Axelle Dubau-Prevot (Numéro 31 par Café du Cycliste / Pinarello) of France (with orange sleeves) claimed Stage 2 of the Nedbank Gravel Burn in Willowmore on Monday after a storming ride where she reeled in the leaders with just metres to go. Melisa Rollins (Liv Racing Collective) of the United States, pipped at the post after leading, finished second on the 108 km stage from Avontuur to Willowmore, with Canada’s Haley Smith (Trek Driftless / MAAP / COROS / The Feed) taking third place.
As was the case in the Pro Men field, the decisive moment in the Pro Women field came on the first climb of the day, the deceptively tasty sounding Shallot. For most of the field, the climb was akin to cutting onions, with riders in both races having to weave their way up the rugged terrain.
After 12 km of tar towards Uniondale and then onto a short stretch of gravel before the race splintered on the technical Shallot climb. After a technical drop down to pristine, smooth open gravel roads (known as “champagne gravel”), a group of eight women banded together to work towards the finish line into a headwind. In contention for much of the ride were Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (AG Insurance Soul), Lauren Stephens (Aegis Cycling Foundation), Whitney Allison (Bike Sports | ENVE) and Olivia Hottinger (Scott SRAM).
Rollins and Preen managed to break free from the group, the two good friends enjoying their time at the front until caught by the chasers. Whitney Allison was dropped on the climb, while the lead bunch was whittled down to a few potential winners as the finish line drew near.
Preen was in contention, sitting just behind Rollins going into the final few kilometres, but a puncture just before hitting the tar road put paid to her stage hopes, forcing her to ride home “on the rim” with no air in her rear tyre for a sixth place finish on the day.
Sensing her opportunity as the stage came to a close on the streets of Willowmore, Dubau-Prevot attacked and powered past Rollins with metres to spare.
“I thought it was an easy day to begin with, but by the end that wasn’t the case at all,” said Dubau-Prevot on a festive finish line marked by the enthusiastic sounds of the local marching band. “The stage ended up being a good battle among all the leaders. I am really happy to get the win because Melisa was so strong out there today and such a great opponent.”
Dubau-Prevot said she walked for a short stretch on the Shallot climb, allowing Preen and Rollins to create a gap at the front. “Ashleigh (Moolman-Pasio) came back and we rode together with some of the other ladies to chase down the leaders,” said Dubau-Prevot. “But that climb was where all the difference was made today.”
Still smiling after her second place finish, Rollins said that the unknowns of the route and the Nedbank Gravel Burn in general made for exciting racing. “I know nothing about anything,” said Rollins. “All I have is the race guide, which warned us about a steep, technical climb, so when I see something like that I just think ‘go, go, go’, and that’s what I did.”
Of her finish on Stage 2, Rollins was gracious in defeat to Dubau-Prevot. “I knew I had a gap coming into the finish. I didn’t know what the gap was or who was coming, but I looked back and saw Axelle coming – she closed me down right at the finish with around 50 metres or so to go. She is really strong, and it was great racing with her. It’s been a great fight with a strong field. I am feeling good; I think I’ll get stronger as the week goes on.”
Pro Women Stage 2
Leading Results
1 Axelle Dubau-Prevot – Numéro 31 par Café du Cycliste / Pinarello – 3:41:45
2 Melisa Rollins – Liv Racing Collective – +0”
3 Haley Smith – Trek Driftless / MAAP / COROS / The Feed – +5”
4 Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio – AG Insurance Soul – +12”
5 Lauren Stephens – Aegis Cycling Foundation – +17”
Pro Women General Classification after Stage 2
1 Axelle Dubau-Prevot – Numéro 31 par Café du Cycliste / Pinarello – 7:13:15
2 Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio – AG Insurance Soul – +13
3 Melisa Rollins – Liv Racing Collective – +1:46
4 Hayley Preen – ChemChamp Honeycomb 226ers – +2:07
5 Haley Smith – Trek Driftless / MAAP / COROS / The Feed – +6:41
For full Stage 2 and General Classification results, click here.
