Anna van der Breggen dominates to take victory in European Championships 2020 individual time trial
The Dutch road race champion takes the European jersey away from compatriot Ellen van Dijk
Anna van der Breggen took her first European time trial title after beating reigning champion, Ellen van Dijk by 30 seconds.
The two Dutchwomen were the riders who were expected to battle it out for the title over the 25.6km of rolling roads in Plouay, France.
Van der Breggen flew out of the blocks, catching her minute-woman, Marlen Reusser (Switzerland) before the first split. Those two riders then went on to pass each other as they raced to the line with Reusser potentially sitting in Van der Breggen's wheel for a little longer than is usually allowed.
>>> Tour de France 2020 route: Eight mountain finishes and uphill time trial to decide 107th edition
Reusser managed to stay with Van der Breggen all the way to the line, passing her just before. That took her to a very solid third place at 59 seconds down on the Olympic road race champion.
Further back on the course, Van Dijk had also caught her minute woman, Lisa Klein (Germany), before the first split.
Klein, who finished second at last years event, could not handle the pace of the Dutch rider and finished outside the top-10.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
It wasn't to be for the local star, Audrey Cordon-Ragot, who took her first French road title just a few days before. She finished down in 10th place, over two minutes behind the winner.
No British riders were able to get into the top-10 with Hayley Simmons and Lizzie Banks both putting in solid times, but not enough to get them near the medals.
Results
European Championships 2020, elite women's individual time trial: Plouay to Plouay (25.6km)
1. Anna van der Breggen (Ned), in 34-03.92
2. Ellen van Dijk (Ned), at 30.25s
3. Marlen Reusser (Sui), at 59.05s
4. Lisa Brennauer (Ger), at 1-13.43
5. Vittoria Bussi (Ita), at 1-32.50
6. Juliette Labous (Fra), at 1-43.46
7. Anna Plichta (Pol), at 1-43.46
8. Alena Amialiusik (Blr), at 1-45.72
9. Valeriya Kononenko (Ukr), at 1-48.55
10. Audrey Cordon-Ragot (Fra), at 2-08.43
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
Hi, I'm one of Cycling Weekly's content writers for the web team responsible for writing stories on racing, tech, updating evergreen pages as well as the weekly email newsletter. Proud Yorkshireman from the UK's answer to Flanders, Calderdale, go check out the cobbled climbs!
I started watching cycling back in 2010, before all the hype around London 2012 and Bradley Wiggins at the Tour de France. In fact, it was Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck's battle in the fog up the Tourmalet on stage 17 of the Tour de France.
It took me a few more years to get into the journalism side of things, but I had a good idea I wanted to get into cycling journalism by the end of year nine at school and started doing voluntary work soon after. This got me a chance to go to the London Six Days, Tour de Yorkshire and the Tour of Britain to name a few before eventually joining Eurosport's online team while I was at uni, where I studied journalism. Eurosport gave me the opportunity to work at the world championships in Harrogate back in the awful weather.
After various bar jobs, I managed to get my way into Cycling Weekly in late February of 2020 where I mostly write about racing and everything around that as it's what I specialise in but don't be surprised to see my name on other news stories.
When not writing stories for the site, I don't really switch off my cycling side as I watch every race that is televised as well as being a rider myself and a regular user of the game Pro Cycling Manager. Maybe too regular.
My bike is a well used Specialized Tarmac SL4 when out on my local roads back in West Yorkshire as well as in northern Hampshire with the hills and mountains being my preferred terrain.
-
New bikepacking route network opens in Arkansas
The city of Fayetteville, Arkansas in partnership with nonprofit Bikepacking Roots opens five new bikepacking routes, all beginning in Fayetteville, that range from 60-190 miles.
By Kristin Jenny Published
-
HUNT 60 Limitless UD Carbon Spoke Aero Disc Wheelset
An impressive all-rounder that's well-suited to wider tyres and a range of riding styles
By Andy Turner Published