Thomas sprints to glory in Edinburgh

LEAH THOMAS of the USA and Team Bigla was crowned the firstever winner of the Women’s Tour of Scotland, sprinting away from an elite group of eight other riders through the Edinburgh rain to take yesterday’s final stage.

Beginning the day fourth overall, seven seconds behind leader Alison Jackson of Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank, the ten bonus seconds which Thomas earned for the stage win saw her overhaul the Canadian to win the overall race by five seconds.

The final stage of the first edition of this race began and ended in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh, heading south into the border hills to Peebles before returning to the capital.

There were attacks from the opening stages, with British rider Dani Christmas up in evidence, but it wasn’t until the final circuits of the park that the race came alive. Thomas’ Bigla team-mate Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig of Denmark – who finished the Queen of the Mountains - attacking on the first of the three laps. Although caught, her effort decimated the chasing bunch, and only nine remained by the time Thomas sprinted to glory, with her Bigla teammate Elise Chabbey finishing second, Stine Borgli of Norway in third and Jackson a place further back. When the consequent time bonuses were added up, that meant Borgli also took third in the overall classification, with Jackson in second.

“It’s the biggest win of my career so far and I’m really glad it gets to be in Scotland,” said Thomas.

Anna Shackley, the Scottish junior road race champion who finished third behind Jen George in the Scottish championships, was the first Scot finished on the day, some 10 seconds back.

That was also good enough for a hugely creditable 13th in the overall classification, at a time gap of 28 seconds, making her the fourth best young rider in the race.

It’s the biggest win of my career so far and I’m really glad it gets to be in Scotland