Maggie Coles-Lyster continued her sprinting form, scoring 10th place in a chaotic finale on stage 2 of the UAE Tour Women.
The Canadian Olympian and her teammates dodged crashes in the final stretch of the 145 km stage around Dubai, with the run to the line becoming a free-for-all. Final lead-out rider Silvia Zanardi did well to position Coles-Lyster, who then used all of her track craft to weave up into tenth.
The result marks the second time the 26-year-old has posted back-to-back top tens in a WorldTour stage race, with the previous day’s effort matching her best WorldTour finish.
Climber Petra Stiasny also animated the race. Five days after her solo breakaway at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, the 24-year-old joined an early four-rider breakaway. The group survived a distance of 110 km and, at one point, had a seven-minute advantage before being reeled in with 30 km to go.
“It was four from the start, and we all committed, so it was definitely more interesting than being in the bunch today,” Stiasny joked afterwards. “I enjoyed it, and it was definitely better with company this time.”
Tomorrow’s stage 3 takes in all the sights of Abu Dhabi before an expected sprint finish. It will be the last chance to crown the queen of the sprinters.
UAE Tour Women stage 2 results
1 WIEBES Lorena – Team SD Worx – Protime 3:38:44
2 CONSONNI Chiara – CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto ”
3 VEENHOVEN Nienke – Team Visma | Lease a Bike ”
4 GUAZZINI Vittoria – FDJ United – SUEZ ”
5 GILLESPIE Lara – UAE Team ADQ ”
6 DIDERIKSEN Amalie – Cofidis Women Team ”
7 BAKER Georgia – Liv AlUla Jayco ”
8 VERHULST-WILD Gladys – AG Insurance – Soudal Team ”
9 KOOL Charlotte – Fenix-Premier Tech ”
10 COLES-LYSTER Maggie – Human Powered Health ”
Photos: GettySport and Oskar Scarsbrook
