The women’s peloton also started this Easter edition very eagerly. From the official starting signal, one attack followed another. After twenty kilometers of racing this led to a leading group with Justine Ghekiere, Mieke Docx, Gladys Verhulst-Wild, Elena Pirrone and Josie Talbot. With 100 kilometers to go, the five leaders cycled 3:30 ahead of the peloton. Docx’s candle went out, she was swallowed up before climbing Marlborough Street. Just before the climb of the Kapelleberg, 53 kilometers from the finish, a cross could be made about the early flight.
The Koppenberg also caused problems for the women. Kopecky pushed just a little too far, while Vos was the first to climb the ‘Bult van Melden’. Right behind her were Lorena Wiebes, Katarzyna Niewiadoma, Puck Pieterse, Elisa Longo Borghini, Letizia Paternoster, Silvia Persico and Karlijn Swinkels. Kopecky found refuge in a group with Demi Vollering, Lea Curinier, Shirin van Anrooij, Pfeiffer Georgi and Fem van Empel. Vollering tried to make the crossing and succeeded before climbing the Oude Kwaremont. Kopecky followed after half a minute, in the company of Van Empel and Georgi.
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Van Anrooij then accelerated and was the first to cross the Paterberg. Niewiadoma and Longo Borghini followed behind her. A group with Kopecky, Vollering, Pieterse, Vos and Persico had fifteen seconds to make up. Longo Borghini brought Niewiadoma to Van Anrooij for the remaining 11 kilometers. Launched by Van Anrooij, Longo Borghini was clearly too strong for Niewiadoma in the sprint. She placed her name on the honor roll a second time. The first time she did that was in 2015. Then, as the youngest winner in history, she kept Jolien D’hoore from winning.
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Striking: in the final Longo Borghini closed the gap on Van Anrooij himself. “The plan was to let SD Worx do the work and I was told in the end that I could try it on the Paterberg,” said the Italian. “I knew Niewiadoma wanted to attack and there were two of us at the top. I thought: now full throttle and I’m going to win this here. That I drove to Shirin? The team allowed that, it was team orders and Shirin was also waiting for us.”
“This means a lot,” he said. “The team has done a fantastic job. I had bad luck along the way and also fell. Thanks to their support I came back. Ending 1 and 3 here, that’s great. And I actually like driving in the rain, even though I don’t like it (laughs). Not that we’re going to throw a big party now, I’m not much of a party animal. This is also different from that win in 2015, now I realize it more.”
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Rash:
Longo Borghini sprints to victory: “She can’t get over that anymore”
Fifth place for Kopecky Lotte Kopecky spins to fifth place. She must let Marianne Vos go first.
The Italian wins this Tour of Flanders and completes the team game perfectly. Katarzyna Niewiadoma comes second ahead of Shirin van Anrooij. For the 32-year-old Italian champion of Lidl-Trek, it is the second triumph in the Tour, after 2015.
Red ragThe poker game has started. Van Anrooij starts but then holds back. Lidl-Trek should not outsource this.
Last convulsion The five join forces again, but they are just not going to get there. Too bad, too bad for Kopecky.
Nail biterThe difference remains playable. The three do not have more than an 18-count bonus. There should certainly be no doubt. Niewiadoma skips a turn.
Which of the three?The three drive further away from the group with Kopecky. On paper, the Italian Longo Borghini is the fastest of the three. Niewiadoma has to play on surprise. Can Van Anrooij benefit from this?
Tight chain The chain rotates well at the front. Van Anrooij and Longo Borghini are making strong progress. Niewiadoma can sometimes skip a turn. Who’s going to make it? The Polish, the Dutch or the Italian champion?
Last time Paterberg: “Ooh, she’s struggling, say, ooh”
Fox takes overMarianne Vos goes the extra mile. They come a few seconds closer. Lotte Kopecky and Demi Vollering are doing their best, but for now they are hanging on. It’s a double whammy.
SituationLongo Borghini, Van Anrooij and Nieuwiadoma have an 18 second lead over the group with Vos, Kopecky, Vollering, Pieterse and Persico. It is now up to the SD Worx-Protime tandem to pull the chestnuts out of the fire.
Eyes closed Shirin van Anrooij gives everything in the descent of the Paterberg. Elisa Longo Borghini counterattacks her teammate. She follows the Polish Katarzyna Niewiadoma in her footsteps. The three come together.
After Van Anrooij, Pieterse also tries: “Puck, she is good, hey”
Everything on a handkerchiefCyclocross rider Shirin van Anrooij can steer quite a bit. Puck Pieterse can also ride a bicycle. The group with Kopecky comes awfully close. Is the world champion busy with the resurrection?
What tensionLotte Kopecky finds her second wind. With several strong electric shocks, she has almost closed the gap between Pieterse and Swinkels. Now she must receive support in the background towards Paterberg.
