On a day of wind, crashes, minor mechanicals and costly punctures, United States rider Melisa Rollins (Liv Racing Collective) claimed a hard-fought stage victory ahead of a rampaging Hayley Preen (ChemChamp Honeycomb 226ers) at the Nedbank Gravel Burn on Blaauwater Farm today.

Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (AG Insurance Soudal) finished third on Stage 4, holding off Stage 3 winner Lauren Stephens (Aegis Cycling Foundation). Moolman-Pasio also moved into the overall lead of the Pro Women’s race, mainly due to overnight leader Axelle Dubau-Prevot (Numéro 31 par Café du Cycliste / Pinarello) losing time dealing with an extensive puncture repair. Rollins moved into second on the GC, with Preen now lying third overall. 

“That was a really eventful day,” said Moolman-Pasio. “A small group got away quite early, and we kind of stuck together throughout the day. Today, all the women were working together, so that was fantastic to see and made for great riding. Around the midway point of the race, there was attacking and counterattacking, and that spiced things up a little bit. Lauren carried out a few attacks. Axelle was also really pushing it on the descents – and that’s when she punctured. It’s really unfortunate for her. I have the GC lead now, but it’s not a nice way to do it. She’s been so strong, so it’s very unlucky. Haley Smith also crashed, so a few things were happening out there.”

South African National Gravel Champion Preen was again in contention, even after another small mechanical scare. Bad luck seems to follow Preen, but she never lets it dent her enthusiasm for racing.

After dropping her chain and losing the front group, Preen raced back into contention by chasing the leaders down and sitting fourth-wheel as Rollins, Moolman-Pasio and Stephens went over the final climb and onto the downhill finish. Stuck behind Moolman-Pasio and Stephens, Preen chanced her arm with an all-out downhill attack, getting just behind Rollins as the finish line approached. But as the descent flattened out, Rollins was able to power home. 

“I’m very happy to be second on the stage,” said Preen. “A win would have been a dream, but I am happy for Melisa. To be one and two with her is amazing. I’ve moved up on GC, too, which is fantastic. As usual, it wasn’t all plain sailing for me; I managed to drop a chain at a crucial time, when the racing was going hard and fast. I had to work hard to catch everyone. After that, some of the others punctured, and then we started losing riders one by one. Haley Smith crashed, so the group got smaller and smaller. Melisa attacked over the top of the climb. I just sent it to pass Ashleigh and Lauren. I went on the inside and I was flying. I was chasing Melisa as hard as I could, getting closer and closer. I nearly had her, but the gap opened up again, and I couldn’t close it.”

Rollins said her strategy today was to go as fast as possible, while remaining competent on the bike. A tactic that paid off in the end. “I just tried to stay fast, but not do anything silly. Today the descents were more decisive than the climbs, so with a downhill finish coming, I decided to try to make a gap there. It wasn’t technical, just really fast. Coming into the finish, I was hitting bumps and getting some good airtime. I kept looking back, and Hayley (Preen) was closing in on me, so I was worried I was going to have a repeat of Stage 2, where Axelle overtook me right at the finish. But this time I managed to hold the chase off and rolled over!” 

A disconsolate Dubau-Prevot had to wipe away tears on the finish line. “I felt really good today,” she said. “I thought to myself, ‘Okay, I am really flying’. I think everyone knew that. I thought nothing could happen to me today, the way I was feeling. But yes, it happens. I am a bit sad now. I am tired. It was a long day. I punctured at 65km, then had to ride to the end alone, so it was tough out there. I had to keep myself calm and just focus on finishing. It was a terrible day for me.” 

Pro Women’s Race Stage 4 Results

1 Melisa Rollins – Liv Racing Collective – 3:59:09

2 Hayley Preen – ChemChamp Honeycomb 226ers – +20

3 Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio – AG Insurance Soudal – +29

4 Lauren Stephens – Aegis Cycling Foundation – +38

5 Clara Koppenburg – +1:18

Pro Women’s Race General Classification After Stage 4

1 Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio – AG Insurance Soudal – 14:37:22

2 Melisa Rollins – Liv Racing Collective – +1:09

3 Hayley Preen – ChemChamp Honeycomb 226ers – +5:01

4 Lauren Stephens – Aegis Cycling Foundation – +7:13

5 Haley Smith – Trek Driftless / MAAP / COROS / The Feed – +7:33