Trek-Segafredo had to wait a few extra days to achieve a hat-trick of wins in Tour de l'Ardèche, but it made the victory that much sweeter. 

 

Lucinda Brand narrowly missed getting Trek-Segafredo’s third win in Stage 5, taking a hard-fought 3rd place, and Lauretta Hanson just missed the mark again a day later, sprinting to a podium placing in Stage 6, but the top step eluded the Team. 

 

In Stage 7, the last chance of the race, Lucinda Brand was determined to get that 3rd win, especially after Trek-Segafredo has finished in the top 4 in every stage of the week-long race.

 

The first part of that plan was to be represented in the day’s escape, which Brand accomplished after a few attacks.

 

Then, with three big climbs to get over in the final stage, Brand had to find what remaining energy and legs she could after a hard week of races. Thanks to a gritty last attack and her superior descending skills, she was able to do just that. 

 

“It was a short stage today, and it took some attacks to get a breakaway going, but then we were three away,” explained Brand. “We worked very well together, but the peloton did not give us much room because one of the riders in the break was still kind of close in the GC. But luckily, it was enough.

 

“On the last climb I began to feel fatigue, and Lucy [Kennedy] was sitting on and no longer working. In the last 500 meters of that climb, Lucy attacked, but I could react. Then I countered and they cracked, and I went full-gas downhill. It was around 3kms of downhill, which was ideal for me. It was super nice today to finish this week of racing. I think we did a very good job; it was a nice week.”