After weeks of SD Worx dominance on European soil, Trek-Segafredo finally fired back, with Shirin van Anrooij and Elisa Balsamo finishing first and second at Trofeo Alfredo Binda, respectively. Van Anrooij won with a spectacular solo move in the final 25 km, holding off an indecisive bunch. Balsamo, who was able to conserve what energy she had left behind her teammate, effortlessly sprinted to second.
The winning attack
With 25 km to go a three-rider move was up the road and, thanks to an odd decision to send the entire team back for Lorena Weiebes, the entire SD Worx team was behind. Trek-Segafredo sent their new recruit Gaia Realini to lead out Van Anrooij on the second to last lap of the race. Van Anrooij attacked, shooting passed the break and quickly distancing herself from the remaining peloton.
Thanks to Realini the peloton at the time of Van Anrooij’s attack was strung out and disorganized. The young Italian was recently able to disintegrate the Women’s WorldTour peloton in the Queen stage of the UAE Tour for her teammate Elisa Longo Borghini, and her effort on Sunday opened the door for Van Anrooij’s acceloration.
On tenterhooks
As she approached the finish line for the penultimate time her gap hovered under 10 seconds. It would dip on the final ascent of the Orino climb, as the rest of the field attacked each other, but once the climb was behind them Van Anrooij kept the pressure on and eventually gained an advantage of over 30 seconds.
For the second time in the race, the motos impeded the speed of the U-23 cyclocross world champion.
A failed chase
Behind the race leader, a group containing multiple Canyon-SRAM, Team DSM, and FDJ-SUEZ riders failed to organize a chase. Riders attacked each other and were quickly brought back, only for the group to sit up and look at each other once more. The very real threat of SD Worx and Wiebes closed in from behind.
SD Worx overthrown
By the time Van Anrooij took the right turn to the finish line, her gap was over half a minute. Her first WorldTour victory, Van Anrooij was able to take her time crossing the line.
Not a single SD Worx rider was present in the group behind, and Van Anrooij’s teammate Balsamo was able to take second by multiple bike lengths.
Vittoria Guazzini finished third for FDJ-SUEZ.
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