Canada’s Raphaële Lemieux victorious at London Red Hook Crit No. 3
Team iBike rider dominates favourites in second career Red Hook race
Canadian Raphaële Lemieux dominated the women’s race at London RedHook Crit No. 3 on Sunday, July 23. Having made her Red Hook debut in Brooklyn where she finished in fourth, Lemieux of Team iBike won two primes and took home the victory.
Racers began the final of the London RedHook Crit No.3 on a wet circuit. Women’s series leader Eléonore Saraiva (Aventon Factory Team) lead the race off the line but Lemieux surged to the front to take the Lap 1 prime. It was the Rivière-du-Loup native’s first exploit of the race that would see her take a commanding win.
Pre-race favourite Dani King (Cylance Pro Cycling) was gapped during the furious start of the race. She later was able to join Lemieux and Saraiva at the head of affairs. The trio were joined by Jasmine Dotti (IRD Carrera Squadra Corse), Tanja Erath (Fixedpott), Carla Nafría (Specialized / Rocket Espresso), and Brooklyn champion Colleen Gulick (Deluxe Cycles).
Lemieux once again surged to the front to take the mid-race prime before Rockstar Games Top Antagonist jersey wearer Erath came to the fore to try and keep the jersey. King was aggressive all race putting in four strong attacks that stretched out the race but Dotti, Nafria, Saraiva, and Lemieux were able to hold on. With the race approaching it’s conclusion, Gulick moved to the front but as the race entered it’s final lap it was Lemieux who attacked through a chicane in the road establishing a gap that she was able to hold on to until the finish line. A crash behind took out a number of riders. Saraiva outsprinted Dotti for second. Gulick was fourth with King finishing fifth.
It was a big win for Lemieux who won the 2016 Quebec crit championships, was Les Mardis cyclistes de Lachine women’s champion. Before the final in London, Lemieux won her qualifier to complete a truely dominant race in London. She was formely a member of Canada’s speed skating national team.
For full results results from the women’s race visit redhookcrit.com.
