Ceratizit Festival Elsy Jacobs 2021 – Stage 2 [FULL STAGE] (ladies)

May 2, 2021

Ceratizit Festival Elsy Jacobs 2021 – Stage 2 – Garnich – Garnich : 105,3 km

The Festival Luxembourgeois du cyclisme féminin Elsy Jacobs formerly known as the Grand Prix Elsy Jacobs is an international women’s road bicycle race held in Garnich, Luxembourg. Since 2008 this event is on the UCI women’s elite cycle racing calendar. Between 2009 and 2011 it was rated as an UCI 1.1 category race and since 2012 the race is a 2.1 category stage race. The race is named after Elsy Jacobs the first winner of the UCI Road World Championships – Women’s Road Race

Emma Norsgaard (Movistar) secured her second consecutive win and the overall title at Festival Elsy Jacobs on Sunday. Norsgaard won the stage 2 reduced bunch sprint ahead of Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team) and Sofia Bertizzolo (Liv Racing) in Garnich.

Norsgaard went into the three-day race having numerous podium performances through this season, but no victories. It was a successful event for the Danish sprinter, who not only won two stages and the overall title, but also won the points classification and the best young rider classification.

“I’m so happy for this overall victory! I’m so happy to have chosen to join this team last year, and they are working so good for me since the very start of the season, it’s so impressive. I’m so, so proud, both of myself and the whole team,” Norsgaard said.

How it unfolded

Stage 2 closed out the Festival Elsy Jacobs with a 105.3-kilometre race that started and finished in Garnich on Sunday. The peloton began on a 61.3-kilometre loop, followed by five laps of an 8.8-kilometre circuit in Garnich. There were also four GPM ascents for points during the race which made for an explosive finale to the three-day event.

Over the first mountain at Avenue de Mersch (1.4km at 7.3 per cent) it was Thalita de Jong (Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire) who took full points ahead of Kathrin Hammes (Ceratizit-WNT), both who were part of the previous day’s decisive move, and then with Julie van de Velde (Jumbo-Visma) taking third.

Over the second mountain pass at Croisement Rue de Nospelt (1.6km at 4.4 per cent) it was Mischa Bredewold (Parkhotel Valkenburg), who had broken away from the peloton. The next over the top were De Jong and then Hammes for the remaining points.

Bredewold pushed her lead out to 30 seconds as she entered the local 8.8km finish circuits in Garnich. As she approached the circuit’s climb, with four laps to go, she looked back and could see the main field looming behind.

A reduced front group formed with De Jong picking up full points on the third mountain ascent ahead of Mikayla Harvey (Canyon-SRAM) and Naimh Fisher-Black (SD Worx). The field split into four separate groups with the decisive leader group of about 20 riders opening a gap of 30 seconds with three local laps to go.

Over the fourth and final climb for points, De Jong reached the top first ahead of Christine Majerus (SD Worx) and Riejanne Markus (Jumbo-Visma). Those points secured De Jong as the winner of the mountain classification at Festival Elsy Jacobs.

With two laps remaining, 18km to go, the lead groups reunited with overall leader Norsgaard in that bunch. A flurry of attacks set off on the final circuit but Norsgaard was strong enough to position herself near the front of the bunch over the punchy terrain with help from her teammate Leah Thomas.

“I was together with Leah the whole day, and when we went in the break together, she really supported me the whole way, especially in the climbs – wherever was a gap, she closed it down and made things easier for me. Leah is a big part of today’s victory,” Norsgaard said.

“I felt super-great today, even better than yesterday, so I just felt like I was on top of the race – and then, I had the best teammates ever! So I had no doubt I would make it into the climbs and going into the break.”

Elise Chabbey (Canyon-SRAM) attacked several times and although she built a small gap, Norsgaard moved to the front to close down the dangerous move on a twisty descent.

Tayler Wiles (Trek-Segafredo) was the next to go with 5km to go but she was followed bu SD Worx. Ruth Winder (Trek-Segafredo) counter attacked but she wasn’t strong enough to clear the field. Wiles went again with 4km to go but the reduced peloton was quick to react.

A relentless Wiles attacked again over a small riser with 3km to go but again Norsgaard was able to reconnect with her over the top, and the field remained intact for the final two kilometres.

Confalonieri started her sprint under 200 metres go go but Norsgaard was perfectly positioned to come around the Italian to take the stage 2 win and secure the overall title at Festival Elsy Jacobs.

