Well, stages 3 and 4 have been run and won. That’s about all I can tell you as there is a dearth of information tonight.
Stage 3 had a break of four riders get away and stay away… just! The bunch caught them on the line but not soon enough to take the victory. Vicki spent the race working for Rochelle, the team sprinter. She was a bit frustrated to do a good lead out but have the bunch miss the timing.
Stage 4 was a time trial. The very brief comment I have from Vicki is that she had pain in her arm every time she got out of the saddle (that’ll happen if you whack it on the ground!) but “all things considered it was ok – I guess”. Didn’t provide me with anything interesting… like her actual result. The stage was won by Vicki’s good friend Amber Neben who I really hope will have a good year after all the injury set backs she faced last year.
Stage 5 sees the girls repeat the course of Stage 2 but in reverse. The major climb will come very early in the race with almost 100km of (relatively) flat roads to cover before the finish. If I were a betting man I’d say a fairly big bunch sprint but I always live in hope that a break succeeds.
God bless,
Dave