Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling’s Charlotte Becker wrapped up her victory in the Tour of Zhoushan Island, as teammate Giorgia Bronzini took the final stage in a bunch sprint. the German former Team Time Trial World Champion had held the Yellow Jersey since her own stage victory on the opening day, and ended the three-stage tour eight seconds ahead of Marta Tagliaferro (Alé-Cipollini), with Aizhan Zhaparova (RusVelo) 15 seconds back in third place.
“The first thing is that I am – and we all are – really, really happy!” Becker smiled. “The girls all did such a good job today; they rode in front the whole day. Before the intermediate sprint, with bonus seconds, there was a breakaway with riders not important for the GC. So that was perfect for us! But we caught them back because RusVelo made a lot of attacks.
“There was no time where there was a situation where we lost the control, which was really nice to see!” Becker continued. “It gave me so much confidence and power, and in the end Gio could take the win. The plan was that she needed to sprint so that Tagliaferro couldn’t take more than the six seconds for second place.”
Bronzini’s stage victory, ahead of Annalisa Cucinotta (Servetto-Footon) and Shelley Olds (Alé-Cipollini), earned the Italian former two time road World Champion overall victory in the Green Jersey Points Classification in the race that she won overall last year.
“It was amazing work these days from the girls in the team,” Bronzini said. “We were the best team that worked together for one objective and I’m really really proud of all of them.
“Lotte deserves it and the girls worked really hard to make it,” the Italian sprinter added. “And in the end I was able to win also!”
Having worked hard for her teammates all week, Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling’s Mayuko Hagiwara also took the Blue Jersey for the Best Asian Rider.
“I was very happy Lotte won GC, and that Giorgia won the stage,” said the eight-time Japanese Champion. “This race was a short distance every day, about 80km, but it was hard every day.
“We are strong team,” Hagiwara continued. “I really had confidence in Lotte and Gio, and all our teammates, so I could give all my energy to help Lotte win.”
“It was all perfect,” Becker concluded. “Three jerseys and a happy team… maybe now we’ll all go and have a drink together!”
Result Stage 3
1. Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling)
2. Annalisa Cucinotta (Servetto-Footon)
3. Shelley Olds (Alé-Cipollini)
Final General Classification
1. Charlotte Becker (Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling)
2. Marta Tagliaferro (Alé-Cipollini)
3. Aizhan Zhaparova (RusVelo)
