Elisa Longo Borghini wins 2017 Strade Bianche as Lizzie Deignan takes third
The Italian took victory in her home race as rain blighted the finale
After an enthralling and gripping finish, Italian rider Elisa Longo-Borghini (Wiggle-High5) pulled off the first win of this year’s Women’s WorldTour at Strade Bianche on Saturday.
>>> Strade Bianche LIVE: follow our live coverage from start to finish
Part of a five woman group who went clear on the sixth gravel sector of the day, in the final metres she rode away from Polish rider Kasia Niewiadoma (WM3 Energie) who bagged her second successive runner’s up place in the Italian classic.
Britain’s Lizzie Deignan (Boel-Dolmans), who won in Siena wearing the rainbow jersey 12 months ago, was third after appearing to suffer gear issues in the final metres.
The 127km race began in fast but controlled manner, with some riders being dropped on the first of eight gravel sectors for which the race is famed.
After, the fourth sector attacks began in earnest, stringing out the peloton.
However the fifth, and longest stretch of white road made the race. Over the 9.5km sector the top ranked teams applied the pressure and by the time they returned to tarmac a group of only 40 riders remained, leaving the rest of the field spread over the rain sodden Tuscan landscape.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Though they were present in the front, last year’s all-conquering Boels-Dolmans team were not one of those teams putting the pressure on, however.
Having begun with five riders after Olympic champion Anna van der Breggen withdrew with illness, and half way through the race, 2016 WorldTour winner Megan Guarnier abandoned, suffering the effects of a crash last week.
With 85km gone, a Floortje Mackaij (Team Sunweb), Lauren Stephens (Team Tibco-SVB) and Lara Vieceli (Astana Women’s Team) escaped and built a gap of around 1.25.
However their lead was controlled, and as the peloton entered the final 25km and approached the finish in Siena, the trio’s advantage began to tumble. The short but steep sector six, which was decisive last year, saw the gap close to 30 seconds with Vieceli dropped.
When the remaining two riders were caught on the seventh sector Deignan, Longo-Borghini and Niewiadoma (WM3 Energie) joined Katrin Garfoot and Annemiek van Vleuten (Orica-Scott) building a lead nearing 30 seconds.
However as they returned to the streets of Siena they were passed by Australian Shara Gillow (FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope) and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad winner Lucinda Brand (Team Sunweb), who themselves opened a gap.
Despite their brave attempt, both were caught and dropped by the top three on the final climb into the city centre where Longo Borghini took victory.
Results
Strade Bianche 2017 (127km)
1. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Wiggle-High5, in 3-44-45
2. Kasia Niewiadoma (Pol) WM3 Energie, at 2s
3. Lizzie Deignan (GBr) Boels-Dolmans, at 5s
4. Lucinda Brand (Ned) Sunweb, at 8s
5. Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned) Orica-Scott, at 9s
6. Shara Gillow (Aus) FDJ, at 12s
7. Katrin Garfoot (Aus) Orica-Scott, at 18s
8. Amanda Spratt (Aus) Orica-Scott, at 36s
9. Cecilie Uttup Ludwig (Den) Cervélo-Bigla, at 1-06
10. Elena Cecchini (Ita) Canyon-SRAM, st
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Owen Rogers is an experienced journalist, covering professional cycling and specialising in women's road racing. He has followed races such as the Women's Tour and Giro d'Italia Donne, live-tweeting from Women's WorldTour events as well as providing race reports, interviews, analysis and news stories. He has also worked for race teams, to provide post race reports and communications.
-
Conservative London mayor candidate vows to tear out 'havoc-causing cycle lanes' if elected into office
As well as removing cycle lanes in the capital, Susan Hall also promises to back any group that wants rid of LTNs in London
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Luis León Sánchez and Greg Van Avermaet the latest retired pros to 'go gravel'
It's a list that only keeps growing, as former WorldTour riders seek to fulfil the competitive urge in a low-pressure environment
By James Shrubsall Published
-
'I don’t know': Not even Tadej Pogačar could explain his incredible Strade Bianche attack
The Slovenian was so dominant on Saturday that everything seems hyperbolic
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tadej Pogačar cruises to Strade Bianche victory after 81km solo attack
Slovenian wins by almost three minutes in Siena after dominant display in Tuscany
By Adam Becket Published
-
Lotte Kopecky storms to Strade Bianche victory with stinging attack
Belgian beats Elisa Longo Borghini to take her first WorldTour win in the rainbow jersey
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tough new Strade Bianche course 'tips the scales' in favour of climbers, Matej Mohorič says
Slovenian says adjustments to the route will make race a 'journey into the unknown’
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Demi Vollering: Revamped Strade Bianche course could play into SD Worx's hands
Defending champion predicts ‘spicy’ race on Saturday
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘It doesn’t change anything’ - Tom Pidcock’s coach on Tadej Pogačar at Strade Bianche
Kurt Bogaerts says the pressure is off for Pidcock as he looks to defend the title he emphatically won last year
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Everything you need for Strade Bianche: Key information, route, start lists and riders to watch
The Italian Classic and its white gravel returns on Saturday 2 March
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘I remember eating two pizzas and still being hungry’ - Elisa Longo Borghini on the ride that changed her
2022 Paris-Roubaix Femmes winner reflects back on her victory in the 2013 Trofeo Alfreda Binda
By Tom Thewlis Published