Results :
1 Emma Norsgaard (Den) Movistar Team Women 2:47:55
2 Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Ita) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
3 Sofia Bertizzolo (Ita) Liv Racing
4 Silvia Persico (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
5 Marie Le Net (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
6 Thalita De Jong (Ned) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire
7 Leah Kirchmann (Can) Team DSM
8 Juliette Labous (Fra) Team DSM
9 Karlijn Swinkels (Ned) Jumbo-Visma Women Team
10 Valerie Demey (Bel) Liv Racing
11 Christine Majerus (Lux) Team SD Worx
12 Anouska Koster (Ned) Jumbo-Visma Women Team
13 Ruth Winder (USA) Trek-Segafredo
14 Mikayla Harvey (NZl) Canyon-SRAM Racing
15 Riejanne Markus (Ned) Jumbo-Visma Women Team
16 Elise Chabbey (Swi) Canyon-SRAM Racing
17 Eugénie Duval (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
18 Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana
19 Leah Thomas (USA) Movistar Team Women
20 Jeanne Korevaar (Ned) Liv Racing
21 Anna Shackley (GBr) Team SD Worx
22 Anastasiia Chursina (Rus) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana
23 Pauliena Rooijakkers (Ned) Liv Racing
24 Tayler Wiles (USA) Trek-Segafredo
25 Niamh Fisher-Black (NZl) Team SD Worx
26 Elena Cecchini (Ita) Team SD Worx
27 Marta Jaskulska (Pol) Liv Racing 0:00:16
28 Mischa Bredewold (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg 0:00:19
29 Esmée Peperkamp (Ned) Team DSM
30 Shirin van Anrooij (Ned) Trek-Segafredo
31 Omer Shapira (Isr) Canyon-SRAM Racing 0:00:22
32 Aude Biannic (Fra) Movistar Team Women
33 Elisa Balsamo (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
34 Clara Copponi (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope 0:01:18
35 Amber van der Hulst (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
36 Romy Kasper (Ger) Jumbo-Visma Women Team
37 Vita Heine (Nor) Massi Tactic Women Team
38 Olivia Baril (Can) Massi Tactic Women Team
39 Hannah Ludwig (Ger) Canyon-SRAM Racing
40 Ella Harris (NZl) Canyon-SRAM Racing
41 Julie Leth (Den) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
42 Kathrin Hammes (Ger) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
43 Lara Vieceli (Ita) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
44 Julia van Bokhoven (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg 0:01:25
45 Mie Bjørndal Ottestad (Nor) Andy Schleck-CP NVST-Immo Losch 0:02:17
46 Femke Gerritse (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
47 Nancy van der Berg (Ned) Jumbo-Visma Women Team
48 Kelly Van Den Steen (Bel) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire 0:03:53
49 Elizabeth Bennett (GBr) Drops-le Col Supported by Tempur
50 Noemi Rüegg (Swi) Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime Women Cycling
51 Georgia Danford (NZl) Andy Schleck-CP NVST-Immo Losch
52 Lea Lin Teutenberg (Ger) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
53 Lauretta Hanson (Aus) Trek-Segafredo
54 Lourdes Oyarbide Jimenez (Spa) Movistar Team Women
55 Barbara Guarischi (Ita) Movistar Team Women
56 Amalie Dideriksen (Den) Trek-Segafredo
57 Lonneke Uneken (Ned) Team SD Worx
58 Coryn Rivera (USA) Team DSM
59 Chiara Consonni (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
60 Silvia Pollicini (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
61 Laura Asencio (Fra) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
62 Julie Van De Velde (Bel) Jumbo-Visma Women Team 0:06:33
63 Mireia Benito Pellicer (Spa) Massi Tactic Women Team 0:20:33
64 Dani Christmas (BGr) Drops – Le Col s/b TEMPUR 0:30:33
65 Maaike Coljé (Ned) Massi Tactic Women Team
66 Anastasiya Kolesava (Blr) WCC Team
67 Natalie van Gogh (Ned) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire
DNF Nina Berton (Lux) Andy Schleck-CP NVST-Immo Losch
DNF Belle de Gast (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg

