Just just like the 12 months earlier than, Mylène de Zoete (Ceratizit-WNT) received the opening stage of the Tour of Chongming Island, beating Tereza Neumanová (UAE Team ADQ) within the mass dash. After her teammate Marta Lach launched a late assault, De Zoete sat on the wheel of eventual runner-up Neumanová.
“I misplaced the women simply earlier than the final nook, it was chaotic, as at all times, then I noticed Marta up forward within the assault and thought ‘okay, that’s good’, De Zoete advised Cyclingnews.
“I simply adopted this wheel in entrance of me, as a result of I used to be fairly well-positioned in entrance. We caught Marta within the final 300 metres, I believe, after which I began sprinting.”
Earlier within the race, Ceratizit-WNT had been very profitable within the day’s two intermediate sprints – however as an alternative of amassing bonus seconds for only one rider, that they had De Zoete, Lach, and Kathrin Schweinberger all take time bonifications.
“It was the plan to dash for the bonus seconds with a number of women as a result of we’re all quick, and all of us needed to see how we’d do in these sprints. We truly helped one another nicely doing it, that was good, and all of us obtained some seconds,” defined De Zoete.
For the 2 upcoming levels, the staff’s technique can be ‘don’t change a profitable tactic’.
“I believe tomorrow [Wednesday] we’ll do the identical as in the present day, additionally for the intermediate sprints, however once more with a number of women, most likely, after which dash for the stage as nicely,” De Zoete completed.
Neumanová was main the dash till the ultimate 25 metres when De Zoete got here previous. The 26-year-old Czech had a difficult 2024 season with a number of accidents, and the second place is her finest results of the 12 months thus far.
“I’m very proud of this podium as a result of it’s been a troublesome season for me, with bodily issues inflicting quite a lot of stress. To be on the rostrum in the present day is admittedly rewarding. The win was very shut, and whereas it’s kind of disappointing to not have taken it, I believe we may be pleased with our efficiency,” she mentioned.
“We are right here with a small staff, simply 4 riders, we plan to make use of different groups in finale and gamble a bit. We tried to go for intermediate sprints with Eleonora Gasparrini, however not with the entire staff. And when different groups centered on it, it was fairly onerous.”
“I had wonderful assist from my teammates, and once you belief one another, it at all times works nicely. Eleonora did nice work for me within the closing kilometre, and I knew on the highest of the bridge, when she went out, I wanted to start out my dash so I would not lose the momentum of velocity. Unfortunately, we have been lacking a bit for the win. But we’ll strive once more tomorrow,” added Neumanová.