Bronzini wins stage 2 at La Route de France

Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle-Honda) won the second stage of La Route de France in Bourges on Tuesday. The Italian sprinter beat overall race leader Amy Pieters (Liv-Plantur) and Kimberly Wells (Australia) to the line for the victory. 

"In the end there was some chaos in the last kilometres, but I was always with Nettie [Edmondson],” Bronzini said. “Elisa [Longo Borghini] stretched the bunch, and Nettie pulled me in the sprint!”

Pieters, who won the opening prologue in Enghien les Bains on Sunday, continues to lead the overall race into the stage 3's 113km race from Nievre to Avallon. She leads the race by three seconds ahead of Eugenia Bujak (BTC City Ljubljana) and four seconds ahead of Annette Edmondson (Wiggle Honda).

Stage 2's 118km race from Villemandeur to Bourges was destined to be a sprint finish because of its predominantly flat parcour. There was an early breakaway of four riders, and strong crosswinds that shattered the field into small groups, however, the field was back together heading into the one QOM in Mery es Bois, 90km into the stage. The climb was not steep enough to cause any major splits in the peloton but Optum Pro Cycling's Brianne Walle took full points at the top and moved into the lead of the mountain competition.

The field raced into Bourges all together with overall race leader, Pieters, safely with her teammates near the front of the field. Liv-Plantur had intended to set up the sprint for stage 1 winner Lucy Garner, however, the women lost each others' wheels coming into the finish line.

Former world champion Bronzini sprinted for the victory, while Pieters managed to come in a close second place and retain her lead in the overall classification. 

“The plan was to go for the sprint with Lucy again today but the girls lost each other in the final so they had to switch plans,” said Liv-Plantur coach Hans Timmermans. “They did well to realise in time to switch to Amy for the sprint and she did a powerful finish to nearly take the stage.”

Full Results