Final General Classification :
1 Emma Norsgaard (Den) Movistar Team Women 6:05:00
2 Leah Kirchmann (Can) Team DSM 0:00:14
3 Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Ita) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
4 Karlijn Swinkels (Ned) Jumbo-Visma Women Team 0:00:18
5 Thalita De Jong (Ned) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire 0:00:20
6 Anouska Koster (Ned) Jumbo-Visma Women Team
7 Ruth Winder (USA) Trek-Segafredo 0:00:21
8 Christine Majerus (Lux) Team SD Worx
9 Riejanne Markus (Ned) Jumbo-Visma Women Team 0:00:22
10 Juliette Labous (Fra) Team DSM 0:00:23
11 Elise Chabbey (Swi) Canyon-SRAM Racing 0:00:24
12 Jeanne Korevaar (Ned) Liv Racing 0:00:25
13 Sofia Bertizzolo (Ita) Liv Racing 0:00:26
14 Pauliena Rooijakkers (Ned) Liv Racing
15 Elena Cecchini (Ita) Team SD Worx 0:00:27
16 Leah Thomas (USA) Movistar Team Women 0:00:29
17 Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana 0:00:32
18 Niamh Fisher-Black (NZl) Team SD Worx 0:00:33
19 Marie Le Net (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope 0:00:34
20 Anastasiia Chursina (Rus) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana 0:00:35
21 Mikayla Harvey (NZl) Canyon-SRAM Racing 0:00:36
22 Valerie Demey (Bel) Liv Racing 0:00:37
23 Anna Shackley (GBr) Team SD Worx
24 Eugénie Duval (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope 0:00:42
25 Shirin van Anrooij (Ned) Trek-Segafredo 0:00:44
26 Tayler Wiles (USA) Trek-Segafredo 0:00:47
27 Elisa Balsamo (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service 0:00:48
28 Silvia Persico (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service 0:00:51
29 Mischa Bredewold (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg 0:00:54
30 Marta Jaskulska (Pol) Liv Racing 0:01:02
31 Aude Biannic (Fra) Movistar Team Women 0:01:32
32 Clara Copponi (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope 0:01:41
33 Julie Leth (Den) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team 0:01:52
34 Omer Shapira (Isr) Canyon-SRAM Racing 0:01:53
35 Kathrin Hammes (Ger) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
36 Ella Harris (NZl) Canyon-SRAM Racing 0:01:54
37 Hannah Ludwig (Ger) Canyon-SRAM Racing 0:02:01
38 Amber van der Hulst (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg 0:02:03
39 Lara Vieceli (Ita) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team 0:02:05
40 Olivia Baril (Can) Massi Tactic Women Team
41 Julia van Bokhoven (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg 0:02:11
42 Romy Kasper (Ger) Jumbo-Visma Women Team 0:02:37
43 Femke Gerritse (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg 0:02:56
44 Lonneke Uneken (Ned) Team SD Worx 0:04:13
45 Coryn Rivera (USA) Team DSM 0:04:18
46 Noemi Rüegg (Swi) Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime Women Cycling 0:04:25
47 Laura Asencio (Fra) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team 0:04:30
48 Chiara Consonni (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service 0:05:52
49 Silvia Pollicini (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service 0:05:53
50 Amalie Dideriksen (Den) Trek-Segafredo
51 Esmée Peperkamp (Ned) Team DSM 0:06:06
52 Vita Heine (Nor) Massi Tactic Women Team 0:06:26
53 Nancy van der Berg (Ned) Jumbo-Visma Women Team 0:07:27
54 Mie Bjørndal Ottestad (Nor) Andy Schleck-CP NVST-Immo Losch 0:07:39
55 Kelly Van Den Steen (Bel) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire 0:09:11
56 Elizabeth Bennett (GBr) Drops-le Col Supported by Tempur
57 Lea Lin Teutenberg (Ger) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team 0:09:13
58 Georgia Danford (NZl) Andy Schleck-CP NVST-Immo Losch 0:09:17
59 Barbara Guarischi (Ita) Movistar Team Women 0:09:20
60 Lourdes Oyarbide Jimenez (Spa) Movistar Team Women 0:09:23
61 Lauretta Hanson (Aus) Trek-Segafredo 0:09:44
62 Julie Van De Velde (Bel) Jumbo-Visma Women Team 0:18:03
63 Mireia Benito Pellicer (Spa) Massi Tactic Women Team 0:25:53
64 Natalie van Gogh (Ned) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire 0:35:51
65 Maaike Coljé (Ned) Massi Tactic Women Team 0:35:59
66 Dani Christmas (BGr) Drops – Le Col s/b TEMPUR 0:38:02
67 Anastasiya Kolesava (Blr) WCC Team 0:38:11