A brilliant sprint by Kirsten Wild (Hitec Products) saw her win the 2016 Asda Women’s Tour de Yorkshire in emphatic style, after local favourite Lizzie Armitstead was caught in the final kilometres.
Wild beat Lucy Garner by less than a bike length in front of an enthusiastic crowd in Doncaster, in the one-stage race that precedes the second stage of the Men’s Tour de Yorkshire.
There were five British riders in the top 10, and along with podium finisher Garner, Great Britain Cycling Team’s Alice Barnes came fourth and marginally missed out on the podium, while World Under-23 Cyclo-Cross Champion Evie Richards came 10th.
Doris Schweizer led the race for a large majority of the race on her own after attacking at 15km. The Swiss rider is part of the inaugural Cylance Pro Cycling squad, and worked tirelessly on her own to maintain a lead at the front before being joined by Armitstead and Kirchmann.
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Those three were caught in the final 2km by the bunch, and from there World Champion Armitstead, riding for Great Britain Cycling Team, was unable to mount a challenge for the win.
Fittingly, local favourite Armitstead led the riders onto the route at the start in her home town of Otley. Armitstead’s reason for riding the race was largely put down to its location, and her involvement along with a buzz in women’s cycling brought out big crowds around the course.
Despite missing out on the winners jersey Garner was awarded the best young rider jersey.
The 136km route went from Otley in West Yorkshire to the South Yorkshire town of Doncaster.
“When it came down to the sprint it was good for me, and I am happy to have won,” said Wild.
“It was a great opportunity for women’s cycling and it has been really good to race here, in front of enthusiastic crowds.
“I will share the prize money with my team mates because they all worked very hard and everyone deserves the prize.”
Results:
1 Kirsten Wild (Hitec Products)
2 Lucy Garner (Wiggle High5)
3 Floortje Mackaij (Liv Plantur)
4 Alice Barnes (Great Britain Cycling Team)
5 Marta Bastianelli (Alé Cipollini)
6 Anna Trevisi (Alé Cipollini)
7 Jennifer George (Drops CT)
8 Nicola Juniper (Ford Ecoboost)
9 Nicole Moerig (Podium Ambition)
10 Evie Richards (Great Britain Cycling Team)
