September 19, 2018 (Privas, France) – Rally Cycling’s Sara Poidevin won the Best Young Rider classification at the team’s final race of the season, the Tour de l’Ardèche. Poidevin wore the white jersey following the second stage and never looked back, eventually building a five-minute advantage over Paula Patino (Columbia) in France’s biggest stage race. Poidevin finished sixth overall thanks to her podium finish atop the infamous Mont Ventoux on stage four.

“I’m really excited to have been able to take the white jersey,” said Poidevin. “I think it’s a perfect representation of just how strong our young team is! Everyone on the team rode so well this week. My teammates supported me, kept me in position and made sure I was taken care of leading into key parts of each stage. I couldn’t have done this without them.”

The riders faced seven stages over six days with two mountaintop finishes and also saw Heidi Franz take the early lead in the Queen of the Mountains competition. With a massive field of 180 riders taking the start, it made for some of the toughest race conditions the team has faced all season.

“The racing was incredibly challenging every day and really pushed each of us to our limits,” said Poidevin. “We showed that we can be competitive at high-level European races this week which is super exciting leading into next season.”

Teammates Sara Bergen, Canadian Road Champion Katherine Maine, and Rob Britton will join Poidevin at the end of the month to represent Team Canada at the UCI World Road Cycling Championships from September 23 – 30 to close out the season. Former World Junior Time Trial champion and U23 silver medalist Brandon McNulty will compete in the time trial for Team USA.

Results

1. Erica Magnaldi (Ita) BePink 2:43:52
2. Sofie De Vuyst (Bel) Belgiam
3. Kathrin Hammes (Ger) Germany 0:03
4. Omer Shapira (Isr) Israel 0:05
5. Nina Buijsman (Ned) Netherlands
6. Julie Van De Velde (Bel) Belgiam 0:08
7. Ingrid Lorvik (Nor) Norway
8. Lorena Llamas Garcia (Esp) Spain 0:17
9. Arlenis Sierra (Cub) Astana Women’s Team 0:37
10. Demi Vollering (Ned) Swaboladies Nl

23. Sara Poidevin (Can) Rally Cycling 2:08
27. Alison Jackson (Can) Tibco – Silicon Valley Bank 4:07
36. Katherine Maine (Can) Rally Cycling 4:34
57. Gillian Ellsay (Can) Rally Cycling 0:07:08
58. Gabrielle Traxler (Can) YRDP p/b Fred Whitton 7:24
79. Frédèrique Larosse-Gringras (Can) Credit Mutuel 10:02
83. Lex Albrecht (Can) Tibco – Silicon Valley Bank 11:34

Final GC
1. Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon/SRAM Racing 20:27:33
2. Margarita Garcia Canellas (Esp) Spanish National Team 1:28
3. Eider Merino Cortazar (Esp) Spanish National Team 1:47
4. Ruth Winder (USA) US National Team 2:07
5. Katharine Hall (USA) US National Team 2:39
6. Sara Poidevin (Can) Rally Cycling 2:49
7. Erica Magnaldi (Ita) BePink 2:56
8. Sofie De Vuyst (Bel) Belgim 5:17
9. Katrine Aalerud (Nor) Norway 5:22
10. Hanna Nilsson (Swe) BTC City Ljubljana 6:13

25. Alison Jackson (Can) Tibco – Silicon Valley Bank 22:38
42. Katherine Maine (Can) Rally Cycling 46:07
57. Lex Albrecht (Can) Tibco – Silicon Valley Bank 1:01:55
60. Gillian Ellsay (Can) Rally Cycling 1:06:25
66. Gabrielle Traxler (Can) YRDP p/b Fred Whitton 1:20:40
80. Frédèrique Larosse-Gringras (Can) Credit Mutuel 1:42:03