🇨🇳 Tour of Chongming Island (2.WWT)
💨 Stage 2: Chongming - Chongming New City Park (129km)
Stage 2 delivered another fast, completely flat route where the action truly ignited with 35km to go, as a strong six-rider breakaway snapped off the front featuring Gerritse, Koops, Lenehan, F. Markus, K. Swinkels, and Talbot, while L. Spurling set off in solitary pursuit behind them.
Despite having a strong numerical presence up front and a prime card to play with Gerritse in a small-group sprint, SD Worx–Protime actively took up the chase at the head of the main field, eventually joined by Human Powered Health. Their relentless tempo brought the breakaway to heel with 15km remaining, neutralizing all ahead and setting the stage for an inevitable bunch sprint once again.
As the lead-out trains organized for the frantic run-in, Lorena Wiebes launched an exceptionally long sprint, opening up her effort nearly 300 meters from the line. Tucked right in her slipstream, Lara Gillespie surged out of the wheel in the dying meters and drew almost shoulder-to-shoulder with the Dutch sprinter. While it wasn't quite enough to dethrone the queen of sprinting, Gillespie pushed Wiebes to the absolute limit as Wiebes held on to claim her second consecutive stage win!
Maggie Coles-Lyster sprinted to third place to complete the podium, edging out Clara Copponi in fourth.
Jersey:
GC: 🇳🇱 L. Wiebes (SDW)
Points: 🇳🇱 L. Wiebes (SDW) | 🇮🇪 L. Gillespie (UAD)
QOM:
Youth: 🇨🇳 C. Zhan (BDW)