Dani Rowe battled though the pain barrier in North Wales to claim her best finish with third overall at the Women’s Tour.

The Cardiff-based rider admitted she was suffering on the final stage from Dolgellau to Colwyn Bay after her crash on Saturday.

Rowe had to send out as SOS to her social media followers for emergency medical equipment after the crash on the road to Worcester.

But she battled over the Queen of the Mountain climbs to finish 17th on stage five and retain third spot to claim the Adnams Best British rider crown.

“I feel really proud to be a part of this team. It’s been a really special week,” said Rowe after taking third behind WaowDeals team-mate Marianne Vos.

Rowe was 14 seconds behind the Dutch rider and 25 seconds behind Women’s Tour winner Coryn Rivera (Team Sunweb).

“I was suffering out the saddle so I just tried to conserve as much energy as possible, riding on the drops up the climb to be as aero as possible and stay in contact with the bunch.

“After that I got more and more confident that I would be there at the finish.
Marianne went for the intermediate sprint to help defend my third place from the two Boels [Dolmans] girls who were just three seconds behind me.

“I had my doubts but my team and team-mates didn’t. They believed in me.

“When I survived the two climbs there was a big chance that it would end in the sprint so I tried to focus on it and try my best.”

Rowe, who won Commonwealth Games bronze for Waled in the Gold Coast, had begun the five-stage race finishing fifth behind winner Jolien D’hoore in Southwold, Suffolk, on Wednesday.

The 2012 Olympic champ improved her position in the second stage in Daventry, Northamptonshire, finishing in fourth to move up to second place overall – with team-mate Vos a further second in arrears.

Rowe maintained her place in the overall top three after sprinting across the line in tenth in Royal Leamington Spa on stage three.