Second for Lizzie Armitstead in women's Strade Bianche as Guarnier wins
American Megan Guarnier beat out Boels-Dolmans teammate Lizzie Armitstead to take the first ever women's Strade Bianche title
Megan Guarnier (Boels-Dolmans) won the inaugural edition of the Elite Women’s Strade Bianche, finishing 37 seconds ahead of team mate, Britain’s Lizzie Armitstead.
The 29-year-old attacked a group of nine other escapees just over 17km before the finish line in the magnificent Piazza il Campo in Siena. Second at last year’s US Time Trial Championships, Guarnier quickly built a lead in excess of 20 seconds over the group, which, in turn, was soon whittled down to eight riders.
With the group failing to cooperate, the American’s lead grew to 45 seconds; a gap she managed to maintain up the final climb into the Tuscan City’s historic centre.
The peloton stayed together for the first 50 kilometres, before hitting the San Martinno in Grania gravel sector. The longest of the five sectors, at 9.5km the race split into three groups, before the remaining 14 riders split on the remaining sectors.
“I’m so happy,” Gauarnier told Cycling Weekly at the finish. “This is a dream come true. I saw this race last year for the men and I thought I want to win that race.”
>>> Lizzie Armitstead third in women’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
For Armitstead, it was the climbs, rather than the white gravel roads that give the race it’s name, which made the race difficult. “I found the climbs the hardest part,” she told us, “It was the steepness of them towards the end, rather than the gravel,” she told us.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
The 103 kilometre race tackled five gravel sectors totalling 17.4km. The longest, coming just over half way through the race, was 9.5 kilometres is length with a climb of 20%.
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.
-
Is Lotte Kopecky's bog-standard Specialized Crux proof that you don't need wide tires and fancy suspension systems for gravel racing?
Kopecky finished second at Gravel Worlds on a bike with minimal modifications
By Joe Baker Published
-
Undercover Mechanic: Cyclists have become very excited about aerodynamics without a correlated excitement for pilates - the result is a lot of spacers
90% of the front area is you, not the bike; having a kamtail downtube will make sod all difference if you’re unable to reach the bars, argues CW’s Undercover Mechanic
By Undercover Mechanic Published
-
21 things you didn't know about Lizzie Deignan
The trailblazing British cyclist has been at the top of the sport for over a decade
By Adam Becket Published
-
Lizzie Deignan to make Tour de France Femmes debut this July
'It's the biggest stage in the world,' says Brit
By Tom Davidson Published
-
CW Live: USA Cycling announces Esports roster; Soudal Quick-Step and Israel-Premier Tech release new kit; Lizzie Deignan back racing in May; Peter Sagan 'disappointed' in Wout van Aert; Cyclist killed in London
Everything you need to know in the world of cycling this Friday
By Adam Becket Last updated
-
Lizzie Deignan: Tour de France Femmes will be 'dynamic' compared to men's Tour
Trek-Segafredo rider says that eventually she would like to see a three-week Tour for women
By Adam Becket Published
-
Here is the Great Britain women’s team for World Championships 2020 in Imola
The swiftly re-arranged World Championships are just a few weeks away and the Great Britain women’s team has been confirmed.
By Alex Ballinger Published
-
Why a women’s Tour de France next year is a no-go
With a women's Tour de France all but certain, calls for it to happen in 2021 are wide of the mark, argues Owen Rogers
By Owen Rogers Published
-
‘I thought it was a weird sport’: Lizzie Deignan on how she started cycling on ‘Home Roads’ podcast
Lizzie Deignan as offered an honest insight into her home life, being scouted from school, and how she spent her year away from racing in the ‘Home Roads’ podcast.
By Alex Ballinger Published
-
Former world champion Lizzie Deignan announces pregnancy
Lizzie Deignan and her husband Philip are due to have their first child in September
By Owen Rogers Published