Karlijn Swinkels opened the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women with a strong seventh-place finish in today’s opening stage, a 158.9-kilometre route starting and finishing in Cockermouth.
After a fast and fiercely contested day, a long breakaway was caught in the closing kilometres, setting up a succession of attacks and counter-attacks. The race eventually came down to a front group of around 20 riders, with UAE Team L’IMAD represented by both Karlijn Swinkels and Eleonora Gasparrini.
The stage was decided in a sprint, won by Lorena Wiebes (Team SD Worx – Protime). Swinkels finished seventh, while Gasparrini crossed the line in 11th place, just outside the top 10.
Thanks to the bonus seconds she collected at the intermediate sprints, Swinkels also made a strong start in the General Classification. She sits third overall, just five seconds behind race leader Wiebes.
The Lloyds Tour of Britain Women continues tomorrow with Stage 2, a 110.5-kilometre route from Clitheroe to Blackpool.
(ph. Getty Sport)
