Imola (Italy) (AFP)
An unprecedented double in the 21st century: the Dutchwoman Anna van der Breggen won the women's race at the world cycling championships on Saturday at the Italian circuit of Imola, two days after winning the time trial title.
The 30-year-old Dutchwoman is the first to achieve this double the same year since the French Jeannie Longo in 1995.
Reigning Olympic champion van der Breggen dominated the race and won with almost a minute and a half ahead of her compatriot Annemiek van Vleuten, who won last year, and the Italian Elisa Longo Borghini, at the end 143 kilometers.
The Dutchwoman gave her fourth title in four years to the Netherlands, the flagship country for women's cycling.
Personally, van der Breggen won the event for the second time.
She won in Innsbrück, Austria, in 2018.
His attack on the steepest part of the second hill of the course, 40 kilometers from the finish, followed a first selection made by van Vleuten.
With a lead of more than two minutes at the start of the fifth and final lap, the new world champion controlled the situation.
Behind her, Longo Borghini attacked up the hill and was only followed by van Vleuten.
In the sprint, the Dutchwoman, who was running with a fractured left wrist protection just nine days ago, narrowly edged the Italian for the silver medal.
© 2020 AFP