WORLD champion Lotte Kopecky added the Tour of Britain Women’s title to her long list of honours in a photo finish in Leigh, after finishing seventh, the previous day in Warrington.
In Warrington on Saturday Lorena Wiebes had claimed victory in the third stage of the 2024 Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Women to confirm SD Worx-Protime’s third successive win.
Wiebes delivered a sprint finish in Warrington to finish ahead of Charlotte Kool and Georgia Baker.
But World champion and Wiebes’ team-mate Lotte Kopecky, who won the previous two stages, continued to lead the competition despite her seventh-place finish on Saturday.
Ruby Roseman-Gannon snatched victory on the final stage following a photo finish in Leigh.
Liv-AlUla-Jayco rider Roseman-Gannon crossed half-a-wheel ahead of Christine Majerus, whom Kopecky tried to hand the stage win to after easing up 250 metres from home to allow her SD Worx-Protime team-mate to pass her.
Belgian Kopecky crossed in fourth place but had done enough to clinch the Tour of Britain title, finishing 17 seconds clear in the general classification. Anna Henderson was second with fellow Briton Pfeiffer Georgi earning fourth spot behind Majerus.
Great Britain claimed second place behind SD Worx-Protime in the team event with Lizzie Deignan, whose solo break on the Grains Bar climb put pressure on SD Worx-Protime before she was caught with 40 kilometres remaining, finishing seventh and Elinor Barker 11th.
The top four riders in the GC were in a group 40 seconds ahead going into the final 15 km but after SD Worx-Protime’s Lorena Wiebes attacked from the chase group, the leading pack bunched up again as the race entered the final 10km of the Tour of Britain.
Kopecky had a small advantage upon reaching the 250-metre finishing straight but sat up to allow Majerus to take the win, only for Australian Roseman-Gannon to squeeze past on the line with her Dutch opponent prematurely raising her arm in celebration.
“We made this deal that she is going to win today but maybe it was a stupid mistake.” Kopecky said of the bizarre finish.
“I still, however, would have done the same. It could have been a nice ending for Christine, but we finished well as a team.
“Maybe it is a little funny and it is what it is and I’m not disappointed.”
Deignan was crowned Queen of the Mountains and said: “(The solo attack) was kind of by accident to be honest, I was just really going for the points on the mountain and saw a gap and thought well there’s nothing to lose now.
“It was a nice atmosphere, I heard my name lots of times, lots of Yorkshire flags, and I knew the kids were at the finish line too so it was a lovely day.
“I think it was a success, obviously we came here trying to win overall, but Anna did a brilliant job on the GC.”
Overall winner SD Worx-Protime’s Lotte Kopecky (centre) on the podium with Visma-Lease a Bike’s Anna Henderson (left) and SD Worx’s Christine Majerus after stage four of the 2024 Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Women between Manchester to Leigh. Photo credit Martin Rickett/PA Wire.
What a finish! 🏁🚴♀️ pic.twitter.com/ygeq8iXtk3
— Warrington Borough Council (@WarringtonBC) June 8, 2024
⚡️ Lightning Lorena Wiebes sprints to stage three victory!#TourOfBritain | @UCI_WWT pic.twitter.com/Pmziute6je
— Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain (@TourofBritain) June 8, 2024
And they’re off!
Make sure to come back for the electric sprint-finish at around 2pm this afternoon 🚲 pic.twitter.com/VI4GHDuXXb
— Warrington Borough Council (@WarringtonBC) June 8, 2024
