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Everyone was hoping for a spectacular performance in Strade Bianche, and both men’s and women’s races delivered in style.
Chantal van den Broek-Blaak won for SD Worx after the team dominated the race again. However, the Dutch team did not have it easy, as a resilient ride from Elisa Longo Borghini kept the race on a knife edge until the last minutes.
Mathieu van der Poel laid the hammer on the men’s race with two staggering attacks from a leading group. The performance of the Dutchman was a warning for the coming season, but Strade showed that there is enough in the peloton to tackle him.
Race report: Chantal van den Broek-Blaak delivers a victory for SD Worx
Race report: Mathieu van der Poel wins with brilliant final attack
What did the movers and shakers say after the showdown on the white roads of Tuscany? Here is what:
Elisa Longo Borghini shows gravel and grace
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Elisa Longo Borghini took second place after being overwhelmed by a power play by SD Worx on Saturday.
The Italian champion faced the decisive attack of the Broek-Blaak on the piece Siena and was forced to drag her Dutch rival to the decisive final climb when SD Worx won figures in the group that was only a few hundred meters behind.
Longo Borghini led van den Broek-Blaak to the starting height of the ascent to Siena, but her wetting was when van den Broek-Blaak accelerated in her winning move.
‘I was not frustrated or irritated. I just wanted to try to get van den Broek-Blaak going, and sometimes you have to try to get the other one to work, ”said Longo Borghini about all the draws in the last kilometers. ‘I absolutely knew she would not work with me as I dropped Chantal on a climb like this. Of course, she had something more in her legs today in the final compared to me. ‘
“Chapeau to her for the victory, because it is an important and a special one,” she continued. “Arriving in Piazza del Campo di Siena is just beautiful and a victory to enjoy.”
Egan Bernal surprises everyone – including himself
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The select group of seven that formed in the final gravel sector included all the usual suspects – Alaphilippe, van Aert, van der Poel – and Egan Bernal. The former Tour de France champion was on the cover but barely mentioned before the race, but showed the world that his recent battle with an injury may be over and that he is more than just a three-week diesel .
Bernal finished third after chasing himself back to Van der Poel and Alaphilippe when the pair became clear in the final gravel sector. Van der Poel’s massive attack on the decisive climb ended the Colombian, but the third place was more than anyone expected – including himself.
‘I’m a little surprised to be in the top three because I’m not a specialist in one – day races, so it’s a great honor for me to be on the podium with Mathieu and Julian. I am really surprised and motivated for my next goals, ”he said.
“I have to be happy with that. I’m not a classic specialist, so it’s harder for me. I want to enjoy this podium place and then look forward to my big, big goals. It was hard for me to win against the two. ”
Annemiek van Vleuten falters on the point of excellence
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Annemiek van Vleuten was just as offensive on Saturday and withdrew attacks on the last handful of gravel industries before throwing her own haymaker on the La Tolfe off-road.
Van Vleuten continued to fight the last five kilometers after Longo Borghini and van den Broek-Blaak escaped, and she launched one of the first accelerations in the race for third place during the climb to the piazza. Although ‘AVV’ was revamped by Van der Breggen in the last few hundred meters and remains in fourth place, she comforted herself after a sub-par show on Omloop Het Nieuwsblad last weekend.
‘I had everything I needed – I just could not finish it. “I am especially pleased that I did not make any mistakes after a disappointing Round, when I lost sight of the front due to a bad position,” she said.
‘I’m very proud of how I reacted during the race, always in a good place and doing what I had to do. It is not far away – it will be there soon. ”
Julian Alaphilippe goes down swinging
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Julian Alaphilippe brought the race to light on the last La Tolfe gravel sector with a short attack. The movement of the Frenchman set the race in motion and he was the first to counter van der Poel’s explosive acceleration against the steep climb a few kilometers later.
Alaphilippe was again the first to encounter when van der Poel made a test acceleration on the climb to Siena, but when the Dutchman turned on the turbo to launch his winning head a few seconds later, the world champion had no reaction.
Mathieu was very strong – I’m not sorry. Of course I would have preferred to win, but in the end I was happy on the podium in the rainbow jersey. I’m not disappointed because I really gave it my all. I have had cramps in the last few kilometers. Mathieu was simply better, so I have to congratulate him, “said Alaphilippe.
‘With the finish in Siena, I did everything I could, and that means the upcoming runner-up. But I feel like the form is getting where I want it, so that’s fine, it’s making me look forward to the next races. ”
Tom Pidcock encouraged by increasing progress
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Tom Pidcock moved into the star group of seven that emerged at the front of the race by 12km.
The WorldTour rookie was put in trouble by Alaphilippe’s initial attack, but slowly but surely made his way back into the group. When Van der Poel made the selective move a few minutes later, Pidcock was blown out of the fight and went off to fight for fourth place in the chase group.
The Briton finishes fifth in Siena, but after an attacking ride on Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and the podium finishes on Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne last weekend, Pidcock continues to impress and is as confident as ever.
“I’m very happy with how I went, I did not feel like I had had so many blows, but … yes, it was nice,” he said.
‘I just did not really have the legs to go faster [when van der Poel attacked] to be honest, ”he continued. But I can not complain, I’m in the front group with those guys. It will take a few more races, a little more experience, miles in the legs, and I’m sure I’ll be there soon. ‘