sprint, she could gain enough of an advantage to take third place overall at the finish with the effective cancelling-out of the intermediate sprint by her team-mates.

But MCipollini and Orica-AIS were attentive all the way and their riders quickly ensured that the respective breaks were caught before the last sprint. That last sprint was won by Baccaille, from Olds and Hoskins. The result meant that Baccaille was once more leader on the road and again three seconds ahead of Hoskins; the margin with which she had started the stage. Olds was, at this point, two seconds ahead of De Vocht for third place.

It was no surprise that the final sprint would be a mass sprint. There were some lone riders who gained small gaps at during the last two laps, but nothing was permitted to 'stick'. The teams organised themselves and the pace increased throughout the final lap. The 90 degree corners with 500 metres to go and 300 metres to go were safely negotiated and the leaders appeared in the finishing straight. Baccaille was ahead early in and maintained her advantage until just 50 metres to go. Hoskins accelerated and surged past Baccaille, far enough ahead to give her signature victory salute, arms outwards palms up. Baccaille crossed the line in second place, head down, beaten. In relative terms with respect to the bonuses, Hoskins was four seconds ahead of Baccaille, enough for overall victory too.

De Vocht was delivered to the sprint by Roxanne Knetemann and Lauren Kitchen, she took third by a whisker from Olds. The four seconds bonus for the third placed rider on the stage gave her a two seconds gap over Olds once all of the calculations had been made. 

The general classification podium ceremony was undertaken with Shelly Olds presented in third place, but by the time the results had been analysed and ratified by the panel of commissaires, De Vocht was rightly identified as third overall. 

Best team was MCipollini, a consolation for Baccaille, ahead of Hoskins' team's second place. China - Chongming Giant Pro Cycling were pleased with third, their first appearance on the team podium in this, their 'home' race.

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Results - Top 10 - click here to see full result

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General Classification Top 10 - click here to see full GC

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Photos   Click on any image to enlarge >>

China_Stage3_001	China_Stage3_007	China_Stage3_016	China_Stage3_019
China_Stage3_024	China_Stage3_029	China_Stage3_032	China_Stage3_035
China_Stage3_041	China_Stage3_050	China_Stage3_058	China_Stage3_062
China_Stage3_078	China_Stage3_106	China_Stage3_126	China_Stage3_140
China_Stage3_153	China_Stage3_163	China_Stage3_172	China_Stage3_177
China_Stage3_194	China_Stage3_200	China_Stage3_207	China_Stage3_212
China_Stage3_227	China_Stage3_232	China_Stage3_236	China_Stage3_236_A
China_Stage3_239	China_Stage3_269	China_Stage3_277	China_Stage3_315
China_Stage3_322	China_Stage3_328	China_Stage3_331	China_Stage3_333
China_Stage3_336	China_Stage3_343	China_Stage3_358	China_Stage3_368
China_Stage3_371	China_Stage3_388	China_Stage3_389	China_Stage3_408

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