Finistere Ladies Classic: Sarah Van Dam takes the win after a photo finish
LIly Williams takes a close second with Eva van Agt third
Sarah Van Dam (Visma-Lease a Bike) surged from a six-rider breakaway to edge Lily Williams (Human Powered Health) in a photo–finish victory at the Finistère Ladies Classic.
Eva Van Agt (FDJ United-SUEZ) grabbed the final spot on the podium ahead of Maeva Squiban (UAE Team L'IMAD) and Kiara Lylyk (Mayenne-Mobana-Mypie), while Amber Kraak (FDJ United-SUEZ) was two seconds back for sixth.
With 40km to go, Van Agt, Van Dam and Squiban were the first movers for a decisive break and soon joined by Williams and Lylyk.
Originally a group of five which Kraak joined in the closing kilometres, the final sprint was instigated by Williams on the far left side of the finish straight. Lylyk tried to move past on the right side, but Van Dam blasted through the middle and was the only rider to hold off Williams.
"This victory means a lot to me. I’ve come close to winning my first race several times, and today everything fell into place," Van Dam said in a team statement about her first pro victory.
"Last week, I made a mistake in the sprint at the Kreiz Breizh Elites Féminin and finished third. I’ve learned from all those close finishes, and today I was finally rewarded with a victory."
The Saturday UCI 1.1 opener for a weekend of races on the Cap Sizun peninsula in France, Finistère Ladies Classic began in Pouldreuzic. The northbound course along the Brittany coastline crossed the finish line in Plouhinic just 18km into the start, which then presented eight laps of a hilly 9.5km circuit.
Each clockwise lap included an uncategorised 1.5km climb of 4.1% average gradient, leaving 3.5km the finish line, with the final approach uphill as well. Six times on the circuit provided intermediate sprint points in Plouhinec.
Rosita Reijnhout (Visma-Lease a Bike), Solene Muller (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93) and Ema Comte (Cofidis) pulled away from the peloton on the opening laps. Once they were pulled back, another attack proved more successful by five other riders.
Once at the mid-point of the finish laps, Eva Van Agt (FDJ United-SUEZ), Maeva Squiban (UAE Team L'IMAD), Lily Williams (Human Powered Health), Sarah Van Dam (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Kiara Lylyk (Mayenne-Bonbana-MyPie) had a 30-second gap .
Once through the start-finish with three laps to go, a solo chase by Nikola Noskova (Cofidis) had her 30 seconds away from the breakaway group. The peloton trailed another 42 seconds back, with EF Education-Oatly taking over with the pacemaking.
The quintet stamped out a steady tempo and never saw Noskova get closer, as with two laps to go the peloton closed down her effort. The peloton hovered at a minute in arrears over the next 15km, no attacks launched from the group.
The breakaway group surged across the uphill road into Plouhinec for a ninth time all together, and in the closing kilometres Kraak joined the group after a long chase. The six riders would sprint for the victory, with the photo-finish going to Canadian Van Dam by the slightest of margins.
For unbeatable coverage across road, gravel and tech, subscribe to Cyclingnews. You'll get comprehensive race coverage of La Vuelta a España, subscriber-exclusive analysis from our expert columnists, in-depth features and industry-leading tech insight. Plus, the Cyclingnews app lets you follow the action wherever you go! Join today.
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Results
Position |
Rider (Country) Team |
Time Gap |
|---|---|---|
1 |
Sarah Van Dam (Can) Visma-Lease a Bike |
2:22:05 |
2 |
Lily Williams (USA) Human Powered Health |
Row 1 - Cell 2 |
3 |
Eva Van Agt (Ned) FDJ United-SUEZ |
Row 2 - Cell 2 |
4 |
Maeva Squiban (Fra) UAE Team ADQ |
Row 3 - Cell 2 |
5 |
Kiara Lylyk (Can) Mayenne Monbana My Pie |
Row 4 - Cell 2 |
6 |
Amber Kraak (Ned) FDJ United-SUEZ |
0:00:02 |
7 |
Ally Marée Wollaston (NZl) FDJ United-SUEZ |
0:01:32 |
8 |
Nadia Quagliotto (Ita) Cofidis Women Team |
Row 7 - Cell 2 |
9 |
Nina Berton (Lux) EF Education-Oatly |
Row 8 - Cell 2 |
10 |
Victoire Berteau (Fra) Cofidis Women Team |
Row 9 - Cell 2 |
11 |
Catalina Soto Campos (Chi) Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi |
Row 10 - Cell 2 |
12 |
Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) UAE Team ADQ |
Row 11 - Cell 2 |
13 |
