Finistere Ladies Classic: Sarah Van Dam takes the win after a photo finish

Sarah Van Dam (Visma-Lease a Bike) surged from a five-rider breakaway to edge Lily Williams (Human Powered Health) in a photo–finish victory at the Finistère Ladies Classic.

Eva Van Agt (FDJ United-SUEZ) grabbed the final spot on the podium ahead of Maeva Squiban (UAE Team L’IMAD) and Kiara Lylyk (Mayenne-Mobana-Mypie).

The Saturday UCI 1.1 opener for a weekend of races on the Cap Sizun peninsula in France, Finistère Ladies Classic began in Pouldreuzic. The northbound course along the Brittany coastline crossed the finish line in Plouhinic just 18km into the start, which then presented eight laps of a hilly 9.5km circuit. Each clockwise lap included an uncategorised 1.5km climb of 4.1% average gradient, leaving 3.5km the finish line, with the final approach uphill as well. Six times on the circuit provided intermediate sprint points in Plouhinec.

Rosita Reijnhout (Visma-Lease a Bike), Solene Muller (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93) and Ema Comte (Cofidis) pulled away from the peloton on the opening laps. Once they were pulled back, another attack proved more successful by five other riders.

Once at the mid-point of the finish laps, Eva Van Agt (FDJ United-SUEZ), Maeva Squiban (UAE Team L’IMAD), Lily Williams (Human Powered Health), Sarah Van Dam (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Kiara Lylyk (Mayenne-Bonbana-MyPie) had a 30-second gap .

Once through the start-finish with three laps to go, a solo chase by Nikola Noskova (Cofidis) had her 30 seconds away from the breakaway group. The peloton trailed another 42 seconds back, with EF Education-Oatly taking over with the pacemaking.

The quintet stamped out a steady tempo and never saw Noskova get closer, as with two laps to go the peloton closed down her effort. The peloton hovered at a minute in arrears over the next 15km, no attacks launched from the group.

The breakaway group surged across the uphill road into Plouhinec for a ninth time all together, with the photo-finish going to Canadian Van Dam by the slightest of margins.

Results

For unbeatable coverage across road, gravel and tech, subscribe to Cycling News. You’ll get comprehensive race coverage of La Vuelta a España, subscriber-exclusive analysis from our expert columnists, in-depth features and industry-leading tech insight. Plus, the Cycling News app lets you follow the action wherever you go! Join today.