Marta Bastianelli (UAE Group ADQ) took victory on the opening stage of the Pageant Elsy Jacobs in Steinfort, grabbing her second win of the season forward of Ally Wollaston (AG Insurance coverage-Soudal-QuickStep) and her UAE teammate Eleonora Gasparrini.
The 111km stage, the primary of two on the race, took the peloton into the hills, together with a hilly closing circuit that featured the Côte de Septfontaines (1.3km at 7.8%). That climb got here for the ultimate time at round 10km from the road.
It was there that the decisive transfer was made, with Anouska Koster (Uno-X) shifting away from the peloton together with Bastianelli, Wollaston, and Gasparrini.
That attacking quartet would then race on in direction of the end line, the place the skilled Bastianelli prevailed within the dash end.
Having taken 10 bonus seconds on the end in addition to a three-second time bonus earlier within the stage, Bastianelli now enjoys a robust benefit heading into Sunday’s closing stage. She lies 5 seconds up on Wollaston, seven up on Gasparrini, and eight up on Koster.
The chasing peloton was led dwelling by Femke Gerritse (Parkhotel Valkenburg), who lies fifth at 13 seconds down.
Bastianelli, who gained the race final yr after profitable the opening stage in comparable vogue, is now within the driving seat forward of the 115km stage to Garnich, one other day within the hills in Luxembourg.
Outcomes
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