Unusual leadout almost pays off for Jayco AlUla at Tour of Chongming Island

GLENELG ADELAIDE AUSTRALIA JANUARY 15 Georgia Baker of Australia and Team Jayco Alula prior to the 7th Santos Womens Tour Down Under 2023 Stage 1 a 1104km stage from Glenelg to Aldinga TourDownUnder UCIWWT on January 15 2023 in Glenelg Adelaide Australia Photo by Tim de WaeleGetty Images
Georgia Baker of Jayco Alula (Image credit: Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

The wide roads in the Tour of Chongming Island change the race dynamics somewhat – normally, being positioned at the front is paramount on the run-in to a sprint finish. But with four or more lanes at the peloton’s disposal, different tactics become possible on the opening stage Thursday. This is just what Jayco AlUla did on stage 1, and they almost took the stage victory as Georgia Baker was beaten only by Mylène de Zoete (Ceratizit-WNT).

“The leadout was so good! We had a plan, which was a little bit nerve-wracking, but the plan was to have the team at the back and have a late run for the finish line with one and half kilometres to go,” Baker explained after the 108.9km stage.

Lukas Knöfler started working in cycling communications in 2013 and has seen the inside of the scene from many angles. Having worked as press officer for teams and races and written for several online and print publications, he has been Cyclingnews’ Women’s WorldTour correspondent since 2018.