Career-best WorldTour result for Jesse at RideLondon
WORDS: REBECCA BLAND
IMAGES: HONOR ELLIOTT
Teamwork is always important in cycling, but in a WorldTour race with a punchy final circuit and a small team, it becomes essential. In the end, we overcame late bike changes and a fast run-in to deliver Jesse to her best ever WorldTour result.
The second stage of the RideLondon Classique saw the riders take in more of the Essex countryside, this time visiting the town of Epping 141.7km after leaving Chelmsford.
A slightly bumpier race than the first stage, the pace was still blisteringly high, with an average speed overall of 38kph. In a similar fashion to the first stage, only one rider managed to get away from the pack, this time it was the turn of Veronica Ewers of EF Education-TIBCO-SVB. Her efforts stretched the gap out to over three minutes before she was brought back by the peloton on the first town centre lap.
The pace began to pick up on the approach to the Epping High Street circuit, with minor splits in the peloton. With 15km to go, unfortunately, Maike suffered a puncture resulting in a bike change that meant protected rider Jesse was down to two teammates to help to get her into position for the final sprint.
Luckily, Majo and April worked well to make sure Jesse was in the prime position to launch her sprint, resulting in 8th place on the stage.
Julia Soek, our DS agreed it was a welcome reward for the team’s hard work today.
“Today had quite a challenging local circuit, and in the end unfortunately Maike had a flat at quite an unlucky moment. However, Jesse found her way to the finish section and in the end, she got 8th so I think we can be really satisfied with today.”
A top 10 in a WorldTour race is no easy feat, as Majo explained she gave it her all to put Jesse in the best place possible for the finale.
“I did a big pull on the front, and I was telling Julia, ‘I’m dead, I’m dead! I have no legs!’
“And she told me, ‘You have to stay there, keep on pushing!’”
Luckily, Majo was able to dig deep for a little bit longer and help position Jesse. In the final sprint, won again by Lorena Wiebes (Team DSM).
Jesse’s efforts today put her ninth overall, sitting just four seconds back on her nearest rival as we head into the final stage tomorrow. Stage three will look familiar to RideLondon fans of old, as we take on a circuit around the centre of London.
Highlights for the stage can be found on BBC iPlayer and the Red Button.