With the current European champion in the race and several past world champions, the race was going to be a tough test for what was a new team formation for FBUK– Schwinn. Recent signings Sophie Ruderman and Melissa Flagothier were in the team for the race meaning Yolandi du Toit and Gabby Day were rested from the event.

Starting towards the end of the race, Helen Wyman put in the teams fastest time, finishing 10^th on the stage. This result backed up her excellent form against the clock, following her 4^th in the TT last week. Behind her, Line Ramsrud also put in a fantastic ride to finish 33^rd.

The send stage was 5 laps of a 23.5km circuit around a large lake in Vassiviere. With the race pace now being controlled by the Colnago team, there was little for FBUK– Schwinn do on the stage other than maintain the high GC position of Helen, allowing the team to enter the 3^rd and final day in good position. The race came to a sprint and Cath Hare gained 20^th place, while Helen finished safely in the bunch in 25^th place.

With temperatures reaching 40 degrees, the third day was always going to be touch. Seven King of the Mountains points throughout the stage were a tough test on a course which included 3 significant hills in each of the 7 laps.

Again, Colnago set the early pace and with the team of European Champion Marianne Vos also trying to set up a stage win, the pace was very high. Despite a good effort from 7 riders to escape the field, the peleton caught them with 40km to go. Cath Hare, Team FBUK – Schwinn put in a great effort to help the chase and maintain the teams good GC position.

The final moves of the race came with around 10km to go, when over the final climb 2 moves slipped off the front of the peleton. Helen managed to get in the second group and took 9^th place on the stage and secured 11^th overall.

It was another great team performance by FBUK – Schwinn and with 2 UCI World Cups in the next week there are more strong tests for the team to come.

For more information, please see:

www.teamfbuk.com

www.helenwyman.com

www.fatbirds.co.uk

Stage 1

Helen 10^th

Line 33^rd

Cath 58^th

Sophie 59^th

Emma S 56^th

Melissa 77^th

Stage 2

Helen 25^th

Line 66^th

Cath 20^th

Sophie 60^th

Emma S 72^nd

Melissa 62^nd

Stage 3

Helen 9^th

Cath 18^th

Emma S 50^th

Line dnf

Sophie dnf

Melissa dnf

Overall

Marianne Vos (DSB Bank) 1^st

Helen 11^th

Cath 33^rd

Emma S 52^nd