Ford RideLondon Classique Stage Two results

by Paul Horta-Hopkins · May 30, 2023

Riders took on a 137 kilometre circuit for Stage Two. Starting and finishing in the Essex town of Maldon: home of Maldon Sea Salt. Here’s the Ford RideLondon Classique Stage Two results

While Stage Two would start and finish in Maldon, first the riders would have to face a loop north-east into Essex on flat, windy roads. They would then head back for three laps around Maldon, tackling the North Hill three times.

If you missed what happened on Stage One, check out the UCI’s catch-up video below.

With the first sprint only eight kilometres into the stage, any early escapees would be hard pressed to stay away. Despite this Karolina Karasiewicz (Torelli) boldy took off: only to be caught just before the sprint!

First intermediate sprint, Tolleshunt D’Arcy,

1. Charlotte Kool (Team DSM)
2. Maike van der Duin (Canyon//SRAM Racing)
3. Clara Copponi (FDJ-Suez)

With the sprint done British rider April Tacey (Lifeplus Wahoo) breaks away and gains a lead of 3’00” over the bunch, despite having to battle Essex’s headwinds. Tracey takes the second intermediate sprint at Tiptree (home of the jam!) But now here lead is shrinking, as she fights those winds and the accelerating peloton.

Second intermediate sprint, Tiptree

1. Tacey (Lifeplus Wahoo)
2. Thalita De Jong (Liv Racing TeqFind)
3. Clara Copponi (FDJ-Suez)

At sixty-six kilometres to go the bunch finally reels in our lone escapee and will soon the start the first of the three circuits of Maldon. And as they do, the battle for QoM points begins.

Queen of the Mountains 1

1. Eugénie Duval (FDJ-Suez)
2. Emilia Fahlin (FDJ-Suez)
3. Lauretta Hanson (Trek-Segafredo)

As the people of Maldon come out to enjoy the sun and the racing, Typhaine Laurance (Lifeplus-Wahoo) emulates here team-mate and goes on a solo break. She manages to get 35 seconds on the bunch and takes maximum points on the next QoM.

Queen of the Mountains 2

1. Typhaine Laurance (Lifeplus-Wahoo)
2. Soraya Paladin (Canyon//SRAM Racing)
3. Lauretta Hanson (Trek-Segafredo)

With twenty kilometres to go it’s gruppo compatto. But with the headwinds the gruppo is now very compatto with only thirty-five riders left in the main bunch. Approaching North Hill for the last time and the speed has dropped as riders prepare for the final chapters of todays race.

Some rides would start the day already battered and bruised

Dutch rider Maike van der Duin (Canyon – SRAM) attacks with twelve kilometres left and goes into time-trial mode. She has a lead of 30 seconds which she holds until four kilometre, when Trek-Segafredo start to work. DSM join the chase and the gap is down to 13 seconds with one kilometre.

Van der Duin is caught and while a crash whittles the chasing bunch further, team-mate Soraya Paladin attacks on the uphill finish in Maldon. Paladin has her team-mate Chloe Dygert on her wheel, who is being tracked by Trek-Segafredo’s Lizzie Deignan. Dygert digs hard and manages to hold off a hard chasing Deignan.