The 2024 Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Women ended with a thrilling final stage, culminating in a dramatic sprint finish in Leigh. Lotte Kopecky of SD Worx-Protime emerged as the overall race leader, while Ruby Roseman-Gannon clinched the stage win in a breathtaking finale.
Featured image: SWpix.com
Report
Stage 4 began with a series of aggressive attacks from UCI Continental teams as they departed from the National Cycling Centre in Manchester. The initial significant move was made by Krista Doebel-Hickok (Human Powered Health) during the ascent of Grains Bar for the first Queen of the Mountains classification. However, her solo effort was swiftly neutralised by a determined chase from the Great Britain Cycling Team and Liv-Alula-Jayco.
Lizzie Deignan (Great Britain Cycling Team), wearing the Queen of the Mountains jersey, then surged ahead, claiming maximum points at the summit before extending her lead. Her teammate Anna Henderson maintained a steady pace in the peloton, allowing Deignan to establish a 30-second gap on the descent into Shaw.
The solo break of Lizzie. Deignan of Great Britain National Team. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
A surprise attack in the moorlands from Charlotte Kool (Team dsm-Firmenich PostNL) was soon snuffed out as Deignan’s lead grew to a minute. Deignan continued her solo effort up the iconic Rake climb in Ramsbottom, securing the Queen of the Mountains classification with a commanding performance.
As the race progressed, the peloton regrouped and launched numerous counter-attacks. A significant chase group, including heavy hitters like Letizia Paternoster (Liv-Alula-Jayco), Franziska Koch (Team dsm-Firmenich PostNL), and Kopecky, formed behind Deignan. Despite her valiant effort, Deignan was eventually reeled back into the main bunch on the descent into Darwen.
The intermediate sprint in Horwich saw a fierce battle between Majerus, Wiebes, and Paternoster, with Majerus taking the maximum points in a photo finish. Shortly after, a surprise breakaway by British teammates Henderson and Deignan briefly led the race, but the peloton closed the gap inside the final 15km.
Soon after, British teammates Henderson and Deignan launched a surprise attack to break away from the peloton. Georgi, Kopecky, and Paternoster then bridged the gap as Deignan, exhausted from her earlier efforts, fell back to the peloton. The front group of four appeared set to contend for the podium positions, establishing a 40-second lead. However, their move was thwarted inside the last 15km due to a lack of cohesion and renewed attacks from the peloton.
Anna Henderson of Great Britain Cycling Team, Pfeiffer Georgi of Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL, Lotte Kopecky of Team SD Worx-Protime and Letizia Paternoster of Liv-AlUla-Jayco. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
In the chaotic run into Leigh, several riders made last-ditch efforts to break free, while a puncture for Paternoster in the final 5km ended her podium hopes. As the race approached the final bend, Kopecky was poised for victory but selflessly allowed her teammate Majerus to sprint ahead. However, Roseman-Gannon capitalised on a lapse in judgment, surging past Majerus to claim her first European win. Majerus secured second place, with Wiebes finishing third, and Kopecky fourth, securing her lead in the general classification.
Kopecky’s impressive performance also earned her the sprinter’s jersey, while Deignan’s climbing prowess secured her the Queen of the Mountains jersey. The Best Young Rider jersey went to Eline Jansen (VolkerWessels), and Henderson was crowned Best British Rider. SD Worx-Protime’s collective strength earned them the overall team classification, while Lifeplus-Wahoo received the Combativity team award for their resilience.
Grace Lister was the highest-placed rider from a British UCI Continental team, finishing in 21st place.
Christine Majerus of Team SD Worx-Protime celebrates but Ruby Roseman-Gannon of Liv-AlUla-Jayco wins Stage 4 of the 2024 Lloyds Bank Women’s Tour of Britain in Leigh. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Reflecting on the race, Kopecky expressed a mix of satisfaction and regret: “It was really cold and hectic – some nice steep climbs. In the end, we were always in control. We made the choice to go for Christine in the sprint, and we did it perfectly until the last gap around the corner. It was too big for me so I was not going to take the win as I saw Christine going. We made this deal that she is going to win today but maybe it was a stupid mistake. I still, however, would have done the same. It could have been a nice ending for Christine, but we finished well as a team.
“Ruby is a good rider so it was nice for her but I am happy that Christine got the bonus seconds to get third so it is nice. Maybe it is a little funny and it is what it is and I’m not disappointed.”
Stage winner Roseman-Gannon was elated with her unexpected victory: “I just can’t believe it – the plan today was to really race aggressively and take some seconds back. We had a really good team ride and they were actually smashing that first climb. I was actually struggling and then there was full commitment into the next climb and some selections made.
“We really wanted to get Letizia out there, but unfortunately she got a puncture so it didn’t go to plan. I asked whether I should go back, they said no and to focus on the finish. I still can’t believe I have won that – it’s my first European win and I’m still in shock.”
