Vos wins Gracia opener for third year running

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Dutch champion Marianne Vos won the opening day of the Czech stage race Gracia-Orlová for the third year in a row. The Nederlands Bloeit captain profited from the work of teammate Anemiek van Vleuten to take the win on the cobbled streets of Štramberk over British rider Nicole Cooke.

The team, led by former pro Jeroen Blijlevens outlined the strategy for the finale. "We knew the stage would be decided on that tricky final uphill stretch and we would have to keep the pace high to make the finish difficult," said Blijlevens. "Marianne and Annemiek executed the perfect finish."

Vos, the overall winner here in 2008, last year came third in the overall standings. But this year, the team has more cards to play after Van Vleuten finished third on the stage.

The five-stage race concludes on Sunday in Orlová.