- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Tubeless valves
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
news
Behind the scenes at the Friends Life Women's Tour with Matrix Vulpine - Stage 4
Today the riders on the Friends Life Women’s Tour raced an 87.8Km route from Cheshunt to Welwyn Garden City in what proved to be an short but incident packed stage, here’s Robin Godden to tell us how Matrix Vulpine got on…
“Stage 4 was short and fast, giving no time to recover from yesterday’s efforts, as the favourite’s looked to the GC.
“The first 40km’s were eventful with crashes & mechanicals, an early chain slip left Penny with a chase back just as the pace ramped up for the first QOM.
“The stage was neutralized at 20km’s to go due to a traffic accident (on the course) making the final run in very hectic with Helen coming 55th, and Vos taking the stage to put her in control of GC.
“With a hometown finish Jo sprinted to the line to first in her group and Jessie, Harriet, Penny & Mel all finished strongly after two very fast days of constant attacks.
"The final stage kicks off tomorrow with the all 6 riders taking to the start in Harwich.”
As Robin said Marianne Vos further cemented her hold on the race allowing yesterday’s stage win with another today. It was not without controversy though as Giorgia Bronzini claimed a race organiser’s motorbike had impeded her attack in the final spring - Vos was already ahead of the bike at the time. Lucy Garner took third spot on the stage.
Vos goes in to the final stage from Harwich to Bury St Edmunds with a 19 second lead over Emma Johansson, with Rosella Ratto in third, Lizzie Armitstead in fourth and Bronzini fifth.
To find out more about the Matrix Vulpine team via their website http://www.onthedrops.cc/team/
and you can find the Friends Life Women’s Tour online at http://thetour.co.uk/home.php
road.cc's founder and first editor, nowadays to be found riding a spreadsheet. Tony's journey in cycling media started in 1997 as production editor and then deputy editor of Total Bike, acting editor of Total Mountain Bike and then seven years as editor of Cycling Plus. He launched his first cycling website - the Cycling Plus Forum at the turn of the century. In 2006 he left C+ to head up the launch team for Bike Radar which he edited until 2008, when he co-launched the multi-award winning road.cc - finally handing on the reins in 2021 to Jack Sexty. His favourite ride is his ‘commute’ - which he does most days inc weekends and he’s been cycle-commuting since 1994. His favourite bikes are titanium and have disc brakes, though he'd like to own a carbon bike one day.
Latest Comments
- galibiervelo 26 min 15 sec ago
have it and love it. charge is the longest i have used for multi day trips. My missing star would be an angled bracket to point at traffic, not at...
- HLaB 1 hour 15 min ago
Some folk have them, some folk dont, it's the same as MTBs and nothing new. Some terrains will see them clog up or break. Having your front wheel...
- hawkinspeter 1 hour 26 min ago
Personally, I like reading about the new and/or expensive stuff even if I've got no intention of buying it. When I get the Cycling UK mag, I tend...
- hawkinspeter 3 hours 57 min ago
Dont forget Linford Christie
- Secret_squirrel 5 hours 10 min ago
I'm confused. What base layer isn't damp after a warm effort - it's the purpose of their entire existence. Wringing wet I might agree with. ...
- pockstone 8 hours 8 min ago
To add to the comedic potential, I really hope said chef was dressed in whites, including a toque blanche, and armed with a whisk and cleaver.
- mark1a 18 hours 10 min ago
Don't open at Edinburgh Fringe with that one.
- Oldfatgit 1 day 3 hours ago
I got something that'll beat you all .....
- chrisonabike 1 day 4 hours ago
Aggrieved motorists?...
- wtjs 1 day 6 hours ago
The fact that such self driving cars don't BMW/Audi drivers do exist is proof - as if it were needed - that Gods don't exist
Add new comment
3 comments
I also noticed cars parked on the route itself surely if the roads were closed for this event shouldn't those cars have been removed, I'm sure the local residents were all warned/informed prior to the event.
Have just realised the authorities involved probably couldn't be bothered after all it's only bloody cyclists
Kudos to the Matrix Vulpine racers - most of 'em were having to race in amongst traffic behind the closed roads. Horrible. The roads opened far too soon after the team cars passed IMO.
Yeah I was a bit surprised the tv commentators didn't mention that motorbike at the finish. It obviously impeded a number of riders on the left hand side of the road round the final bend. You could hear at least one of them shouting at it.