Three in the Top-Ten for GreenEDGE-AIS at Elsy Jacobs

Linda Villumsen continues her solid run of form, finishing the three day Festival Luxembrougeois Du Cyclisme Féminin Elsy Jacobs as the best placed GreenEDGE-AIS rider in fifth place. Marianne Vos (Rabobank Women) won the overall classification ahead of her teammate, stage three winner, Annemiek Van Vleuten (Rabobank Women).

“We didn’t have anyone in the finish today,” admitted Sports Director Dave McPartland. “We didn’t have a chance to make a big impact. We tried several times to get a group up the road, but nothing we tried stuck. The course didn’t lend itself to a really aggressive race the way yesterday’s course did. In the end, it was a field sprint.”

McPartland expressed slight disappointment with the lack of selection on the course.

“Nothing really happened in the first big lap,” he said. “The large loop was on fast, rolling sort of roads. We did five laps on the smaller circuit course. Last year, the circuit included a few climbs. This year, it was more of a gradual climb. It was nowhere near as selective this year. A harder course suits our style of riding better.”

Villumsen provided GreenEDGE-AIS with their top finish on the stage as she rounded out the top-twenty. Tiffany Cromwell and Judith Ardnt finished with the bunch to retain their positions on the overall.

“We had Tiff in ninth overall and Judith in tenth overall,” explained McPartland. “With the time bonus for the stage win, Van Vleuten was able to leapfrog over Villumsen. She dropped down to fifth overall from third where she sat after the first two stages.”