Arlenis Sierra stays seventh in the Tour of Ardeche
Havana, September 13 (RHC)-- Despite the fact that for the first time she did not ride in the front of the peloton, Cuban Arlenis Sierra kept the seventh place in the overall individual classification in the Tour of Ardeche (France), after the sixth and penultimate stage won by Trinidadian Teniel Campbell.
In Monday's stage, the Cuban cycling star crossed the finish line in 39th place (3h.37.25), more than four minutes behind a group of about 15 riders, who crowned a long breakaway.
Nevertheless, the A.R.Monex captain kept the seventh place in the overall individual classification, 2.02 minutes behind the leader, American Leah Thomas (Movistar).
The Cuban also remained third in the points classification, with 30 points, one less than Thomas and Italy's Marta Bastianelli.
Campbell, Pan American runner-up in Lima-2019 behind Arlenis, starred in a long breakaway along with 11 other riders in the 138.5 km stage between Anduze and Goudargues and at the finish she brought out her sprinter conditions to win with 3h33.57.
None of the escapees endangered the overall leadership of American Leah Thomas (Movistar) or caused substantial changes in the other classifications.
This Tuesday ends the French Tour, with the dispute of the seventh and last fraction on 81.5 km and a drop of 1557 meters above sea level, in which the cyclists will have to face two major elevations (km 31, at 696 m above sea level) and at 68 at 797.