“It’s when you really don’t expect it, some races you come in as a leader and you have a lot of pressure, and other races you come in and it all works out. Today I was pretty worried about the rain and I was nervous about crashing and I wasn’t really in the right mindset that I was going to win the race, but to win is amazing. Overall it was a great race!”
The 2024 Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Women ended with a thrilling final stage, culminating in a dramatic sprint finish in Leigh. Lotte Kopecky of SD Worx-Protime emerged as the overall race leader, while Ruby Roseman-Gannon clinched the stage win in a breathtaking finale.
Featured image: SWpix.com
Report
Stage 4 began with a series of aggressive attacks from UCI Continental teams as they departed from the National Cycling Centre in Manchester. The initial significant move was made by Krista Doebel-Hickok (Human Powered Health) during the ascent of Grains Bar for the first Queen of the Mountains classification. However, her solo effort was swiftly neutralised by a determined chase from the Great Britain Cycling Team and Liv-Alula-Jayco.
Lizzie Deignan (Great Britain Cycling Team), wearing the Queen of the Mountains jersey, then surged ahead, claiming maximum points at the summit before extending her lead. Her teammate Anna Henderson maintained a steady pace in the peloton, allowing Deignan to establish a 30-second gap on the descent into Shaw.
A surprise attack in the moorlands from Charlotte Kool (Team dsm-Firmenich PostNL) was soon snuffed out as Deignan’s lead grew to a minute. Deignan continued her solo effort up the iconic Rake climb in Ramsbottom, securing the Queen of the Mountains classification with a commanding performance.
As the race progressed, the peloton regrouped and launched numerous counter-attacks. A significant chase group, including heavy hitters like Letizia Paternoster (Liv-Alula-Jayco), Franziska Koch (Team dsm-Firmenich PostNL), and Kopecky, formed behind Deignan. Despite her valiant effort, Deignan was eventually reeled back into the main bunch on the descent into Darwen.
The intermediate sprint in Horwich saw a fierce battle between Majerus, Wiebes, and Paternoster, with Majerus taking the maximum points in a photo finish. Shortly after, a surprise breakaway by British teammates Henderson and Deignan briefly led the race, but the peloton closed the gap inside the final 15km.
Soon after, British teammates Henderson and Deignan launched a surprise attack to break away from the peloton. Georgi, Kopecky, and Paternoster then bridged the gap as Deignan, exhausted from her earlier efforts, fell back to the peloton. The front group of four appeared set to contend for the podium positions, establishing a 40-second lead. However, their move was thwarted inside the last 15km due to a lack of cohesion and renewed attacks from the peloton.
In the chaotic run into Leigh, several riders made last-ditch efforts to break free, while a puncture for Paternoster in the final 5km ended her podium hopes. As the race approached the final bend, Kopecky was poised for victory but selflessly allowed her teammate Majerus to sprint ahead. However, Roseman-Gannon capitalised on a lapse in judgment, surging past Majerus to claim her first European win. Majerus secured second place, with Wiebes finishing third, and Kopecky fourth, securing her lead in the general classification.
Kopecky’s impressive performance also earned her the sprinter’s jersey, while Deignan’s climbing prowess secured her the Queen of the Mountains jersey. The Best Young Rider jersey went to Eline Jansen (VolkerWessels), and Henderson was crowned Best British Rider. SD Worx-Protime’s collective strength earned them the overall team classification, while Lifeplus-Wahoo received the Combativity team award for their resilience.
Grace Lister was the highest-placed rider from a British UCI Continental team, finishing in 21st place.
Reflecting on the race, Kopecky expressed a mix of satisfaction and regret: “It was really cold and hectic – some nice steep climbs. In the end, we were always in control. We made the choice to go for Christine in the sprint, and we did it perfectly until the last gap around the corner. It was too big for me so I was not going to take the win as I saw Christine going. We made this deal that she is going to win today but maybe it was a stupid mistake. I still, however, would have done the same. It could have been a nice ending for Christine, but we finished well as a team.
“Ruby is a good rider so it was nice for her but I am happy that Christine got the bonus seconds to get third so it is nice. Maybe it is a little funny and it is what it is and I’m not disappointed.”
Stage winner Roseman-Gannon was elated with her unexpected victory: “I just can’t believe it – the plan today was to really race aggressively and take some seconds back. We had a really good team ride and they were actually smashing that first climb. I was actually struggling and then there was full commitment into the next climb and some selections made.
“We really wanted to get Letizia out there, but unfortunately she got a puncture so it didn’t go to plan. I asked whether I should go back, they said no and to focus on the finish. I still can’t believe I have won that – it’s my first European win and I’m still in shock.”
“It’s when you really don’t expect it, some races you come in as a leader and you have a lot of pressure, and other races you come in and it all works out. Today I was pretty worried about the rain and I was nervous about crashing and I wasn’t really in the right mindset that I was going to win the race, but to win is amazing. Overall it was a great race!”
Results
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Share this:
Discover more from The British Continental
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.