Demi Vollering has won a major international title for the first time. The Dutch rider was crowned European champion in the elite women's category on Saturday. In the Ardèche, she successfully completed a 36-kilometer solo breakaway. Kasia Niewiadoma finished second, Anna van der Breggen third. Van der Breggen did not sprint for silver after spending many kilometers drafting behind Niewiadoma.
The women faced a 116-kilometer race in the Ardèche. From the start it was immediately uphill, climbing the Col du Moulin a Vent (4 km at 5.1%). After a flat section, the riders then tackled the Montee de Costebelle (300 meters at 9%) and the Val d'Enfer (1.6 km at 9.7%). These two climbs were also part of the final lap, but first there was a mid-loop featuring the Saint-Romains-de-Lerps (7 km at 7.2%) and again the Val d'Enfer. That final climb had to be taken three times in total.
On the Col du Moulin a Vent (4 km at 5.1%) no rider escaped and the group stayed together for long afterwards. There were some early attacks, but it was only after about thirty kilometers that we saw an early breakaway. This group consisted of three riders: Carina Schrempf (Austria), Christina Bragh Lorenzen (Denmark), and Nora Jenčušová (Slovakia). The trio gained some gap, but they were reeled back in with 58 kilometers to go. The peloton was then approaching the first ascent of the Val d'Enfer.
Netherlands prepares Vollering's attack
On the descent of that climb, Anna van der Breggen pressed the gas pedal briefly. This caused some fragmentation in the peloton, but gradually more riders were able to catch back on. From the now fairly large group, Margot Vanpachtenbeke then broke away. The Belgian started the Saint-Romains-de-Lerps with a lead but was quickly caught on that long climb. This was mainly due to the Dutch team, which stepped up the pace significantly.
This set the stage for an attack by Demi Vollering. The leader of the Oranje squad went clear at the top of the climb and saw that only three riders could follow: her compatriot Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy) and Kasia Niewiadoma (Poland). On Vollering's second acceleration, no one could respond. Van der Breggen and Niewiadoma soon followed at half a minute back. Longo Borghini, who initially tried to keep up with Vollering, was about ten seconds behind them.
The chasers - photo: Cor Vos
Vollering holds lead effortlessly
The victory was not secured yet for Vollering. After her second attack, she still had 36 kilometers to ride, including two ascents of the Val d'Enfer. She managed to extend her advantage over the chasers—where Van der Breggen obviously did not take over from Niewiadoma,—more and more. Entering the final lap, she already had a margin of over a minute. Longo Borghini, meanwhile, lost a lot of ground and eventually fell short for fourth place.
Vollering kept riding strongly, holding her lead effortlessly to claim the European title. Behind her, there was no fierce battle for silver. Van der Breggen chose not to sprint after spending many kilometers drafting behind Niewiadoma. The latter took second place, while Van der Breggen claimed the bronze.
UEC Road European Championships| Rank | Rider | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 02:57:53 | |
| 2 | + 01:18 | |
| 3 | + 01:24 | |
| 4 | + 02:31 | |
| 5 | " | |
| 6 | " | |
| 7 | " | |
| 8 | + 03:08 | |
| 9 | + 04:38 | |
| 10 | + 04:42 |
