Three UAE Team ADQ riders finished inside the top 10 at the end of Stage 2 of the Santos Women’s Tour Down Under, with Paula Blasi also taking the lead in the QOM Classification and wearing the Green Jersey. It was another strong team performance in Australia, ahead of tomorrow’s final and decisive stage.
The 130.7 km stage from Magill to Paracombe featured a challenging finale, with a rising road in the closing kilometres. UAE Team ADQ riders were active from the very first moments of the race, particularly young Spanish rider Paula Blasi. After entering the QOM Classification yesterday, Blasi fought today to take over the leadership, winning three QOM sprints and finishing second in another. Her consistent effort throughout the stage was rewarded at the end of the day, as she stepped onto the podium to pull on the Green QOM Jersey.
The stage was animated by several attack attempts, with the final move neutralised in the closing kilometres before the peloton regrouped for the sprint finish. For the second consecutive day, victory went to New Zealand’s Ally Wollaston (FDJ United – SUEZ), who also confirmed her lead in the general classification.
UAE Team ADQ once again showed great consistency, placing three riders in the top 10 on the stage: Paula Blasi finished fourth, Dominika Wlodarczyk fifth, and Mavi Garcia tenth.
The race will be decided tomorrow on the final and demanding stage, covering 126.5 km from Norwood to Campbelltown, a route expected to play a key role in the overall outcome of the Santos Women’s Tour Down Under.
After the stage, Paula Blasi said: “It wasn’t in the plans to fight for this jersey, but yesterday I got involved and picked up my first points. Today I tried to make the most of my chances at the QOM sprints and it went well. It’s a nice competition with Alessia Vigilia and Gaia Realini, and tomorrow I will definitely do my best to win this jersey. Tomorrow will be a very important day for our team. It’s a tough stage and I believe that with Dominika and Mavi we can fight for the win, and all together we will work for that.”
Australian Brodie Chapman tried to hold on, but was forced to abandon the race due to illness she had been suffering from in recent days.
(ph. Getty Sport)
