The Strade Bianche marked the return of the World Tour and the classics, a long awaited return by the runners, but also the followers. A race closely scrutinized therefore, that we will try to decipher for you, to take stock of the state of shape of the various favorites present, and on the outstanding performances of this Saturday.
Annemiek Van Vleuten, the confirmation ?
The women's event, remportée par Annemiek Van Vleuten, was not intended to offer great suspense, as the domination of the Dutch seemed established at the start. And yet, we had to wait for the last hectometers to see the world champion break away, after an exceptional number by the Spanish Mavi Garcia. Gone very early in the race, the Spaniard has long continued her lonely ride, quickly pushing back the peloton of favorites to more than 5 minutes. We had to wait for the final and the entry into the 50 last kilometers so that a hunting group does not take shape, with in particular Ellen Van Dijk, Leah Thomas or Amanda Spratt. Behind, the rest of the favorites were even further away, the peloton pointing at almost 4'30”. The pursuit was organized in a fairly gradual fashion, but too inefficient to consider a return to the lead.
The key moment of the event was finally the moment when Annemiek Van Vleuten decided, a little over 20 km from arrival, to make the jump alone to enter the hunting group. Come back like a bullet, she left no chance for the competitors in this group, quickly breaking away to go alone in pursuit behind Mavi Garcia, always credited with an advance of almost 2 minutes at this point. An advance that melted like snow in the sun on the last gravel sectors, where Annemiek made up almost all of her delay in just a few kilometers.
But after such an effort, Annemiek finally experienced all the difficulties in filling the last few meters to operate the junction, to such an extent that she was unable to detach herself from her last opponent when passing, extremely rare for the Dutch 37 years, used to solo victories. The two women therefore headed for Siena., without the Spaniard from Alé BTC Ljubljana passing the slightest bit. In the end, she allowed herself to play with her competitor's nerves, feigning an attack in an attempt to take advantage of the favorite's apparent fatigue. But at 800 m of the line, on the steepest slopes, the Mitchelton leader is irreparably detached, soar to a second consecutive success.
So, what should we remember from this particular day ? Firstly, confirmation of Annemiek Van Vleuten's sparkling form, untouchable this year with 5 victories in 5 participations, and who wins this edition 2020. Almost a formality for the defending champion, who nevertheless played on favorable circumstances to win. Explanations…
Leah Thomas, the strongest on the white roads ?
It will have escaped no one but the American Leah Thomas, very good, I finished 3e, however relegated to 1'53” of the winner. But we must take into account the mechanical incident of which she was the victim at the very moment when Annemiek Van Vleuten returned to the hunting party, before depositing them, group to which the leader of the training Paule Ka belongs. Launched in a pursuit behind the Dutch, Leah Thomas then suffered a small crash which caused her to lose ground again. Without these unfortunate incidents, it's a safe bet that she could have accompanied Annemiek to the reunion at the head of the race, and why not fight for the victory. A boon therefore for the world champion, who unwittingly got rid of her strongest rival.
Where are the other favorites? ?
The answer is quite simple, Loin d'Annemiek Van Vleuten. Si Anna Van Der Breggen, Elisa Longo Borghini, Marianne Vos and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, arrivals in this order behind the top three, have been able to limit the damage to arrive with approximately 2 minutes late, the bill is much saltier for favorites such as Marta Bastianelli, 10e to more than 5 minutes, Demi Vollering, 20and to 8 minutes or the former winner Chantal Blaak, relegated even further. Confirmation of what had been observed a few days earlier on the roads of Navarre, where they had been unable to accompany Annemiek in his hat-trick. Anonymous behind Van Vleuten's stratospheric performances, a predictable scenario that has been confirmed on the roads of Tuscany for each of them.
