\n<\/p>\n
Dutch rider Charlotte Kool took victory in the opening stage of the RideLondon Classique as Great Britain’s Lizzie Deignan finished third in Colchester.<\/span><\/p>\n Team DSM’s Kool, who received a strong lead-out from former British champion Pfeiffer Georgi, crossed before Clara Copponi in a select sprint.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Dutchwoman, 24, said it was a “dream start”.<\/span><\/p>\n Deignan, of Trek-Segafredo, only returned to racing in April after the birth of her second child last year.<\/span><\/p>\n “It was the perfect lead-out and a dream start,” Kool said.<\/span><\/p>\n “I think Pfeiffer showed again she’s one of the best lead-outs in the world and she brought me into the perfect position.”<\/span><\/p>\n Making her first appearance in the Classique, Deignan, 34, fought to split the peloton with 30km remaining and only 12 riders were left as Georgi steered team-mate Kool into pole position.<\/span><\/p>\n Despite launching the sprint, FDJ-Suez’s Copponi was outpaced by Kool, who finished the 150km race, from Saffron Walden to Colchester, in three hours 56 minutes 35 seconds.<\/span><\/p>\n The Classique, Britain’s only UCI Women’s World Tour race, continues on Saturday with a 133km stage before Sunday’s 92km finale in London.<\/span><\/p>\n 1. Charlotte Kool (Ned\/Team DSM) 3hrs 56mins 35secs<\/span><\/p>\n 2. Clara Copponi (Fra\/FDJ-Suez) Same time<\/span><\/p>\n 3. Lizzie Deignan (GB\/Trek-Segafredo) Same time<\/span><\/p>\n 4. Maike van der Duin (Ned\/Canyon-SRAM) Same time<\/span><\/p>\n 5. Eleonora Camilla Gasparrini (Ita\/UAE Team ADQ) Same time<\/span><\/p>\n 1. Charlotte Kool (Ned\/Team DSM) 3hrs 56mins 23secs<\/span><\/p>\n 2. Clara Copponi (Fra\/FDJ-Suez) +6secs<\/span><\/p>\n 3. Lizzie Deignan (GB\/Trek-Segafredo) +8secs<\/span><\/p>\nStage 1 result<\/h3>\n
General classification after stage 1<\/h3>\n