In three days Anna van der Breggen has claimed two rainbow jerseys. After winning the individual time trial at the 2020 UCI Road World Championships on Thursday, she raised her arms up to the sky at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola dominating the Women Elite Road Race today. The 30-year-old Dutch, world gold medallist in 2018 and defending Olympic champion, with 41 km to go, she attacked after the Dutch squad had increased the pace and, with an old-time exploit, she crashed her rivals and crossed the finish line 1’20” ahead the other contenders and secured her victory.
The Women Elite Road Race podium . photo ©Bettiniphoto – Imola2020
Longo Borghini hugs Van der Breggen. photo ©Bettiniphoto – Imola2020
Predictably, the 28.8 km circuit, that awaits the pros tomorrow, proved selective, with the Mazzolano and the Cima Gallisterna climbs, that made the strongest riders of the international scene emerge. In the end, it was a real Dutch dominance, with three places in the top four, and the highly acclaimed “Azzurra” Elisa Longo Borghini who was able to claim the bronze.
I never expected I would bring home two jerseys from Imola.
said Anna van der Breggen filled with emotion after the finish.
For me these have been three dream days. I love Italy because of its beautiful climbs and good food. This Region and this circuit, that has given me so much joy, will remain in my heart for ever. The Flèche Wallonne? It’s my next big race on the calendar (Wednesday, 30th September, ed.), but right now I’m not thinking about it. Now, I’m enjoy this really wonderful moment
Van der Breggen in action. photo ©Bettiniphoto – Imola2020
After removing outstanding reservations just a few hours before the start, the former world champion Annemiek Van Vleuten is satisfied about the silver she secured behind her Dutch teammate:
Clearly I haven’t recovered 100 per cent from the accident at the Giro Rosa, but I was able to race and fight with the best ones, so I’m happy. I feel super lucky I was here to race today, just a few days after the fracture of my wrist. I want to thank those who have supported and allowed me to be here. Kudos to our National team, and congrats Anna: a really beautiful day for us Dutch people.
Longo Borghini and Van Vleuten ©Bettiniphoto – Imola2020
Second bronze medal in the road race at the World Championships for Elisa Longo Borghini, already on the podium in 2012. To have this medal around my neck in Italy, in 2020, has a special flavour:
Last March we were viewed as the plague-spreaders, and now we are considered as a model to follow. We Italians never give up. I’m an Italian and I’m proud of it. I’m feeling such an emotion after claiming a medal in this World Championships on “home soil” - an event that has been organised in a great way in just 15 days. Hearing the many supporting and respectful “tifosi” shout out my name drove me to do my best. Last night, with my teammates, we said we would not cross the finish line with regret. That’s how it went. We couldn’t achieve more than that
Thomas Bach, the International Olympic Committee President, is in Imola and, after applauding Anna van der Breggen today, tomorrow he will celebrate the last rainbow jersey at stake, the world champion’s jersey of the Men Elite road race. The cycling champs from Imola2020 are already looking at Tokyo2020
From left to right, Renato Di Rocco (FCI), David Lappartient (UCI), Thomas Bach (CIO) and Giovanni Malagò (CONI). photo ©Bettiniphoto – Imola2020
Order of arrival
1) van der BREGGEN Anna (Netherlands) km 143 in 4:09:57 (average speed: 34.327 km/h)
2) van VLEUTEN Annemiek (Netherlands) +1:20
3) LONGO BORGHINI Elisa (Italy) +1:20
4) VOS Marianne (Netherlands) +2:01
5) LIPPERT Liane (Germany) +2:01
6) DEIGNAN Elizabeth (Great Britain) +2:01
7) NIEWIADOMA Katarzyna (Poland) +2:01
8) LUDWIG Cecilie Uttrup (Denmark) +2:41
9) BRENNAUER Lisa (Germany) +3:08
10) REUSSER Marlen (Switzerland) +3:08
