May 07, 2016 (Chongming Island) – It was a day full of attacks and break groups, under cooler temperatures and occasional light showers. With the start once again in Xincheng Park, the stage covered 112.8 km, with a cat. 4 climb along the way.

Near the end, a select group of some 30 to 40 riders got away, including virtually the whole Liv Plantur team. They were among those working hard at the head of the group and were the dominant sprint train going into the finale.

Crossing the finish line, she was just edged out by Chloe Hosking (Wiggle High 5). Hosking now leads the GC, with Leah in second place by four seconds.

Leah Kirchmann was pleased with the stage. “The team rode another great race today. We were always represented at the front and putting pressure on the race. The finish was a little more hectic compared to yesterday, with a bit of rain and a fight for position with other teams, but we still managed to put together another good lead out.”

The Canadian is optimistic for the closing stage. “I’m very motivated for tomorrow’s stage. The GC is close and there are seconds available at the intermediate sprints and at the finish. After two podium finishes, a stage victory is the ultimate goal for tomorrow!”

Coach Dirk Reuling had mixed feelings. “Leah took second place on the sprint after a hard and windy stage. The lead out at the first bonification sprint was not good. The girls lost each other and we took no seconds there.”

“We took the initiative on 70 km on an open part with crosswind going into the second bonification sprint. We had 4 riders in the first group of 11, with Kyara and Rozanne in the second group. Shortly before the sprint, a group with a lot of favourites caught up, which was too bad for us. Leah was third there and took one second.”

“In the finale, the lead-out was good again, but Hosking was just a bit faster.”

Results

1. Chloe Hosking (Aus) Wiggle High5 2:43:46
2. Leah Kirchmann (Can) Team Liv-Plantur
3. Jip Van Den Bos (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg Continental Team
4. Emilie Moberg (Nor) Hitec Products
5. Annalisa Cucinotta (Ita) Ale’ Cipollini
6. Sheyla Gutierrez (Spa) Cylance Pro Cycling
7. Mia Radotic (Cro) BTC City Ljubljana
8. Sungeun Gu (Sko) Korea

GC after Stage 2

1. Chloe Hosking (Aus) Wiggle High5 6:04:52
2. Leah Kirchmann (Can) Team Liv-Plantur 0:00:04
3. Ting Ying Huang (Twn) Taiwan 0:00:09
4. Annalisa Cucinotta (Ita) Ale’ Cipollini 0:00:11
5. Jip Van Den Bos (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg Continental Team 0:00:15
6. Roxane Fournier (Fra) Poitou-Charentes.Futuroscope.86 0:00:16
7. Emilie Moberg (Nor) Hitec Products
8. Mia Radotic (Cro) BTC City Ljubljana 0:00:18