Emma Pooley has won the women’s Tour de France, the Grande Boucle Feminine, in a win that emulates that of British team mate Nicole Cooke who won in 2006 and 2007.
Pooley finished 22 seconds ahead of Cervelo Test Team team-mate Christiane Soeder of Austria and Marianne Vos of Holland in the four-stage race.
The 27 year old, who won Olympic time-trial silver in Beijing last year, won the individual time-trial on day one and consolidated her lead with a fifth-place finish in Sunday’s final stage.
Welsh star Cooke who now rides for Vision 1 Racing won the Giro del Trentino in Italy last Friday.
After the win Pooley said, “This is definitely up there. It is only my second stage race I have ever won and considering I am a climber and really a rubbish sprinter, I usually need a big climb to get away.
“But I won the time trial and I got away on a flat stage, which for me is unusual, so that’s pleasing. It shows I can do more than just ride uphill. I was really lucky in that my team was very strong.
“The event isn’t quite the same as it means for the men. It is only four stages and it didn’t have as strong a field as in the past, but I’m still really pleased.
“There were some strong riders there and to beat Marriane Vos at any time, that’s always an achievement.”
Louise Hudson, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
More cycling on Sportsister:
