Women’s Tour Down Under stage 2 – LIVE

Whereas Hengeveld has misplaced robust her teammate Sarah van Dam continues to be hanging on. Justine Ghekiere is tucked into the group. Bradbury has her teammate Chloe Dygert to assist her.

Now it is Spratt setting the tempo on the entrance of the decreased peloton which incorporates Neve Bradbury, and Elise Chabbey. 

Ruth Edwards is simply hanging on the again.

Whereas Hengeveld has misplaced robust her teammate Sarah van Dam continues to be hanging on. Justine Ghekiere is tucked into the group.

Bradbury has her teammate Chloe Dygert to assist her.

Fisher-Black is taking cost with Spratt on her wheel, doing injury to the peloton, as many riders together with Pate are dropping contact.

Wollaston is reeled in by the Lidl-Trek’s Fisher-Black together with her teammate Amanda Spratt on her wheel.  

Race chief Hengeveld is dropping contact within the area.  

25.5km to go

Wollaston continues solo as Anderson cannot match the tempo because the highway begins going up. Hole is now 43 seconds.

Nobody jumps for the sphere for the third spot. Lauretta Hanson (Lidl-Trek) took the remaining factors as she led them via the road.

Wollaston takes the entrance with 200 metres to go, and Anderson doesn’t contest the intermediate dash and fortunately takes second. The pair has 1:12 hole on the peloton.

Wollaston and Anderson nonetheless working properly collectively as they see 1km to go for the intermediate dash. Wollaston is sitting on Anderson’s wheel.

The pink colors of EF Training come to the entrance of the sphere. 

Anderson and Wollaston see 5km to the second intermediate dash, on the backside of Willunga Hill. The duo have a 1:37 hole.

Anderson and Wollaston are working properly collectively. Anderson’s workforce automobile shared bidons with Wollaston. They’re each all in. 

Fisher-Black and Lauren Bates (ARA Australia) who each went down within the crash have rejoined the peloton because the 2-rider break has 1:10 lead with 35km to go.

Lidl-Trek sends one other rider, along with Wilson-Haffenden, to assist Fisher-Black rejoin the sphere. 

Wollaston goes to the entrance, after fast encouragement to Anderson. The workforce of the race chief Hengeveld goes to the entrance of the pack to set the tempo.

Wollaston catches Anderson with 40km to go. 

One other crash, together with Niamh Fisher-Black, Lidl-Trek’s chief, who went down and shortly obtained a brand new bike from her mechanic. 

Crash

Felicity Wilson-Haffenden (Lidl-trek) hits the deck once more, the second time in two days, after a squeeze within the peloton. 

Maike van der Duin of Canyon-Sram tries to flee once more.

Canyon-Sram takes over the pacemaking, stringing the peloton, because the automobiles had been cleared between Wollaston and Anderson. Tempo has definited amped up.

Extra assaults together with Georgia Baker.

Giorgia Bronzini, Human Powered Well being directeur sportif, stated, “I feel the primary effort on Willunga may not come from the principle GC riders, however possibly from the second-line of the workforce that has a GC chief. It should be full gasoline for a breakaway. I feel already within the first time up Willunga it may be arduous to be within the lead.”

Beth Duryea, Canyon-SRAM directeur sportif in regards to the twin Willunga ascents.

“I feel it is nice for followers to have the ability to go on the market see the peloton go previous much more occasions. I feel the larger influence is having Willunga on stage two as a substitute of stage three. Having it two occasions – I feel everybody that is good on Willunga might in all probability do it two, three, or 4 occasions, and it could be an analogous end result.”

Let’s hear from a number of the groups’ directeur sportifs who shared their ideas with Cyclingnews firstly in Unley.

Ina Teutenberg, Lidl-Trek directeur sportif,  spoke about Daniek Hengeveld’s profitable breakaway. When requested if the race obtained away from the groups, she stated, “I feel she was actually sturdy, I do not assume it obtained away. I feel it was underestimated how sturdy she was and the way she might maintain it. We solely had one individual to assist somewhat bit – we did not have an entire workforce chasing. I feel some groups aren’t 100% match. It is the standard – some Europeans are match, some aren’t, and all these Aussies are match. So it is a arduous race to manage, as a result of the health stage is kind of totally different.”

No response so removed from the peloton as Wollaston tries to bridge throughout the 1:06 hole to Anderson. 

Assault by Ally Wollaston (FDJ-Suez)! 

50km to go

Anderson is in a solo breakaway, for the second time right this moment and has 1:10 hole. Discipline took a while to soak up bidons and meals. 

Respite within the peloton as some riders take a nature break. Anderson retains her head down and has 42 seconds with 54km to go.

