Jolien D’hoore claimed her second victory in three stages as the OVO Energy Women’s Tour visited Oxfordshire on Wednesday, while 2015 champion Lisa Brennauer moved back into the OVO Energy green jersey at the race’s halfway point.

We spoke to the key players after a dramatic stage between Henley-on-Thames and Blenheim Palace to get their reaction. Here are the pick of their quotes…

Jolien D’hoore (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team), stage winner

“It was pretty hard actually. It was going up a little bit the last kilometre and the pace was really high. I had Amy Pieters in front of me but I didn’t want to go in second position in the last corner so I let Lisa Brennauer in between and then someone started the sprint really with 350 or 300 metres to go.

“I realised this is still a long way to go so I went back behind Lisa and then I started sprinting.

“I was hoping for a bunch sprint. The whole stage was quite hard in the beginning but we made it a bunch sprint and I’m happy I could finish it off again.

“I realised in the final 20 kilometres that it was going to be a bunch sprint and the team found each other again and they were great again. I asked to put me in third, fourth position on the last corner and they did it and I’m super thankful for them.”

On winning in the Breast Cancer Care points jersey… “I have again a Breast Cancer Care pink ribbon – I think it’s a great initiative and I’m always reading those messages. It’s really touching – it’s good that we can give something back to those people as well.” 

Lisa Brennauer (WNT-Rotor Pro Cycling), second and OVO Energy green jersey

“I had a plan as to how I wanted to do the finish and actually I did it exactly how I wanted. Jolien D’Hoore was faster and I think she’s a hard one to beat in a bunch sprint. I’m happy I could get second on the stage.

“I had no idea I was the race leader until a person from the organisation came up to me and called me up for the ceremony.

“I said ‘No, no, I don’t think you have the right girl’ but he said ‘No, no, you’re Lisa Brennauer, you’re the new race leader’. Then I realised and I calculated in my head that it could actually be true with the bonus seconds and everything!

“I’m super happy to be the leader of this race but on the other hand I feel sorry for those, especially Marianne [Vos], who crashed out of the race. I want to wish all the best and a really fast recovery. I hope all the riders involved are fine soon again.”

Women's Tour quotes

Demi Vollering (Parkhotel Valkenburg), third

“The sprint was very technical and not easy. Everyone wanted to pass the gate first so it was a little chaotic. I think I came into it in 10th position and thought it would be hard to get to the podium but I made it. The long sprints are better for me.

“The first two days of the race I didn’t feel really really good so I’m feeling a lot better with my place today. Climbing is something I like so I hope the days to come will bring me some more [results].”

Marianne Vos (CCC-Liv), abandoned

“The speed went up in preparation for the second intermediate sprint. There was a fall before me which I could not avoid. I fell hard on my head and, apart from a cut and some scratches, I don’t have any other injuries.

“Yet I went to the hospital because the cut had to be stitched. Very unfortunate, I was quite upset by it, because I was in such a good position. But even after a fall, the race continues, but this time without me.”