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Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling’s Amy Pieters finished a close second in the tough, uphill finish of the third stage of the Boels Rentals Ladies Tour, in Sittard-Geleen, Netherlands, from a highly select group of 15 riders that had formed mid-race. The Dutch all-rounder crossed the line just behind Polish Champion Kasia Niewiadoma (Rabo-Liv) at the end of the 123km stage, with Pieters’ compatriot Chantal Blaak (Boels-Dolmans) third. 
“It was a hard day, but it was okay,” Pieters said, with typical understatement. “There were two big laps and then one small lap, and in the second big lap they attacked and we were with a small group in front. And in the last small lap they were attacking many times, but in the end it was a sprint with this small group. “The last 500 metres was uphill, I think, so it was a hard sprint,” Pieters added. “I think we can me satisfied as a team for today.” The group of 15 riders that escaped the rest of the peloton also included Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling’s Audrey Cordon-Ragot, and the two teammates were able to work together to fight off the numerous attacks from the others, as well as launching attacks of their own. After working hard on behalf of herself and her teammate, the French rider finished the stage in ninth place. 
“Audrey also worked very hard, and we did a good job together,” Pieters explained. “I think all the girls did a good job today, and it was good that we could be there with two today. Especially after yesterday evening, when we had a good team time trial; I think everyone was there again today, and I think we did a good job.” With three stages done, there are three stages remaining in the Boels Rentals Ladies Tour. With the race likely to be decided on the usual Limburg stage - that includes a number of the hills climbed in both the Holland Hills Race and the men’s Amstel Gold Race - Pieters is hopeful that her and the team’s current good form will be enough to keep Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling in contention for the victory. “I’m feeling good and I hope it stays this way in the next days,” she said. “Now we have two flat stages, then the last stage is the hard on in Limburg, with a lot of climbs. I think we’re good.” 
Result
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