Ireland's Megan Armitage (Arkéa Pro Cycling Team) will take no further part in Tour Cycliste Féminin International de l'Ardèche (2.1) after suffering a blow to the head. Her withdrawal from the event followed a suspected concussion earlier this year, after crashing on the eve of Tour de France Femmes.
One the third stage of the race yesterday - a mainly flat 119km starting and finishing in Avignon - Ireland's Lara Gillespie was once again active in the intermediate sprints. The UAE Team ADQ rider took 2nd at the first sprint after 17km as the temperatures rose to 33°C.
Shortly after that sprint, a three-rider breakaway formed containing Rwandan champion Diane Ingabire (Canyon), Hana Zumer (Slovenia) and Natalie Quinn (USA). They built up a lead of one minute after 30km, which would eventually double.
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Zumer was soon dropped from the small front group, but it's number was at three again after Canadian rider Emilie Fortin (Cynisca) managed to bridge the gap from the bunch. However, with the breakaway's advantage being gradually cut back, it was down to 30 seconds with 30km to go.
And while the breakaway then split, they were all caught before the finish, paving the way for a bunch sprint, won by stage 1 victor Daria Pikulik (Human Powered Health). Gillespie finished in 13th place with compatriot Fiona Mangan (Cynisca) also in the bunch, in 19th place.
Armitage was a non-starter after she crashed on stage 2 and hit her head. And after being forced into a concussion protocol just before the Tour de France, after a training ride crash, she was not risked yesterday. The race was due to continue today, Friday, with a slightly lumpier 101.6km stage from Saint-Rambert-d'Albon to Hauterives.
