Behind the scenes at the Friends Life Women's Tour with Matrix Vulpine - Stage 3

Stage 3 of the Friends Life Women’s Tour was a fast - 90.5KM blast along the cost from Felixstowe to Clacton, a crash free day, with some added Ned Boulting… so a good one for the Matrix Vulpine team. Robin Godden takes up the story…

"Stage 3 was easily the most aggressive, with the strong winds and open roads playing their part in a very fast day of racing. Coined as ‘Dutch style’ attacks went from kilometre zero. It eventually came back together for the seafront finish in Claction, with Dutch World Champion Marianne Vos taking the win & with it the lead in GC from a reduced bunch sprint.

"Helen & Jessie continued their fine form finishing 38th & 43rd in the bunch.

"After being held up by a crash Harriet, Jo, Penny & Mel crossed the line in a small group unable to bridge back in the frenetic pace set by Rabo Liv & Boels Dolmans - as the race covered 83kms in 2 hours.

"Following a crash free day the team will be looking for more opportunities tomorrow."

The stage may have been crash-free for Matrix Vulpine, but it wasn’t for Laura Trott who hit the deck after running in to the back of a crash, she continued to the finish - despite throwing up as she rode - but was taken to hospital afterwards to be checked over for concussion and a badly bashed elbow.

At the pointy end of proceedings World Champion, Marianne Vos tired of lurking just behind the leaders and took the win for herself along with the overall race lead. Stage one winner Emma Johansson is now second overall with yesterday’s big winner Rossella Ratto relegated to third overall. Lizzie Armitstead was fourth on the stage despite contesting the final sprint with a puncture and she stays in fifth place overall.

Tomorrow’s stage takes the Women’s Tour from Cheshunt to Welwyn Garden City.

You can 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