Mannion Fights for Fifth, Secures Second on GC Going into V-TdF Finale
Doebel-Hickok claims 12th after epic climbing showdown.
Gavin Mannion was Rally Cycling's best performer in the queen stage of the Virtual Tour de France as the professional peloton raced up the brand new Mont Ventoux-inspired course. Mannion finished the men's race in fifth, with victory going to team alum Mike Woods of EF Pro Cycling.
Mannion's impressive performance helped solidify Rally Cycling's second place in the yellow jersey chase and team GC going into the final day of racing.
"Oh man, that was terrible," said Mannion. "I'm pretty happy with the result though. It was basically a 40-min threshold test as we expected it to be. Tactically there wasn't too much going on. Just painful!"
Mannion, who is riding the Virtual Tour from his home at altitude in Boulder, Colorado, paced his effort brilliantly throughout the race.
"Towards the end, I tried to save a few bullets by drafting behind Eddie Dunbar to see if I could make one big acceleration near the end for a top five. I was happy that it worked out."
In the women's race, Krista Doebel-Hickok made it into the elite section, formed roughly halfway up the Ventoux climb. A flurry of attacks came six kilometers from the summit, with eventual winner Ashleigh Moolman-Paiso (CCC-Liv) breaking clear with Sara Gigante (TIBCO-SVB) in her slipstream. Doebel-Hickok set a new personal best 60-min power record on her way to finishing the 12th.
You try looking this composed after praying to the @GoZwift gods and then not receiving a single featherweight power up. Humpf. https://t.co/gRpSJqfjIf
— Krista Doebel-Hickok (@KristabelDH) July 18, 2020
The Virtual Tour de France concludes Sunday with a criterium-style stage around Paris and the Coamps-Élysées, paying homage to the iconic last day of Le Tour.
Rally Cycling's Virtual Tour de France Primer:
Check out our men's and women's rosters
What is Virtual Racing?
Learn more about how the Virtual Tour de France works
Men's Stage 5 results
1. Mike Woods (CAN) EF Pro Cycling
2. Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA) NTT Pro Cycling
3. Louis Meintjex (RSA) NTT Pro Cycling
4. Stefan de Bod (RSA) NTT Pro Cycling
5. Gavin Mannion (USA) Rally Cycling
6. Eddie Dunbar (IRE) Team INEOS
7. Ben O'Connor (USA) NTT Pro Cycling
8. Romain Bardet (FRA) AG2R La Mondiale
9. Carlos Rodriguez (SPA) Cofidis
10. Jimmy Janssens (BEL) Alpecin-Fenix
Women's Stage 5 results
1. Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (RSA) CCC Liv
2. Sarah Gigante (AUS) TIBCO-SVB
3. Lauren Stephens (USA) TIBCO-SVB
4. Leah Dixon (GBR) TIBCO-SVB
5. Kristen Faulkner (USA) TIBCO-SVB
6. Dani Christmas (GBR) Lotto Soudal
7. Joss Lowden (GBR) Drops Cycling
8. Ella Harris (NZ) Canyon SRAM
9. Floortje Mackaij (NED) Team Sunweb
10. Pauliena Rooijakkers (NED) CCC Liv
11. Victorie Guilman (FRA) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futurescope
12. Krista Doebel-Hickok (USA) Rally Cycling
Men's Yellow Jersey Classification
1. NTT PRO CYCLING TEAM 391
2. RALLY CYCLING 219
3. EF PRO CYCLING 175
4. TREK - SEGAGREDO 171
5. ISRAEL START - UP NATION 161
6. TEAM INEOS 135
7. ALPECIN - FENIX 116
8. MITCHELTON - SCOTT 115
9. AG2R LA MONDIALE 105
10. GROUPAMA FDJ 102
Women's Yellow Jersey Classification
1. TEAM TIBCO - SILICON VALLEY BANK 409
2. DROPBS 252
3. CANYON / / SRAM RACING 247
4. CCC - LIV 215
5. TEAM TWENTY20 215
6. TEAM SUNWEB 156
7. CERATIZIT - WNT PRO CYCLING TEAM 110
8. FDJ NOUVELLE - AQUITAINE FUTUROSCOPE 102
9. RALLY CYCLING 97
10. BOELS DOLMANS CYCLING TEAM 82
Men's Overall Team Points Classification
1. NTT PRO CYCLING TEAM 730
2. RALLY CYCLING 309
3. ISRAEL START - UP NATION 252
4. TREK - SEGAFREDO 257
5. MITCHELTON - SCOTT 235
6. EF PRO CYCLING 287
7. ALPECIN - FENIX 216
8. CCC TEAM 167
9. TEAM INEOS 218
10. GROUPAMA - FDJ 166
