Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling’s Emma Johansson took her second podium of the 2016 Amgen Tour of California, with third place on stage three in the centre of Santa Rosa. The Swedish Champion was just unable to match the sprint of former World Champion Marianne Vos (Rabo-Liv) and Coryn Rivera (UnitedHealthcare) at the finish, after a stage that saw both Johansson and teammate Mara Abbott on the attack.
The girls did well covering everything into the long hill and then Mara went from the bottom,” Johansson explained. “First it was Mara, Evie, Megan [Stevens and Guarnier, Boels-Dolmans] and me. With 700 metres to the KOM I had a dip and struggled, and I told Mara on the radio because she still had Evie and Megan there so she slowed down.
“I came back straight away and told her to attack so she did,” Johansson continued. “Evie tried to go with her but had to let go so situation on top was Mara with gap to Evie with gap to Megan. Evie waited for Megan to chase together but it took a long time to pull Mara back.”
Abbott was able to hold off the chasing group for some time, but was eventually caught as the expanding breakaway group worked hard in the chase. What was then eight riders looked set to contest the stage between them but, with Vos’ Rabobank team missing from the front of the race, there was a strong chase that saw the peloton come together before it reached the short Santa Rosa finishing circuit.
“Eventually they caught Mara back and I went on the attack,” Johansson said. “I had some really good moves but difficult to get away since the group was up to eight riders by then. Because Rabo had no one in front, a group of 25 came back with Vos in it and also Audrey [Cordon-Ragot] and Dani [King]. There were some good moves on the last laps from them but it was a sprint in the end Vos is always hard to beat.”
Abbott’s solo attack saw her lead over the top of both Harrison Grade and Colman Valley Road, the two classified climbs of the day, which meant that the former US Champion finished the stage with an outright lead in the Mountains Classification (whose jersey she had worn throughout the stage in lieu of Guarnier). The Coloradan also earned herself the blue jersey for the most aggressive rider.
“Today was a really fun day for the team,” Abbott said. “It was great to be able to attack on the climb knowing that Emma was right behind in the next group. It was a really amazing course and I felt like the whole team rode so well.
“I’m excited emma was on the podium again and I’m proud we all worked so well together.”
Result
1. Marianne Vos (Rabo-Liv)
2. Coryn Rivera (UnitedHealthcare)
3. Emma Johansson (Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling)
