Josie Nelson strong 2nd place, double feeling for Team Picnic PostNL as Mara Roldan crashes out

Revelling from Friday’s superb teamwork and strong legs that brought about the stage win with Mara Roldan, Team Picnic PostNL were motivated and full of confidence to show themselves once more on the hilly day out around the Scottish Borders; starting and finishing in the town of Kelso.

From the start, the team were always aware and present of dangerous moves but despite multiple attacks the race stayed together in the opening half. However, in typical Scottish fashion the rain began to fall which made for a hard and attritional day out. Unfortunately, Roldan went down in a wet corner and had to abandon the race.

The rest of the squad fought on and kept up their team spirit, continuing to race attentively at the front. On the last ascent of the day, Dingleton, Josie Nelson showed good legs to follow a strong attack. Policing the move, Nelson sat on knowing that fast finishers Megan Jastrab and Charlotte Kool were in the group behind. However, the gap continued to expand and the five out front would fight it out for the stage win. Taking a good position on the slippery and wet cobbled streets of Kelso, Nelson gave it her best in the sprint to the line – taking a good second place on the stage; while behind Kool made it a double top ten for the team on the day, and Jastrab moves up to fifth place on GC.

After the stage Nelson said: “We came into the race today with the same mindset as yesterday, just sticking together as a team and positioning well into all the key points – something we do very well. We were riding really strong, with Charlotte still in the bunch over all the climbs even when it was very reduced in size. Unfortunately a few of us crashed in various places, including Mara who had to abandon, so we’re sending her our well wishes. I followed a good move on the last climb and ended up in a break of six. I could just roll around the back as we were interested in a bunch sprint still with Charlotte so it really played into our hands. It was tough conditions all day and it especially started to chuck it down with rain in the last two kilometres but I positioned myself well and sprinted to second so although it doesn’t top yesterday, we’re still really happy.”

Team Picnic PostNL coach Callum Ferguson: “The team once again backed up a solid day of racing together as a unit. It was really disappointing to lose Mara and as you can imagine we were a bit down by that, but the squad came through some harsh conditions and played and a really nice final. Josie managed to get away which meant she could have a mostly free ride while we chased from behind for Charlotte in the hope it came back for a sprint. In the end the group stayed away and Josie came just short for us to take a second win a row, coming home in second place.”

Checks at hospital diagnosed Roldan with a broken femur and she will undergo surgery on the Sunday.