30-year-old Ane Santesteban has continued her recent run of consistent performances by riding into the main breakaway on today’s second stage of Cycliste Féminin de l’Ardeche, before sprinting to a respectable to fifth place in good company.
The Spanish climber was active at the start and was able to jump into the dangerous move of 10 riders which clipped away and opened up a lead of over five minutes ahead of the peloton. On the final QOM, Leah Thomas attacked away and successfully held on to take the stage win, with the remaining breakaway riders sprinting for second place, just eight seconds adrfit.
The Team BikeExchange rider now moves up to seventh place overall following today’s performance on the 122.6km hilly stage, with the top-10 riders on the general classification now sitting five minutes 49 seconds ahead of the rest of the peloton.
Ane Santesteban – 5th
“I am happy with today’s race. After San Sebastians race I have done such a good block of training and I am feeling good in the races now.
The whole team did amazing work in these first two stages of Ardeche and I think now we are in the position we wanted for the next stages. We are ready to fight. There is a big gap now in the general classification after the first ten riders.”
2021 Cycliste Féminin de l’Ardeche – Stage 2 results:
- Leah Thomas 3:24:44
- Lizzie Deignan +0:08
- Thalita de Jong +0:08
- Ane Santesteban (Team BikeExchange) +0:08
General classification after stage 2:
- Leah Thomas 3:10:02
7. Ane Santesteban (Team BikeExchange) +0:08
Photo courtesy of Getty Images