Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling’s Giorgia Bronzini sprinted to an incredible fourth straight victory in the Route de France, as she took stage four, between Cloyes-sur-le-Loir and Briare. The former two-time World champion finished more than a length clear of her nearest rival once again, with Australian Melissa Hoskins (Orica-AIS) taking second, with Roxane Fournier of the French National Team in third.
At 140km, the stage was the longest of the race but, with little to break up the peloton in its length, it was the biggest group so far that arrived at the finish, but Bronzini was unstoppable once again.
“It was quite an easy day because this stage didn’t really have any climbs,” Bronzini explained. “It was vey flat, and sometimes it was windy, but not strong enough to make a gap.
“Some teams – like MCipollini-Giordana, the Russian team and the American team – tried to go in a break, but we controlled the race, and and we were in every break. So it was perfect today, and we arrived in the last two-K in a big bunch.
“In the final there was a Russian girl in front, and Beatrice Bartelloni pulled the up to her with four-K to go,” Bronzini continued. “I was with Linda Villumsen and Lauren Kitchen until the beginning of the sprint, and they put me on the right wheel. I was in the wheel of Emma Johansson [Orica-AIS], and I started my sprint with 200 metres to go, and it was good.”
“I never won four days in a row before!” Bronzini exclaimed. “Never. I’m so happy, and so proud for the team.”
Once again, the stage route prevented Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling’s Villumsen from taking any time from race leader Johansson, and the New Zealander still trails by a single second. With three stages to go, the black and orange team will once again be looking for opportunities to take the orange jersey.
“For sure tomorrow we will be together and I will try to do a good job to think about the jersey,” said Bronzini. “It’s time to think of the jersey. It’s already the fifth stage and we must do the maximum to try to take that jersey, so tomorrow I will work for the team.”
Result
1. Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling)
2. Melissa Hoskins (Orica-AIS)
3. Roxane Fournier (France)
