Chloe Hosking Race Report
Today’s 122.5km fifth stage from Pontault-Combault to Châlette Sur Loing served as a welcome reward for our hard work after the last four days where we had worked hard to animate the race but had yet to claim a stage win.
After a fast and aggressive start it seemed like the bunch was content to conserve for the looming mountain stages.
Coming into the final kilometres, Loren, who is moving around the European peloton like she’s been here for years despite just making the plunge for the first time a few days ago, and Katie were marshaling around like the British men around Cav.
After a sharp right hand corner with four kilometres to go the three of us were lined up on the right hand side of the road waiting patiently. A crucial chink in our chain was missing after Emilia had a nightmare day on the bike and so we knew we had to wait to launch our train a bit later than usual; a broken handle meant she had to have a bike a change at exactly the wrong moment, only to then need a seat adjustment and with no assistance from the team car allowed she was forced to ride the remaining 80 kilometres alone…
At two kilometres to go, just as the bunch was starting to mushroom and things were getting a bit sketchy our diesel engine, Evie, came rocketing up the left hand side of the road looking excitedly at Loren, Katie and I. I didn’t need to hesitate. ‘Loren, GO!’
Loren accelerated onto Evie’s wheel and we were off. Evie continued to lift the pace making it impossible for anyone to try and challenge our train, and just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, Loren took over with just under one kilometre to go. Taking it to just before a corner at 550 metres to go Loren dropped Katie and I off with a fairy tale run to the line. Katie took me through to corner and I was able to accelerate off her wheel with just over 200 metres to go to take the win.
It was exciting to cap off the girls effort but I’m sure with four stages to go it wont be the last stage win for the team!
