Lorena Wiebes won the opening stage of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women in Cockermouth after SD Worx-Protime controlled a tense finale.

The Dutch sprinter beat Chiara Consonni of Canyon-SRAM and Josie Nelson of Picnic PostNL at the end of Wednesday’s opening stage. Wiebes did not win by one of her usual large margins, but she still finished the job after a demanding day.

Tour of Britain Women opens with SD Worx control

SD Worx-Protime shaped much of the stage and placed five riders in the reduced group of 32 at the finish. That depth gave Wiebes the support she needed once late attacks failed to split the race.

The victory was Wiebes’s eighth stage win at the British race across five editions. It also put her into the green leader’s jersey after the opening day.

Wiebes leads Consonni by four seconds on general classification, helped by bonus seconds at the finish. Karlijn Swinkels of UAE Team L’IMAD sits third, one further second behind, after collecting bonus seconds earlier in the stage.

Wiebes credited her teammates for the final approach into Cockermouth. She said Lotte Kopecky delivered Mischa Bredewold and herself into the last corner with around 500 metres remaining. Bredewold then held the speed high before Wiebes launched at 200 metres.

The Dutch rider described the win as a really nice way to start after last year’s race. SD Worx-Protime sports director Christian Kos praised the team’s execution and called it perfect teamwork.

Late attacks cannot deny Wiebes sprint chance

The stage opened with repeated attacks, although the peloton stayed together for the early intermediate sprint. Swinkels, Lara Gillespie and Kim Le Court-Pienaar took bonus seconds there for UAE Team L’IMAD and AG Insurance-Soudal.

Arabella Rosalie Blackburn of Handsling Alba Development then attacked and Audrey De Keersmaeker of Picnic PostNL followed. Their move created the day’s main breakaway, though Blackburn came back with 56km remaining.

De Keersmaeker continued alone until Parsonby Brow began to sharpen the race with 36km to go. The bunch stretched across the climb and caught her just over the top. Le Court-Pienaar stayed visible near the front, but Wiebes refused to lose contact.

The final 16km brought more pressure. Pfeiffer Georgi of Picnic PostNL and Lauren Dickson of FDJ United SUEZ tried to force a selection. Kate Courtney of FDJ United SUEZ also attacked, but the course did not create a decisive split.

A four-rider move then formed with 13km left. Bredewold and Steffi Häberlin represented SD Worx-Protime, joined by Aude Biannic of Movistar and Riejanne Markus of Lidl-Trek. The bunch quickly brought them back.

Liane Lippert and Le Court-Pienaar launched the next move, and about 10 riders briefly moved clear. The reduced peloton reeled them in with 9.4km remaining, setting up the expected sprint in Cockermouth.

With 2km to go, the remaining bunch had regrouped. SD Worx-Protime took charge on the descent into town, while Georgi positioned herself to support Nelson. Wiebes still had the strongest finish and secured the first leader’s jersey.

Stage 1 result

• 1. Lorena Wiebes (Ned), SD Worx-Protime, 4:03:09
• 2. Chiara Consonni (Ita), Canyon-SRAM, same time
• 3. Josie Nelson (GBr), Picnic PostNL, same time
• 4. Quinty Ton (Ned), Liv AlUla Jayco, same time
• 5. Caroline Andersson (Swe), Liv AlUla Jayco, same time
• 6. Letizia Borghesi (Ita), AG Insurance-Soudal, same time
• 7. Karlijn Swinkels (Ned), UAE Team L’IMAD, same time
• 8. Liane Lippert (Ger), Movistar, same time
• 9. Mischa Bredewold (Ned), SD Worx-Protime, same time
• 10. Fleur Moors (Bel), Lidl-Trek, same time

General classification after stage 1

• 1. Lorena Wiebes (Ned), SD Worx-Protime, 4:02:59
• 2. Chiara Consonni (Ita), Canyon-SRAM, +4sec
• 3. Karlijn Swinkels (Ned), UAE Team L’IMAD, +5sec
• 4. Josie Nelson (GBr), Picnic PostNL, +6sec
• 5. Mischa Bredewold (Ned), SD Worx-Protime, +7sec
• 6. Kim Le Court-Pienaar (Mau), AG Insurance-Soudal, +8sec
• 7. Quinty Ton (Ned), Liv AlUla Jayco, +10sec
• 8. Caroline Andersson (Swe), Liv AlUla Jayco, same time
• 9. Letizia Borghesi (Ita), AG Insurance-Soudal, same time
• 10. Liane Lippert (Ger), Movistar, same time

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