Amber Pate going again to her Liv AlUla Jayco workforce automobile.

All of the motion has closed down the hole to Anderson however she’s not giving up. She retains wanting behind her and the peloton sits up.

Extra assaults off the entrance. A gaggle of 10 riders becoming a member of along with one other group chasing. Peloton is strung out with 56.5km to go.

Anderson takes prime factors and bonus seconds within the intermediate dash line. She has 32 seconds on the sphere.

UAE’s Karlijn Swinkels received the battle within the peloton for second. She took second in each intermediate sprints on stage 1.

Anderson – topped Australia U23 time trial nationwide champion every week in the past in Perth – is exhibiting her TT kind and has a 36-second lead with 61km to go.

One other assault by ARA Australia Staff once more, and it is Alli Anderson once more simply after the feedzone at 62.5km to go.

Just a few riders didn’t take the beginning in Unley right this moment. Picnic-PostNl’s Mara Roldan collapsed after the end yesterday from the warmth and stayed within the lodge right this moment. Eglantine Rayer (FDJ-SUEZ) and Teuntje Beekhuis (Uno-X) additionally didn’t begin. 

Peloton is surrounded by vineyards as they race via McLaren Vale on their option to the intermediate dash and iconic Willunga Hill.

And one other transient assault by FDJ-Suez. They clearly try to power a breakaway earlier than the primary ascent of Willunga Hill. 

70km to go

A little bit of respite within the peloton after just a few groups tried, unsuccessfully, to launch a breakaway. Lidl-Trek as soon as once more setting the tempo on the entrance.

FDJ-Suez launches one other assault. And Tiffany Cromwell covers and drives it on the entrance. 

Wilson-Haffenden dropped again to guide the chase. And peloton is again collectively and a counter-attack tries to go.

Break consists of Amber Pate (Liv AlUla Jayco), Kristyna Burlova (Ceratizit-WNT), Maeve Plouffe (Australia), Marie Le Web (FDJ-Suez), Rachele Barbieri (Picnic-PostNL), Greta Marturano (UAE Staff ADQ), Maike van der Duin (Canyon-Sram), Babette van der Wolf (EF Training-Oatly) and Emily Watts (St Michel-Desire Residence-Auber 93).

Felicity Wilson-Haffenden (Lidl-Trek) misplaced contact with the break as Lidl-Trek leads the chase.

80km to go

Round 12 riders within the break with 19 seconds on the sphere.

Massive chase group is catching Plouffee with 81k to go, they’ve 16 seconds.  Response within the peloton pushed by Lidl-Trek.

One other large group of round 11 riders attempting to flee on the entrance.  

FDJ-Suez’ Marie Le Web jumps to attempt to brdige up the 52 second hole to Plouffe.

Peloton going via their musettes whereas holding Plouffe at 57 seconds. 

Let’s hear what Neve Bradbury (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto) needed to say firstly of stage 2.

“I really feel prefer it’s at all times one thing it’s essential to work on all through the entire 12 months, so I have been attempting to adapt to the warmth a bit higher, but it surely’s additionally actually vital throughout the race to get plenty of water, pour it over your self, get ice and simply preserve as cool as doable.”

When requested about her speedy rise, she stated “I really feel like I began final 12 months off very well, and it took me some time to appreciate that I truly deserved to be there. I really feel like I believed it was only a little bit of luck, however I feel now I should be right here.”

She defined the rationale she skipped the Australia Nationwide Championships, “I solely have a sure period of time in Australia, so I made a decision to maintain that point to remain at house in Melbourne and see family and friends as a result of it is a lengthy season. And it is it is also vital to maintain the thoughts joyful.”

Plouffe has managed to push her result in 41 seconds. 

One other assault from ARA Australia workforce. This time it is sprinter Maeve Plouffe is off solo inside 91km to go.

Looming additional on in stage 2 is the double-ascent of Willunga Hill.

“Fairly joyful that it is a double Willunga, I feel the tougher the higher, the longer the higher, so carry it on,” the present New Zealand champion Ella Wyllie (Liv-AlUla-Jayco) informed Cyclingnews  in ‘Bring it on’ – Climbers excited for double ascent of Willunga Hill at Women’s Tour Down Under

And Anderson is reeled in. Peloton is again along with 91.5km to go.

QOM #1 Windy Level outcomes:

1. Dominika Wlodarczyk  (UAE Staff ADQ)
2. Daniek Hengeveld (Ceratizit-WNT)
3. Clara Copponi (Lidl-Trek)
4. Barbara Malcotti (Human Powered Well being)
5. Josie Talbot (Liv AlUla Jayco)

Peloton is single file as they make their manner via the Coromandel Valley. 

