Motivated by yesterday’s win, Team DSM headed into stage 5 with a similar outlook given the largely flat parcours, keeping the GC placings in check and riding for Wiebes in the finale in the knowledge of her being one of the fastest finishers at the race.
The stage featured a long solo breakaway by Hayley Simmonds at the front of the race all day, building a lead of over three minutes thirty seconds at its most, but once the peloton picked up the pace her lead soon started to fall. The team helped set the pace to close the gap as well as keeping Wiebes out of trouble before turning their attentions to preparing for a sprint finish once the race was back together in the final 15 kilometres.
A late QOM wasn’t enough to cause any splits and the race headed into the finish in Clacton where Wiebes finished off another day of strong teamwork with victory, while second placed on GC Juliette Labous maintained her overall position heading into tomorrow’s final day of racing.