WORLDS’20 Women’s RR: Double for Van Der Breggen, TT & Road Race!

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Worlds Road Report: The Dutch team has again dominated the World road championships, this year with one rider – Anna van der Breggen. She won the time trial on Thursday and added the road race title on Saturday, finishing Solo. Teammate Annemiek van Vleuten was second with Italy’s Elisa Longo Borghini in third.

Road race and time trial titles for Anna van der Breggen

The Dutch team were top favourites, as the starting flag dropped for the women’s World championship road race in Imola on Saturday. A tough course, with climbs of the Mazzolano and the Cima Gallisterna as the decider.

143 lumpy kilometres

Unlike the World Championship in Yorkshire last year, the Dutch women kept their powder dry for a long time. It resulted in a sluggish opening part of the race, although there were failed attacks from Canada’s Alison Jackson and Valerie Demey of Belgium.

The all dominant Dutch team at the start

The start proper

The peloton stayed together early in the race

The Belgian rider was the first to get any sort of gap, after that Alison Jackson and Grace Brown’s move looked more hopeful. They were eventually joined by ten other riders: Amy Pieters, Christine Majerus, Lisa Brennauer, Alice Barnes, Hannah Barnes, Katia Ragusa, Juliette Labous, Susanne Andersen, Mavi Garcia and Tayler Wiles.

One of the short climbs

Belgium’s Valerie Demey tried to split the peloton on the main climb

This meant that almost all the major countries had a rider up front. The leading group soon had a lead of almost 2 minutes by the halfway point. The race was too fast for Brown and Jackson, who paid for their earlier efforts.

She wasn’t allowed too much of a gap

Belgium’s Valerie Demey tried to split the peloton on the main climb

In the peloton, Denmark took the initiative for Cecile Uttrup Ludwig. With the climb of the Mazzolano on its way, the Danish women wanted to close the gap to the leading group as soon as possible. That worked, but once on the Mazzolano the Dutch women took command.

She wasn’t allowed too much of a gap

Attack from Canada’s Alison Jackson

A bit early for a solo move by Jackson

Marianne Vos hit the front, which thinned out the bunch. Van der Breggen and Annemiek van Vleuten were of course still there, but also were Uttrup Ludwig and Elisa Longo Borghini. Vos then eased off, leaving Van Vleuten to place the attack. Here effort disposed of many of the other top riders.

nice wide roads on the Imola circuit

Imola motor racing circuit

Tricky bend on the descent

Van der Breggen was the next rider to hit the front and she rode everyone off her wheel. With more than 49 kilometres to go she was alone. Her lead increased by the kilometre and she soon a lead of 1:30 over the peloton. Her main pursuers: Longo Borghini, Uttrup Ludwig and Van Vleuten were pulled in by what was left of the peloton.

The Dutch team were watching every move

Van Vleuten split the race for Van der Breggen

40K solo for Anna van der Breggen – Too far?

Van der Breggen maintained her lead, and had over a minute to celebrate her second World title in three days. Behind the new world champion; a fierce battle for the other two medals started. Longo Borghini tried again on the last climb of the Cima Gallisterna. Van Vleuten was quick to jump on the wheel of the Italian.

Van der Breggen could TT to the finish

The chase was on behind

It was looking good for another Worlds medal going to the Netherlands

Van Vleuten and Longo Borghini would eventually stay out of the hands of the chasers. In the sprint, Van Vleuten narrowly beat Longo Borghini to take the silver medal.

Orange first again

2020 World road and time trial champion, Anna van der Breggen (Netherlands): “It’s really unbelievable! It was a very tough race. I was fighting from the start. The climbs were very tough. In the end we tried to make the race hard. Everyone was tired, so I decided to go for it. But it was still a long way, I never really thought about that. The circuit is also different from Innsbruck, which also had a number of ramps in it. This season is still very good for me. I did achieve the victories in close succession, but I am in good shape. Although I must now say that I am really tired.”

Sprint for second went to Annemiek van Vleuten ahead of Elisa Longo Borghini

# Keep it PEZ for the men’s race on Sunday. #

World Championships Women’s Road Race Result:
1. Anna van der Breggen (Netherlands) in 4:09:57
2. Annemiek van Vleuten (Netherlands) at 1:20
3. Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy)
4. Marianne Vos (Netherlands) at 2:01
5. Liane Lippert (Germany)
6. Elizabeth Deignan (Great Britain)
7. Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Poland)
8. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Denmark) at 2:41
9. Lisa Brennauer (Germany) at 3:08
10. Marlen Reusser (Switzerland).

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