The first of the relaunched Milan-San Remo Donne was a huge goal for everyone on the start line, tempted by the chance to write their names in history. It was a breathless race, especially over the Cipressa and Poggio – on the descents in particular – where a number of teams tried to assert their dominance. However, SD Worx-Protime never looked worried, with both top-tier sprinter Lorena Wiebes and world champion Lotte Kopecky in their number, the latter in her first race of the season.
FDJ-Suez had tried to make it difficult near the top of the Poggio, but only light damage was done to the reduced lead group, and though Demi Vollering took the lead onto the descent, SD Worx were still there in numbers.
Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) went all in with a late solo attack 2 km from the finish and briefly found some breathing room, but Kopecky soon took up the reins in the group for Wiebes. The Italian national champion was caught in the last few-hundred metres and a reduced sprint followed. Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) launched first and hard, taking Wiebes a little by surprise, but the European champion had the power and patience to surge forward and celebrate across the line for a historic victory.
Brief results:
- Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime)
- Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike)
- Noemi Rüegg (EF Education-Oatly)
- Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez)
- Kim Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal QuickStep)
- Chloé Dygert (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto)
- Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek)
- Juliette Labous (FDJ-Suez)
- Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime)
- Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuncinck)
N.B. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot was relegated from 4th to 12th, fined 200 CHF and handed a yellow card for 'deviation from the chosen line' in the sprint.
How it happened:
- It took a long time for anything resembling a breakaway to gain an advantage over the peloton. Ultimately only Anne Knijnenberg (Volkerwessels) could make anything stick, but her solo effort was brought to an end 50 km from the finish of the 156-kilometre race on the first of the Tre Capi, the Capo Mele (1.5km at 4.5%).
- The finale was fast approaching, and on the run-in to the Cipressa, a number of teams were trying to assert their dominance, including Lidl-Trek, Fenix-Deceuninck, Picnic PostNL, EF Education-Oatly, and of course, SD Worx-Protime, whose sprinter Lorena Wiebes was looking ominously strong.
- There were a few crashes before the first of the day's key climbs, with Olivia Baril hitting the deck hard near the back of the bunch, just before an unfortunate touch of wheels near the front caused splits in the peloton at a crucial moment, Visma-Lease a Bike one of the teams sent scrambling – but soon able to regain contact.
- There was a fierce leadout into the foot of the Cipressa, several teams lined out across the front of the peloton, only for there to be a lull as the climb began. UAE Team ADQ soon took control of the pacing, and were then usurped by a powerful display from Lidl-Trek, but there was no action from the favourites until the descent.
- With the favourites all gathered towards the front, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma-Lease a Bike) pushed on.
- Ferrand-Prévot's impetus split up the group, resulting in a selection of about a dozen riders including most of the favourites. And with Wiebes making the cut, Kopecky moved into a domestique role, as promised.
- Kopecky and teammate Blanka Vas did some work in the lead group between the main climbs.
- However, there was strong motivation in the chase group only a few seconds behind, and with EF Education-Oatly leading the charge, the lead group swelled on the run-in to the Poggio.
- Again, there was a rapid lead-out into the foot of the crucial final climb.
- Once on the Poggio, it was Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto that moved first, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig lifting the pace and ultimately lodging herself on the front for much of the climb, with Kasia Niewiadoma moving up onto her wheel.
- Behind the Canyon-SRAM jerseys, the favourites were gathered vigilantly, ensuring safe positioning in case of an attack.
Kopecky was constantly adjusting her position in the bunch as they climbed, with Wiebes also never far away.
- The group remained fairly substantial throughout the climb, and it wasn't until very late that the first committed acceleration was made, coming from Juliette Labous in the service of Vollering.
- There was though only a kilometre left of the climb, and there were still plenty of fresh legs near the front.
- Niewiadoma was among them, and after latching quickly onto Labous' wheel, the reigning Tour de France avec Zwift champion made her own move.
- The grimace on Niewiadoma's face showed the significance of her intent, but the top was only a few hundred metres away, and there were still sprinters in the group, including the ever-powerful Wiebes.
- Vollering had said before the race that she wasn't sure the climbs would be hard enough for her to have her fun, and that looked like it was being proven as the reduced peloton reached the crest, where Vollering led the way with one last dwindling hope to get an advantage on the descent.
*Sigh* Might as well give it a go.
- Puck Pieterse and Vollering led the way down the winding descent, but they couldn't drop anyone, and with no teammates around them, they eased off a little as they hit the final flat few kilometres.
- It was here that Elisa Longo Borghini, also lacking any team support, went all in with two kilometres to go. It was a huge gamble, but she just had to hope that she had the power, and that SD Worx would hesitate enough before using their strength in numbers to charge down.
- The looking around didn't last too long, though. In fact, it perhaps only lasted as long as it took for Kopecky to move up to the front of the small group and lead the chase.
- Longo Borghini had gained a handful of seconds, and the brief hesitation gave her a couple more, but Kopecky was fully committed to the team cause.
- The flamme rouge came and went, and the finish line beckoned, but Kopecky had the Italian national champion in her sights.
- The catch was made barely 300 metres from the line.
- Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) opened up her sprint almost immedately, apparently taking Lorena Wiebes a little by surprise. The European champion soon got on terms, though, and then pulled ahead with room enough to raise her arms as she crossed the line.
- With Wiebes taking victory, Vos held on for second, and Noemi Rüegg (EF Education-Oatly) crossed the line third, continuing a stellar year for the Swiss national champion.
- Ferrand-Prévot was fourth initially, but a little after the race, the jury announced that the Frenchwoman would be relegated from 4th to 12th (last in the group) for an irregular sprint that saw Ferrand-Prévot slam into Rüegg.
Quotes of the day
I think there were multiple options but I felt that I did good on the Cipressa so also on the Poggio, I was with the first five or something at the top and then I knew I would ride for the win.
"Longo Borghini did a really strong attack but I saw Lotte was close behind and, as I said, the effort she made was amazing … [But] I knew how strong Lotte is and she put me in the perfect position. I need to say Vos surprised me a little bit. I didn't want to open my sprint too early but it was enough for the win.”
Lorena Wiebes said at the finish
Longo Borghini (11th) seemed satisfied with her effort, and yet naturally disappointed that she'd come so close. Her passion and determination, however, were not dimmed at the finish.
Next time they are not going to catch me."
Elisa Longo Borghini
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