One rider to observe right this moment is Justine Ghekiere (AG Insurance coverage-Soudal), winner of the mountain stage 7 into Le Grand Bornand and the queen of the mountains polka dot jersey on the 2024 Tour de France Femmes.

“It is actually scorching, however I am feeling good. I am excited for right this moment and I’ll attempt on to hold on so long as doable on Willunga Hill with the favourites and I hope for the perfect outcomes,” she shared with Cyclingnews firstly right this moment.

Groups Liv AlUla Jayco and Lidl-Trek are on the entrance of the sphere, controlling the tempo and the hole to the lone breakaway.

100km to go

Anderson in solo break with a niche of 31 seconds to the sphere. Riders falling off the again, on the undulating roads.

Newly topped Australian U23 time trial champion Anderson has a 20-second lead on the peloton. After miscalculating yesterday, the pack will in all probability preserve a decent leash on any breakaway right this moment.

Rebecca Korner (UNO-X) is having bother maintaining with the pack. The warmth already hitting a number of the riders. 

First assault of the day comes from ARA Australian Nationwide Staff – Alli Anderson is off solo with 102km to go.

Ceratizit-WNT directeur sportif Fortunato Lacquaniti shared his ideas with Cyclingnews firstly right this moment on Daniek Hengeveld’s win on stage 1:

“The workforce is joyful – on the end of the final season, they received in China, within the WorldTour. The primary race this 12 months is a win additionally – it is extremely good. Our workforce is generally not the perfect workforce or the perfect funds, however we now have good competence, and abilities. That is vital for yesterday, to check them. To win a race, usually lots of workforce waits for the dash within the finale. and the opposite choice is to assault in an extended breakaway. Daniek was very, very sturdy yesterday and it was a superb consequence for us.”

“Our workforce could be very joyful for the stage this 12 months, however for the GC, Daniek shouldn’t be the climber. The stage could be very arduous right this moment. The workforce will attempt to preserve the jersey, however the technique is totally different for right this moment. I feel there are different choices for right this moment, different riders.”

He added that Dilyxine Miermont is the rider to observe for the QOMs however possibly not the stage. The workforce can also be focussed on Sarah Van Dam for tomorrow’s stage.

Polites and Wlodarczyk rejoined the peloton on the descent. Peloton reshuffling. Ella Wyllie makes a brief acceleration to get to the entrance, and slots behind her teammates.

QOM #1 – Windy Level

Polites regarded left and proper and jumped first however UAE’s Dominika Wlodarczyk got here round to take the highest factors. The 2 riders are actually tied on the prime of QOM classification.

QOM chief Polites is barely boxed in with 500 metres to the highest of Windy Level. A lot of groups unfold throughout the entrance of the pack.

Peloton nonetheless collectively on the slopes of Windy Level. 

As riders had been taking off from the beginning line in Unley the followers had been beginning to assemble on Willunga Hill, which was internet hosting the opening time trial of the brand new ProVelo Tremendous League within the morning earlier than the Girls’s WorldTour race got here via. The breeze was gentle however the depth of the warmth and solar already kicking in so as to add an additional issue issue to the 3km climb with a mean gradient of seven.4%.

Flag drop. We’re out of the impartial zone and racing has began!

Peloton is compact behind race director Stuart O’Grady’s automobile. Assaults ought to fly early. 

The primary problem comes early with the cat 1 climb of Windy Level,  3.8km lengthy with a mean gradient of 6% and a max pitches of 20%. 

Alyssa Polites (Australia)  took the first mountains jersey after two years of setbacks and illness on stage 1. Will she defend her QOM chief’s jersey? We are going to know very quickly.

The riders are rolling via the 5km impartial part on their option to the official begin for Stage 2 of the Girls’s Tour Down Below. The second day of the race would be the most decisive of the three days because the peloton tackles 115km from Unley to the highest of Willunga Hill. 

Three-time winner Amanda Spratt (Lidl-Trek) carrying a cooling vest firstly, preparing for a scorching day within the saddle.

One other stunning summer season however so much hotter right this moment the forecast requires highs of 34C atop Willunga Hill.

Stage 1 winner Daniek Hengeveld (Ceratizit-WNT)  tops the overall classification with a 43-second lead on Ally Wollaston (FDJ-SUEZ) and 45 seconds on Kathrin Schweinberger (Human Powered Well being).

Learn what she needed to say about her first WorldTour victory – ‘I was finally racing like I was 18 again’ – Daniek Hengeveld grasps successful second at Girls’s Tour Down Below

Welcome to Cyclingnews’ stay protection of stage 2 of the Girls’s Tour Down Below.