Cedrine Kerbaol (Fra) EF Education-Oatly |
Row 12 - Cell 2 |
14 |
Arianna Fidanza (Ita) Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi |
Row 13 - Cell 2 |
15 |
Alicia Gonzalez Blanco (Spa) St Michel- Preference Home- Auber93 |
Row 14 - Cell 2 |
16 |
Anouska Koster (Ned) Uno-X Mobility |
Row 15 - Cell 2 |
17 |
Giada Silo (Ita) Uae Development Team |
Row 16 - Cell 2 |
18 |
Daniek Hengeveld (Ned) Visma-Lease a Bike |
Row 17 - Cell 2 |
19 |
Glwadys Moal (Fra) |
Row 18 - Cell 2 |
20 |
Justine Gegu (Fra) Mayenne Monbana My Pie |
Row 19 - Cell 2 |
21 |
Nina Buijsman (Ned) Human Powered Health |
Row 20 - Cell 2 |
22 |
Natalie Quinn (USA) Mayenne Monbana My Pie |
Row 21 - Cell 2 |
23 |
Mathilde Huot (Can) Team Abadie Magnan |
Row 22 - Cell 2 |
24 |
Katharina Sadnik (Aut) Visma-Lease a Bike |
Row 23 - Cell 2 |
25 |
Noemie Abgrall (Fra) Ma Petite Entreprise |
Row 24 - Cell 2 |
26 |
Katja Verkerk (Can) Minimax Cycling Team |
Row 25 - Cell 2 |
27 |
Paula Blasi Cairol (Spa) UAE Team ADQ |
Row 26 - Cell 2 |
28 |
Elyne Roussel (Fra) St Michel- Preference Home- Auber93 |
Row 27 - Cell 2 |
29 |
Alessia Missiaggia (Ita) |
Row 28 - Cell 2 |
30 |
Alison Avoine (Fra) Ma Petite Entreprise |
Row 29 - Cell 2 |
31 |
Ilona Rouat (Fra) Ma Petite Entreprise |
Row 30 - Cell 2 |
32 |
Laury Milette (Can) Team Abadie Magnan |
Row 31 - Cell 2 |
33 |
Iurani Blanco Calbet (Spa) Human Powered Health |
Row 32 - Cell 2 |
34 |
Constance Valentin (Fra) Mayenne Monbana My Pie |
Row 33 - Cell 2 |
35 |
Titia Ryo (Fra) Human Powered Health |
Row 34 - Cell 2 |
36 |
Nikol Plosaj (Pol) |
Row 35 - Cell 2 |
37 |
Marlen Clara Rojas Lescot (Fra) |
Row 36 - Cell 2 |
38 |
Emilie Alberte Greve (Den) Uno-X Mobility |
Row 37 - Cell 2 |
39 |
Lily Martin (GBr) |
Row 38 - Cell 2 |
40 |
Rosita Reijnhout (Ned) Visma-Lease a Bike |
Row 39 - Cell 2 |
41 |
Irati Aranguren Carbayeda (Spa) Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi |
Row 40 - Cell 2 |
42 |
Célia Gery (Fra) FDJ United-SUEZ |
Row 41 - Cell 2 |
43 |
Léa Stern (Swi) Ma Petite Entreprise |
Row 42 - Cell 2 |
44 |
Margot Marasco (Fra) Ma Petite Entreprise |
Row 43 - Cell 2 |
45 |
Marte Berg Edseth (Nor) Uno-X Mobility |
Row 44 - Cell 2 |
46 |
Marta Jaskulska (Pol) Human Powered Health |
Row 45 - Cell 2 |
47 |
Kylee Hanel (USA) |
Row 46 - Cell 2 |
48 |
Mijntje Geurts (Ned) Cofidis Women Team |
Row 47 - Cell 2 |
49 |
Victorie Guilman (Fra) Cofidis Women Team |
Row 48 - Cell 2 |
50 |
Solène Muller (Fra) St Michel- Preference Home- Auber93 |
Row 49 - Cell 2 |
51 |
Lea Rondel (Fra) Mayenne Monbana My Pie |
Row 50 - Cell 2 |
52 |
Imogen Wolff (GBr) Visma-Lease a Bike |
Row 51 - Cell 2 |
53 |
Elena De Laurentiis (Ita) Vini Fantini- Bepink |
Row 52 - Cell 2 |
54 |
Allison Mrugal (USA) Mayenne Monbana My Pie |
0:02:11 |
55 |
India Grangier (Fra) St Michel- Preference Home- Auber93 |
0:03:26 |
56 |
Charlotte Bouhier (Fra) |
0:04:31 |
57 |
Minke Solbjørk Anderson (Den) EF Education-Oatly |
Row 56 - Cell 2 |
58 |
Camilla Rånes Bye (Nor) Minimax Cycling Team |
0:07:44 |
59 |
Clara Lundmark (Swe) Minimax Cycling Team |
Row 58 - Cell 2 |
60 |
Viivi Turpeinen (Fin) |
Row 59 - Cell 2 |
61 |
Anna Flynn (GBr) Handsling Alba Development Road Team |
Row 60 - Cell 2 |
62 |
Florencia Monsalvez Rojo (Chi) Wcc Team |
Row 61 - Cell 2 |
63 |
Ainara Albert Bosch (Spa) |
Row 62 - Cell 2 |
64 |
Mia Williams (GBr) |
Row 63 - Cell 2 |
65 |
Laura Poncet (Fra) |
Row 64 - Cell 2 |
66 |
Aurélie De Guerdavid (Fra) |
Row 65 - Cell 2 |
67 |
Giorgia Vettorello (Ita) |
Row 66 - Cell 2 |
68 |
Kyra Marett (Can) |
Row 67 - Cell 2 |
69 |
Mathilde Tritz (Fra) |
Row 68 - Cell 2 |
70 |
Sonia Rossetti (Ita) Vini Fantini- Bepink |
Row 69 - Cell 2 |
71 |
Megan Monk (GBr) |
Row 70 - Cell 2 |
72 |
Maria Apolonia Van 'T Geloof (Ned) Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi |
Row 71 - Cell 2 |
73 |
Junne Vermeeren (Bel) Minimax Cycling Team |
Row 72 - Cell 2 |
74 |
Cristina Tonetti (Ita) Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi |
Row 73 - Cell 2 |
75 |
Maeva Plagniol (Fra) |
Row 74 - Cell 2 |
76 |
Misia Belotti (Ita) Vini Fantini- Bepink |
Row 75 - Cell 2 |
77 |
Beth Morrow (GBr) Handsling Alba Development Road Team |
Row 76 - Cell 2 |
78 |
Idoia Eraso Lasa (Spa) Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi |
Row 77 - Cell 2 |
79 |
Natalie Revelo (Col) |
Row 78 - Cell 2 |
80 |
Sophie Madelaine Leech (GBr) Handsling Alba Development Road Team |
Row 79 - Cell 2 |
81 |
