Words by Owen Rogers
Marianne Vos (Rabo-Liv) tightened her grip on the Women’s Tour yellow jersey on Saturday, beating Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle-Honda) to win the bunch sprint in Welwyn Garden City. It was the World Champion’s second consecutive win, extending her lead in the General Classification to 19 seconds over Emma Johansson (Orica-AIS). That lead was aided when she collected bonus seconds in the last intermediate sprint.
Despite the slightly more challenging terrain it was another comfortable day for the Dutch woman, even when a break away managed to go clear. “We wanted to get in a good breakaway and were there with Annanmiek van Vleuten,” she told the post race press conference. “In the bunch together with Wiggle, we controlled that well.”
“After it was neutralised with 20 kilometres to go [following a road accident on the course] it was chaos, a bit hectic, but actually it went quite well. All the big teams came to the front for the final uphill [Queen of the Mountains] and the sprint, so the positioning started for the final.”
“Of course we have the maps and we study them, but still we don’t know really the roads it’s a guess but today it looked like the map,” she said of the technical final.
After her late start to the season, the Dutch rider is in ominous form and has not been out of the the top three this week.
“I’m really happy with my shape at the moment and I'm getting better day by day, in a stage race that’s obviously nice to feel. I’m getting there and I think my sprinting form is here,” she concluded. With tomorrow’s slightly longer stage between Harwich and Bury St Edmunds on similar terrain, don’t be surprised if Vos completes a hat trick of wins.
Credit: Andy Jones
Marianne Vos wins Women's Tour stage four
Race leader Marianne Vos increases her advantage at the top of the overall classification with a second stage win
-
-
Rigoberto Urán obliterates Tour de Suisse competition with stunning time trial win
Colombian Urán way ahead of the rest of the field in the Swiss mountains, moving up to second in GC
By Chris Marshall-Bell •
-
Who speaks for the riders?
The formation of two riders’ unions on both the women’s and men’s sides of the sport could be about to change the shape of top level cycling. Paul Knott investigates further
By Paul Knott •
-
Marianne Vos released from hospital after successful artery surgery
The Dutchwoman will need six weeks off the bike to recover
By Jonny Long •
-
The Dutch Supremacy - how the Netherlands came to rule the Worlds
Can Lizzie Diegnan, or anyone else, take on and beat the Dutch women at the World Championships next week?
By Simon Richardson •
-
Marianne Vos escapes serious injury after heavy crash (video)
The former world champion has tweeted to say she's be fine, despite what looks like a heavy crash. Read on for more of the best cycling videos from the past week
By Jack Elton-Walters •
-
Marianne Vos returns to training after long injury lay-off
Multiple time world champion will begin light training again having missed most of the 2015 season, and will not compete in cyclo-cross this winter
By Richard Windsor •
-
Lizzie Armitstead expects Dutch challenge in World Championships road race
Without Marianne Vos the Dutch team will have nine potential winners in the World Championships road race in Richmond, Virginia
By Stuart Clarke •
-
Marianne Vos scraps 2015 targets as injury woes continue
Former world champion Marianne Vos is still suffering from injury and has delayed her return to competition
By Owen Rogers •
-
Who is the world's greatest cyclist? Here's what you thought
We asked you who you thought was the greatest cyclist that the world has ever seen, and here's what you said...
By Nigel Wynn •
-
Marianne Vos breaks rib in mountain bike crash
More woes for Marianne Vos as former world champion breaks a rib preparing for an Austrian mountain bike race
By Owen Rogers •
