Leda Cox Wins the Tucson Classic

Leda Cox, the Londoner currently racing on the US circuit has continued her dominant early season form by winning the Tucson Bicycle Classic three day stage race held in the rolling hills of the Arizona desert plains.

Leda in yellow is paced by a team mate

After coming 5th in the opening 3 mile hill climb prologue to Colavita rider Mellissa McWhirter, Cox chose the second stage as her opportunity to forge a breakaway. The race, which had to start very early in the morning to avoid the fierce desert heat, was effectively decided when Cox attacked at the base of one of the first climbs and continued to ride away from the field. She went on to win the opening road stage by over 4 minutes from the chase group and take the yellow jersey.

On the final road stage, with the yellow jersey theirs to loose, Cox’s team, ‘Americas Dairyland’ appeared to decide that attack was the best form of defence and once a few of the other GC contenders had tried their luck and been brought back, Cox’s Australian team mate Claire Vlahopoulos attacked with Cox on her wheel and the two time-trialled away from a surprised bunch. They stayed away with Vlahopolous taking the final stage victory on the line and Cox enjoying her the first overall stage race victory of her career.

The race capped what has been an excellent start for the Wisconsin based Dairyland team which is sponsored by the US milk marketing board and who are affectionately known as the ‘cow girls’ due to their distinctive cow skin kit and matching black and white Trek Madones. Leda Cox’s progress can be followed at www.ledacox.co.uk

Overall GC Result:
1. Leda Cox, America's Dairyland, 4:45:21
2. Clare Vlahopoulos, America's Dairyland, at 4:04
3. Melissa McWhirter, Colavita, at 8:17
4. Melanie Meyers, Specialized, at 8:59
5. Cari Higgins, America's Dairyland, at 12:41
6. Kristen Hetzel, Summit Velo, at 13:41
7. Chloë Black, Trek-Landis, at 13:45
8. Carolyn Donnelly, Spokette Racing, at 13:51
9. Colleen Whealdon-Haught, Summit Velo, at 14:06
10. Neva Day, Colavita at 18:08

Website - www.ledacox.co.uk