Barely a few days after signing the first victory of her professional career, Olivia Baril was back on the Spanish roads, on the occasion of the first stage of the Women’s Tour of the Basque Country. The Quebecer from the Valcar-Travel & Service team finally finished 18and of this race, the outcome of which was decided about fifteen kilometers from the finish on Friday.
Posted at 11:56
Well positioned in the peloton after the three climbs of the course, Baril saw three riders escape just before entering Labastida, where a false flat finish awaited the participants. This attack proved fatal for the cyclist from Rouyn-Noranda and the other members of the pursuit, who finished 41 seconds behind the leading trio led by Dutchwoman Demi Vollering (SD Worx).
The winner of the day won ahead of Pauliena Rooijakkers (Canyon / SRAM Racing), powerless against the sprint of her compatriot. The American Kristen Faulkner (BikeExchange – Jayco) for her part was taken down in the home straight of the course and crossed the finish line two seconds behind her Dutch rivals.
“It was a race without too much history today. It was quite warm and I stayed well placed in the peloton throughout the course. I was pretty calm in general and I should have been more proactive when the right attack formed,” commented Baril at the end of the 106 kilometer race.
However, this is only a postponement for the 24-year-old athlete, who particularly likes the races contested in the Basque Country. “I love the climbs on the courses here and there are always good challenges. These are my favorite races! It’s a shame for today, but we’ll recover in the next few days. »
Also in this stage race, Magdeleine Vallières-Mill finished 36and. The Sherbrooke resident supported her teammates from the EF Education-TIBCO-SVB training until the last climb of the day before slowing down at the request of her sports director. She finally made it home nearly five minutes after the winner.
“My goal was to watch the attacks at the start of the race and to place my teammates for the important sections. I left the first group on the last long climb, but I had three teammates ahead, so I was asked to stay just behind. We finish with a slight delay on the breakaway, so there is nothing lost for the general classification of the team, ”analyzed Vallières-Mill, who expects to play a similar role by the end. competition on Sunday.
Her American teammates Veronica Ewers and Kristabel Doebel-Hickok respectively took the 14and and 20and rungs at the end of the race.
The second stage of the women’s Tour of the Basque Country will be contested on Saturday, in Mallabia. The participants will set off for a second mountain event, this time over a distance of 118 kilometres.