Skylar Schneider wins crash disrupted stage 1 sprint at Joe Martin Stage Race
Sarah Van Dam and Marlies Mejias round out the podium
Women's stage podium
Skylar Schneider (L39ION of Los Angeles) won stage 1’s Arkansas Tourism Devil's Den Road Race and earned the first pink leader’s jersey for pro women at the Walmart Joe Martin Stage Race on Thursday.
The sunny and warm conditions continued after the pro men’s road race as 115 pro women began the 109.2km (67.8 mile) stage 1, the first of four days of the UCI Americas Tour event, but it was a crash-marred final 3km before the sprint to the line.
“I didn’t know there was a crash, so I hope everyone's okay. It’s a really dicey final. I think notoriously this finish usually has something bad happen, so we stayed in the front to try and stay safe,” said Schneider after claiming the victory. “It’s probably one of the fastest sprints we do the whole year because of the downhill run-in, but for me, it was just staying calm and giving it my best shot.”
Her best shot took her over the line ahead of Sarah Van Dam (DNA Pro Cycling) and Marlies Mejias (UCI Virginia's Blue Ridge TWENTY24), and she had also collected bonuses on the way to the finish line.
The route provided the first Queen of the Mountain points of the race in the first half, with 67.8 miles (109.2km) to go, a 3-mile switchback climb with an average gradient of 8%.
Schneider took full points over the top of the ascent ahead of Cynisca Cycling's Emilie Fortin and Alia Shafi (Fount Cycling Guild).
The field was back together as the race headed toward the one intermediate sprint with 23.6 miles (38km) to go. The sprint offered three bonus seconds for the first rider. Bonus seconds were also on offer at the finish line.
Schneider also won the intermediate sprint ahead of Lauren Stephens (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB) and Galen Bolard (3T).
Results
Results powered by FirstCycling

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*
Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets
After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access
Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Kirsten Frattini is an honours graduate of Kinesiology and Health Science from York University in Toronto, Canada. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's WorldTour. She has worked in both print and digital publishing, and started with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. Moving into a Production Editor's role in 2014, she produces and publishes international race coverage for all men's and women's races including Spring Classics, Grand Tours, World Championships and Olympic Games, and writes and edits news and features. As the Women's Editor at Cyclingnews, Kirsten also coordinates and oversees the global coverage of races, news, features and podcasts about women's professional cycling.
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to The Pick. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Steven Kruijswijk fractures collarbone, pelvis in Critérium du Dauphiné crash
Tour de France participation in serious doubt after multiple injuries -
As it happened: Alaphilippe beats Carapaz to Critérium du Dauphiné stage 2 win
Frenchman has fastest sprint to the line on hilly 167.5km stage -
Critérium du Dauphiné: Julian Alaphilippe sprints to victory on stage 2
Frenchman beats Carapaz and Tesfatsion in draggy finish -
Six things I learned testing gravel shoes
Key notes on fit, function, upkeep, and style