The Lanterne Rouge Femmes Avec ZLOW ***SPOILERS***
A somewhat fittingly late start to this thread.
I wasn't sure I wanted to do it after the furore surrounding the Uzbek team and how they got their UCI points determined invite. Gaming the system to farm UCI points in national champs is one thing, claiming those points for a race that may never have taken place is something else entirely.
These were the road race results in full
With four of their team failing to finish stage 1 (a pan flat 123km, with a KoM given at the exit of a tunnel, 25m above sea level) and another coming dead last on the two split stages of day two I didn't really fancy days on end of celebrating the pluck of riders who probably shouldn't have been there in the first place (even if as individuals they were certainly battling to stay in the race). Neither women's cycling nor the globalisation of the sport is well served by a team being thrown in the deep end before they've learnt to swim.
Thankfully, a rider of True Grit and Determination stepped forward to give us hope.
So wake up Maggie, I think I've got something to say to you.
Maggie lost all her time on stage one, having cunningly expended all her energy in the Olympic women's Omnium the day before, where she got herself up to the bronze medal position before the points race showed she'd definitely used the last of her reserves. However, not content with that, she also managed to claim a 20" penalty for drafting. Chapeau Maggie.
This is the underall after two days and three stages
Comments
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I fancy Becky Storrie's chances after the first couple of road stages, she's been doing sneaky solo attacks off the back and, unlike the Tashkent City riders, is capable of finishing the race.
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Haven't you got the sponsor for this event incorrect? I thought in previous years we have partnered with ZLOW as the antithesis of Zwift?
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Typo, thanks for the spot. Managed to edit with literally 40" to the time cut
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Coles-Lyster has abandoned.
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In true Lanterne Rouge style. Commendable
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That would be a fairytale
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Absolute massacre of DNS and DNF today, with Maggie Maggie Maggie, OUT OUT OUT!
A whole bunch of riders managed to gain over 16 minutes today (19 came in at 16:43), with the stage winners looking like this:
Leaving the underall looking tight
@andyp and @Pross apparently cursed Becky, who came in a full ten minutes before the top competitors
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I did wonder what the hell she was up to when the tv director switched to the camera tracking the back of the lead group on the Roche-aux-Faucons and there she was, still hanging on with 15 kms or so to go.
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I didn't get to see today's stage, but I see some huge time losses, with Becky Storrie back in the action, but not quite far back enough
Underall
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Lotto Dstny keeping lots of options for the jersey
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From the roadside I can tell you that it was a 2 up long range attack from Lotto Destiny that has made the race for Doc Mieke. Toe-nets made a valiant effort including faking switchbacks on a 4% gradient in front of me to join them but looks to have struggled towards the end and lost a minute or so.
This Dr. also seems to be faking non-interest too for some reason.
We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
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Another day when I didn't actually get to watch the racing, so am interpreting the race through placings. Doc Mieke was clearly bluffing when she said she didn't see the lenterne as a target. Today she went on a massive solo attack, taking over 16 minutes on the stage 2nd place and over half an hour on the least slowest rider of the day
Sebastien's son, Fauve, also put in a massive ride, and that sees Lotto Dstny grabbing all three podium spots in the underall
Terrible day for Sylvie "Cockles and" Swinkels, who came in with half the peloton, 12 minutes down, but 22 minutes up on Mieke. She was probably trying to help her team, Roland. "Ro-land, I only want to help you"
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Terrible news reaches us that Doc Mieke has abandoned here on stage 7. A day in the mountains was obviously not what the Dr ordered.
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Not a great deal to be gained on these mountain stages, but a great deal to be lost - no fewer than 11 DNF/DNS including Doc Mieke, Kool, Spratt, Henderson and Storrie. Three of the bottom ten didn't make it to the finish
A large group at 27.09, Alison "inaction" Jackson a few seconds behind and then then Mylene, Mylene Mylene, Myleeeeene (I'm begging of you please don't take my man) on 29.09
The underall sees Sebastien's son, Fauve, take the lead with one stage remaining
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Obvs Alison Jackson is using this minor race as training prep for her appearance locally to me in the Raiders Gravel event in a couple of weeks time. Gravel rather than pavé = easier dance routine.
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Another 10 DNF/DNS today, taking our Tour de France finishers down to 110, but who wins that 110th place, and thereby the Lanterne Rouge?
Alison "Inaction" Jackson put in another big ride to challenge for the bottom ten, but the day's victoria was Giorgia on my mind - taking advantage of lack of threat to the underall to slip off and take the stage victory.
Meanwhile, is everything OK in Lotto Dstny Ladies world? Did 2nd on GC Wilma Aintila put in an attack on her GC leading teammate Sebastian son, Fauve? Or had she been allowed to go up the road to hunt for the stage? In the end she failed by three seconds on the stage and needed another 1' 46" to dislodge Fauve from the Lanterne
Heroes of the day
The underall final standings
Congratulations to Fauve, Sebastien's son on her win. Great teamwork from Lotto to secure first and second place after the unfortunate abandon of race leader Doc Mieke, and top work by Sylvie Cockles and Swinkels to grab the third step after having to help Roland earlier in the tour
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