Women’s Tour: Elisa Balsamo opens rainbow jersey account as Demi Vollering secures GC
Balsamo scores first win as world champion while Vollering continues standout season with GC victory.
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Newly crowned world champion Elisa Balsamo (Valcar Travel & Service) opened her world champion’s account with a sprint victory at the Women’s Tour on Saturday.
The Italian punched away from double stage-winner Lorena Wiebes (DSM) and Chloe Hosking (Trek-Segafredo) in the seaside sprint in Felixstowe to score her first win in the rainbow jersey just seven races after securing her title in Flanders.
An unforgettable victory in the rainbow jersey for @Elisa_balsamo 🌈
[📸 –> @swpixtweets]#WomensTour #UCIWWT pic.twitter.com/ernEbmzt6H
— AJ Bell Women’s Tour (@thewomenstour) October 9, 2021
Demi Vollering (SD Worx) secured the GC after kicking into the lead of the race with her rocketship TT on stage 3 on Wednesday. The Dutchwoman has enjoyed the season of her short career to date this year. This week’s GC victory comes after the 24-year-old won La Course and Liège-Bastogne-Liège earlier in the season.
Juliette Labous (DSM) and Clara Copponi (FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope) took the lower steps of the podium, more than one minute back on Vollering.
We’ve got a new name to add to our roll of honour…
Congratulations @demivollering, the 2021 @AJBell Women’s Tour champion 👏🏻 #WomensTour #UCIWWT pic.twitter.com/2Y2jo4vn2F
— The Women's Tour (@thewomenstour) October 9, 2021
A sprint finish was an inevitability on the long, flat stage toward the coastal town of Felixstowe on Saturday.
A break of five came together midway through the 155km race, but the catch was inevitable on the open, flat roads. The quintet was caught inside the final 10km before short-lived solo attacks began to fly out of the reformed peloton as riders from BikeExchange and Movistar tried their luck.
However, the surging pace from Trek-Segafredo and Valcar Travel & Service meant that the last-chance moves didn’t get any room. There was a large crash at one kilometer to go but it wasn’t enough to disrupt the sprint trains ahead of Balsamo’s surging sprint.
Results will be available once stage has completed.