02.09.2017 World-Tour, News, Race news
Gallery from stage 5 in Vaals
Alexis Ryan today won the Most Combative jersey on stage five of the Holland Ladies Tour. Ryan found herself in a solo breakaway with around 35km to race. She was later joined by two other riders and the trio would maintain a gap of 30 seconds until the final local circuit around Vaals.
The penultimate stage was won by Anna van der Breggen (DLT) ahead of tour leader Annemiek van Vleuten (OGE). Lisa Brennauer was the team’s best placed rider in 12th.
“I felt quite tired today. Mieke (Kröger) and I had the responsibility of covering attacks in the first 50km. By the time we hit that mark, I was actually drained. My attack that formed the solo breakaway, was actually a cover. I rode passed my breakaway companions on a climb, thinking they would follow me. I looked back and realised I was alone,” said Ryan.
“Romy Kasper bridged to me and Chantal Blaak joined later. I was riding the break as if we would go to the line for the win, but I knew the GC riders behind would be aggressive coming to the finish.”
The final stage tomorrow is in Ryan’s old training grounds of Sittard, where the USA Cycling have a european base. “Without giving away the details, I’m going to say tomorrow will be an aggressive race!”
#TAKETHELEAD
