Chabbey Wins GC: A Comprehensive Analysis
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Elise Chabbey Wins Tour de Romandie Féminin in Dramatic Fashion
Elise Chabbey (FDJ-Suez) secured a thrilling overall victory at the Tour de Romandie Féminin on Sunday, overtaking race leader Urška Žigart with a daring attack in the final 10km. The Swiss rider launched her move on the third category Antagnes climb, distancing Žigart and joining forces with stage one winner Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ) and blanka Vas (Team SD Worx-Protime).
The trio worked effectively,extending thier lead as they were later joined by Yara Kastelijn. Chabbey drove the pace, persistent to protect her advantage as the chase group struggled to respond. vas and Blasi ultimately took first and second on the stage, but Chabbey’s four-second time bonus, combined with the 11-second gap she created, proved enough to claim the yellow jersey. She finished seven seconds ahead of Žigart, with Kastelijn rounding out the podium 20 seconds back.
Žigart’s chances were hampered by a near crash on the final descent, forcing her to expend energy to rejoin the group. Chabbey’s victory marks her first general classification win and the first-ever triumph for a Swiss rider in this race.
“After yesterday I was very happy,” Chabbey said,”This morning we said we had nothing to lose. we had a plan,we executed it well. We wanted it to be hard on the climbs.Juliette [Labous] needed to follow the attacks and I could attack on the last climb. I wasn’t feeling that great but the team pushed me. It is indeed a team win. To take this race is unbelievable.”
Chabbey revealed that she was focused on the overall classification, not the stage win, and pushed hard to the finish line. ”They told me on the radio to try and solo to the finish. I whent flat out.”