Italian rider snatches win
ELISA Longo Borghini claimed the Women’s Tour by one second following a thrilling sprint finish in Oxford on Saturday.
Grace Brown had gone into the final stage as the leader by three seconds, but Italian TrekSegafredo rider Borghini’s sprint for the line saw her cross in third and earn a four-second time bonus over her Australian rival.
DSM’s Lorena Wiebes, right of picture, won the stage to claim her third victory of the week.
Borghini, left of picture, said: “We went for the intermediate sprint and I was fourth so I was like, ‘Okay, that’s the second place and that’s it,” Borghini said.
“But then all my team-mates kept my morale up, and said we try at the finish and we’ll do the lead-out for you. I was really doubting, but when you see such a team that is motivated and they are really believing in you, just want to give them everything.”
She added: “It’s nice to win an overall classification, this has not happened to me many times in my life. It’s only the third tour I have won – this one is up there as one that ranks high.”
The top British rider was Becky Storrie, who finished 15th overall.
West of England League – Premier One:
Bath 343-8 Thornbury 228, Bridgwater 326-5 Potterne 254, Chippenham 184-6 Lansdown 183-7, Clevedon 129 Taunton Deane 303-9, Taunton St Andrews 252 Bedminster 273.
Premier Two Bristol/Somerset: Frome 160 Downend 163-5, Midsomer Norton 151-6 Golden
Hill 147, Shapwick & Polden 217-4 Bishopston
218-3, Weston-super-Mare 269-4 Ilminster 131, Winterbourne 133 Bristol 134-1.
Premier Two Gloucestershire/Wiltshire: Burbage & Easton Royal 214 Marshfield 179, Cheltenham 220 Corse & Staunton 221-3, Corsham 166 Goatacre 248, Frocester 166-1 Stroud 162, Warminster 291 Hatherley & Reddings 350-3. Bristol/North Somerset: Bedminster 2nd XI 96 Bath 2nd XI 224-9, Bradley Stoke 143 Keynsham 245-7, Bristol 2nd XI 72 Brislington 74-0, Congresbury 163 Twyford House 303-7, Knowle 118-3 Old Bristolians Westbury 117. Glouestershire: Apperley 187 Charlton Kings 188-3, Cirencester 179 Dumbleton 182-9,
Gloucester 181-9 Rockhampton 180-9, Painswick 190-5 Frocester 2nd XI 189-8, Tewkesbury 139 Bourton Vale 151.
Somerset: North Petherton 163 Bridgwater
2nd XI 220-9, Taunton Deane 2nd XI 160-9
Minehead 292-9, Wellington 174 North Perrott 180-4, Wembdon 200-6 Taunton 197, Yeovil 217-9 Chard 221-9.
Wiltshire: Devizes 275-9 Westbury & District 276-1, Hinton Charterhouse 216-6 Corsham 2nd XI 212-9, Potterne 2nd XI 226 Trowbridge 308, Royal Wootton Bassett 89-1 Swindon 88.
TODAY
LV= Insurance County Championship Division One (day 2 of 4) – Ageas Bowl: Hampshire v Yorkshire. Canterbury: Kent v Gloucestershire. Taunton: Somerset v Surrey. Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Lancashire.
LV= Insurance County Championship Division Two (day 2 of 4) – Chesterfield: Derbyshire v Middlesex. Riverside: Durham v Worcestershire. Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Sussex. Grace Road: Leicestershire v Nottinghamshire.