Vollering close to Tour win after reeling in Simmonds’ solo break
Dutch rider Demi Vollering will look to complete an emphatic vic- tory at the AJ Bell Women’s Tour today after surviving a scare yesterday when British rider Hayley Simmonds went on an audacious solo attack on the roads of Essex.
Simmonds (CAMS-BASSO Bikes), a time-trial specialist, attacked after just seven kilometres, amassing a lead of 4½ minutes with 50km remaining. Given she had begun the day only 2min 55sec behind Vollering (SD Worx), the 33-year-old was the virtual leader at that point.
However, an acceleration from the peloton on the Skoda Queen of the Mountains climb at Manningtree reduced her advantage and Simmonds was eventually caught 15km from the finish in Clacton, where Lorena Wiebes became only the second rider in Women’s Tour history to claim back-to-back stage victories with another fine sprint.
Vollering claimed she was never worried. “My team were totally in control,” the 24-year-old said.
“They went on the front and did a few turns and kept the speed a bit high, and then brought back the break, so that was good.”
Today’s final stage travels 155.3km through Suffolk from Haverhill to Felixstowe. “We need to keep it together and make it a good race again,” Vollering, who has led the way since the time trial on Wednesday, added.
“We don’t have a plan yet; we need to see first, look a bit better at the route and then we will see.”
Vollering retains a 1:09 lead over Juliette Labous (Team DSM) heading into the final stage, while Clara Copponi (FDJ Nouvelle-aquitaine) reduced her deficit to 1:19 after picking up bonus seconds in yesterday’s two Eisberg sprints. Joss Lowden (Drops-le Col) is the best placed British rider in seventh at 1:47.