In a dramatic conclusion to the Tour of Britain, Ally Wollaston claimed the overall title by the slimmest of margins, edging out 19-year-old British sensation Cat Ferguson in a thrilling final sprint in Glasgow.
The two riders entered the last stage level on time after Wollaston had methodically erased Ferguson’s slender lead over a series of intermediate sprints. With bonus seconds available at the finish, the final dash to the line would decide the victor. Lorena Wiebes took the stage win, but third place for Wollaston was enough to secure her the overall crown.
Wollaston, riding for FDJ-Suez, executed a calculated race, using her sprinting prowess and track racing background to continually chip away at Ferguson’s advantage. Though Ferguson stayed close and matched her rival for much of the race, she could not prevent the New Zealander from taking time where it mattered most. “The plan was to get as many seconds as I could,” Wollaston explained after the finish, “and unfortunately Cat was on my wheel for every single one, so it really came down to the last sprint.”
Ferguson, who rides for Movistar, showed incredible poise and talent throughout the four-day race, and her performance marked a stunning debut. She claimed both the points and best young rider classifications and was visibly emotional as she crossed the finish line just behind Wollaston. “I would have loved to have won. I am gutted, but she was the strongest today,” she said, struggling to hold back tears. “If you had told me at the beginning of the week that I’d be second, I would have been over the moon.”
Ferguson’s lead had begun to crumble during the intermediate sprints at Glasgow Green. A mid-race puncture forced her to switch bikes, leaving her chasing back through the field on a fast and technical circuit. Despite the setback, she fought hard to stay in contention. “There was always something going on during the intermediate sprints,” she said. “I had a puncture, but I didn’t want to change the bike, because I felt OK. Then it was slowly going down.”
Saturday’s rain-drenched third stage had seen Ferguson rise to prominence. While others faltered on the sodden, hilly roads near Kelso, the teenager flourished. The cobbled streets and relentless rain played to her strengths, as she powered clear to take the lead from overnight leader Kristen Faulkner, who suffered multiple misfortunes and lost significant time.
Reflecting on that stage, Ferguson said, “The rain brings out the racer in me and gives me more adrenaline.” Her aggressive riding and resilience in difficult conditions hinted at a bright future on the world stage.
While Ferguson missed out on the overall win, there was consolation in her consistent performances and her tenacity across all terrains. As the crowd cheered in Glasgow, another moment of sporting emotion unfolded as veteran rider Lizzie Deignan completed her final competitive race on British soil. The 36-year-old described the day as emotional, marking the end of a distinguished career.
With the title secured by just a second, Wollaston’s triumph will be remembered as one of the most tightly contested in the history of the race. For Ferguson, though, it was a week of emergence and promise, signaling the arrival of a new star in women’s cycling.
