Niewiadoma wins Ovo Energy Women's Tour

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Katarzyna Niewiadoma (WM3 Cycling) wrapped up the overall victory at the Ovo Energy Women's Tour on Sunday, finishing safely within the peloton on a fifth and final stage in London that ended in a bunch kick.

Wiggle High5's Jolien D'hoore proved fastest to the line in the sprint after 62 kilometres of racing, besting British national champion Hannah Barnes (Canyon SRAM) and GC runner-up Christine Majerus (Boels Dolmans).

Her runner-up ride on the final day allowed Barnes to climb onto the overall podium for third place behind Niewiadoma and Majerus.

A 12-rider breakaway put the pressure on the peloton throughout the short but very fast stage, forcing the sprinters' teams to push a high tempo to bring things back together. Without a rider in the move, Wiggle had to work in the chase effort to help set up D'hoore.

"That was really hard," said D'hoore after her sprint win. "I think it was one of the hardest crits I've done in my life. The hammer was going down from the start, and we missed it with the team. The girls had to chase the whole time; they got it back, and then it was just fast the whole time. It didn't stop, it just kept going and going!

"We saved the best for last!"

With a GC advantage of 1:25 heading into the stage, Niewiadoma's main task was to stay upright on the corner-filled urban circuit. Crossing the line safe and sound in the pack, she sealed the deal for a her first WorldTour GC victory.

"I'm super happy. I think that's the only word that can describe my feelings," Niewiadoma said.

Now adding a stage race win to a 2017 palmares that already included several strong results in WorldTour events, the 22-year-old from Poland now leads the Women's WorldTour standings, taking over the top spot from Boels Dolmans' Anna van der Breggen.

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