Ladies Tour of Qatar 2013

WCN quicklink >>   Preview    Opening Media Conference   Confirmed Start List

                              Stage 1      Stage 1 Full      Stage 2     Stage 2 Full     Stage 3    Stage 3 Full   Stage 4    Stage 4 Full   

Previous coverage of Qatar Ladies Tour  >>    2013   2012    2011    2010    2009

On this page >>  Write-up    Results      General Classification    Photos

Stage 3 - Wild wins sprint again, Hosking punctures out of overall

Al Thakhira - Madinet Al Sharmal, 112.5km

Race Writeup

Kirsten Wild (Argos-Shimano) won the bunch kick to secure another win and the overall lead. Stage 3 was fast and furious right from the start. Despite a number of attempts to get away in the early stages the high tempo ensured the peloton stayed together until they reached the first of the bonus sprints at the 60km mark when the course  also switched to a side wind. 

The rough road conditions meant a number of riders punctured. As the peloton approached the first bonus sprint. The speed was high. Kirsten Wild (Argos-Shimano) was first ahead of overall leader Hosking and Charlotte Becker (Argos-Shimano).

Echelons and attacks began almost immediately. Tibco were one of the first teams to try to go with an attack 40 km. It did not go anywhere. Emilia Fahlin (Hitec) decided it was time for her to try and tried to go but again the teams of Orica-AIS, Specialized-lululemon and Argos-Shimano ensured it stayed together.

Just as Orica-AIS went on the attack again, a crash in the middle of the peloton splintered it. Fortunately the big favourites made the front group. The leading group of 42 riders were all battling to stay together. Initially it split to form a leading group of 17 riders. 

After 75km of racing the leading group was represented by all of the top teams, Orica-AIS, Specialized-lululemon, Hitec, BePink, Wiggle and Tibco. The leaders had a 25 second lead at the 78 km point.

As riders battled to get to the lead group the chase was led by Bronzini and Rochelle Gilmore (Wiggle). They were getting support from MCipollini who missed the break.

As the race moved back together, 39 riders formed the front group. At the second sprint, Lisa Brennauer (Specialized Luluemon) crossed first ahead of Chantal Blaak (Tibco) and Wild. Accelerating for the sprint, the wind meant that the riders were on the right hand side of the road and using the hard shoulder. The sprint point was the first passage of the finish line. Road cones and then barriers funnelled the course in to the wide, two lane finish line. Inevitably though, some riders failed to move from the shoulder back into the road in time to avoid contact with the cones, or they swerved into the line of others inside the line. Several riders went down in a spectacular impact, bikes flew into the air and riders scudded across the road surface. Liesbeth De Vocht (Rabo Women) was hurt; she was later taken to hospital to check for suspected broken ribs. Malgorzata Jasinska (MCipollini) took some time to get up, but did remount. She finished, but was clearly in a lot of pain. Her day ended with a trip to hospital to check for a broken collarbone.

Amongst others, Rochelle Gilmore (Wiggle) and Li Na Shi (Giant Pro Cycling) remounted and chased back to the leaders. These two, individually, took tow by holding on to their respective team cars and have been disqualified from the race. Their Directeurs Sportif have also been removed from the team cars on the final stage.

The closing lap of 13 kilometres was marked by attack after attack. The race was all together with 4 km to go. On the run in to the finish overall leader Chloe Hosking (Hitec) punctured with under a kilometre to go. Her main competitor for overall classification, Kirsten Wild, was already in control of the sprint and took it from Ellen van Dijk (Specialized-lululemon) and Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle). Although awarded the same time as the winner, the lost opportunity to gain time bonuses on the finish line meant that Hosking relinquished her gold jersey to Wild.

Regaining the general classification is still a possibility for Hosking, who has ridden with intelligence and confidence in this race. Wild will be watching her though. Typically on the final stage, which includes 5 laps of an out-and-back circuit along Doha's Corniche (waterfront), a breakaway enters the circuit, having taken the time bonuses on the way and a bunch sprint eventually ensues. This may not happen in 2013, Wild and Hosking have their own unfinished business with only 2 seconds separating them, whilst Gracie Elvin (Orica-AIS) and Ellen van Dijk (Specialized-lululemon) (at 16 and 17 seconds respectively) will perhaps want to break away and stay away in order to leapfrog the other pair and rise up the podium themselves.

Back to Top

Results - Top 10 Click here for full results

Back to Top

General Classification  op 10 Click here for full results

Back to Top

Photos   Click on any image to enlarge >>

2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_027	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_031	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_033	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_034
2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_037	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_053	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_055	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_059
2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_060	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_062	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_065	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_070
2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_074	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_080	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_082	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_086
2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_089	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_093	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_096	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_104
2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_106	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_117	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_126	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_143
2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_150	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_158	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_167	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_181
2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_202	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_215	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_225	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_260
2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_291	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_301	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_308	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_309
2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_313	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_331	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_341	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_363
2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_367	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_383	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_392	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_396
2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_399	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_402	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_409	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_417
2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_421	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_428	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_430	2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_439
2013_Qatar_03_Stage3_440

Back to Top

Want to contact WomensCycling.net? 

The WomensCycling.net email address is  NewsResults [at] Womenscycling.net

To contact the webmaster, the address is : Webmaster [at] Womenscycling.net

Type this address into the "To" line of a new email message in your email programme.  Replace  [at]  with  @

Back to Top

Copyright WomensCycling.net 2004 - 2013^©