Rossella Ratto wins Stage 2 of the Friends Life Women’s Tour

Italy’s Rossella Ratto held off the peloton to claim the stage win and new leader’s jersey on the rain-soaked second day of the Friends Life Women’s Tour in Britain. The Estado de Mexico-Faren rider attacked solo on the approach to the race’s second queen of the mountains checkpoint. Soon she was joined by her compatriot Susanna Zorzi of the Astana team. The pair worked well together and beat the chasing bunch to the line by a handful of seconds. Marianne Vos won the sprint from the group to finish third. Canadians Denise Ramsden and Leah Kirchmann of Optum presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies both finished safely in the peloton. Unfortunately, the other Canadian in the race, Karol-Ann Canuel of Specialized-lululemon, had to abandon after a fall.

Stg2 of @thewomenstour was quite a rainy one, still amazed with the fan support out there! Hope the sun comes out to play tomorrow! #WT2014

— Leah Kirchmann (@L_Kirch) May 8, 2014