Auke De Buysser (Bel) EF Education-Oatly |
Row 80 - Cell 2 |
82 |
Stina Kagevi (Swe) EF Education-Oatly |
Row 81 - Cell 2 |
83 |
Jente Koops (Ned) Human Powered Health |
Row 82 - Cell 2 |
84 |
Ema Comte (Fra) Cofidis Women Team |
Row 83 - Cell 2 |
85 |
Eglantine Rayer Girault (Fra) FDJ United-SUEZ |
Row 84 - Cell 2 |
86 |
Sofia Bertizzolo (Ita) FDJ United-SUEZ |
Row 85 - Cell 2 |
87 |
Nikola Nosková (Cze) Cofidis Women Team |
Row 86 - Cell 2 |
88 |
Jelena Erić (Srb) Uno-X Mobility |
Row 87 - Cell 2 |
89 |
Juliette Verdier (Fra) |
0:13:24 |
90 |
Emma Gottoli (Ita) |
Row 89 - Cell 2 |
91 |
Megan Jastrab (USA) UAE Team ADQ |
Row 90 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Charlotte Lovett (GBr) |
Row 91 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Mirre Knaven (Ned) EF Education-Oatly |
Row 92 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Grace Madeline Cooper (GBr) Handsling Alba Development Road Team |
Row 93 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Mari Porton (GBr) Handsling Alba Development Road Team |
Row 94 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Léa Coraboeuf (Fra) |
Row 95 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Léonie Mahieu (Fra) |
Row 96 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Léa Mailly (Fra) |
Row 97 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Anaïs Morichon (Fra) |
Row 98 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Inez Cashman (Aus) Meridian Bikebug |
Row 99 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Ava Maddison (NZl) Meridian Bikebug |
Row 100 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Alyssa Polites (Aus) Meridian Bikebug |
Row 101 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Alex Rawlinson (GBr) |
Row 102 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Kirsty Watts (NZl) Meridian Bikebug |
Row 103 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Lauren Bates (Aus) Minimax Cycling Team |
Row 104 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Margaux Martinez (Fra) Team Abadie Magnan |
Row 105 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Adèle Normand (Can) |
Row 106 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Léane Tabu (Fra) Team Abadie Magnan |
Row 107 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Louise Buannic-Guirriec (Fra) |
Row 108 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Zoé Lamotte (Fra) |
Row 109 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Maylia Masset (Fra) |
Row 110 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Leeloo Saugrain (Fra) Vendée Feminine Rvc |
Row 111 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Clementine Tessier (Fra) |
Row 112 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Alice Brédard (Fra) |
Row 113 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Joséphine Denieul (Fra) |
Row 114 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Ambre Jouault (Fra) |
Row 115 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Alizée Rigaux (Fra) |
Row 116 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Fee Knaven (Ned) Uae Development Team |
Row 117 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Mia Gjertsen (Nor) Uno-X Mobility |
Row 118 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Linda Zanetti (Swi) Uno-X Mobility |
Row 119 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Andrea Casagranda (Ita) Vini Fantini- Bepink |
Row 120 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Vittoria Grassi (Ita) Vini Fantini- Bepink |
Row 121 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Yulduz Hashimi Wcc Team |
Row 122 - Cell 2 |
DNF |
Janice Stettler (Swi) Wcc Team |
Row 123 - Cell 2 |
Jackie has been involved in professional sports for more than 30 years in news reporting, sports marketing and public relations. She founded Peloton Sports in 1998, a sports marketing and public relations agency, which managed projects for Tour de Georgia, Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah and USA Cycling. She also founded Bike Alpharetta Inc, a Georgia non-profit to promote safe cycling. She is proud to have worked in professional baseball for six years - from selling advertising to pulling the tarp for several minor league teams. On the bike, she has climbed l'Alpe d'Huez three times (not fast), and spends time on gravel around horse farms in north Georgia.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.