Lizzie Armitstead (Boels-Dolmans) outsprinted a six-rider breakaway in Trofeo Alfredo Binda on Sunday, taking the lead in the UCI Women’s World Cup in the process. The victory continues Armitstead’s run of fine form and the Boels-Dolmans show of strength the week before the all-important Tour of Flanders, which Armitstead has long called a target.
“I’m really delighted,” said Armitstead. “Like I said before, I was just hoping for some good feelings ahead of Flanders. To win and to win the way I did against two really strong Rabobank girls is great for my confidence ahead of next week.”
The two strong Rabo Liv riders Armistead referenced were double world champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, in her first race back since she won the Cyclocross World Championships in Tabor in January, and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad winner Anna van der Breggen. The Rabo Liv pair and Armitstead were part of a six rider breakaway that took shape on the penultimate lap of the hilly course.
Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle Honda), who won in Cittiglio two years ago, Alena Amialiusik (Velocio-SRAM) and Jolanda Neff (Switzerland) also made the move.
In each of her post-race interviews, Armitstead sung the praise of her Boels-Dolmans teammates. She credits them with setting her up for her fourth victory of the season.
“The team did a fantastic job,” said Armitstead. “Christine did lots of work early on. The other four did their work a little bit later. During the third lap, I said on the radio that I thought it was a little too easy. We still had Bronzini in the group. Straightaway, Evie [Stevens] and Megan [Guarnier] really committed on the climb. That’s when the group went away.”
“From then on, I knew I had to do it,” Armitstead added. “I had to finish off their work.”
The six-rider move went clear on the penultimate lap, and the leaders started the fourth and final lap with a 45 second advantage on a seven-rider chase group. With two Rabo Liv riders out front, Ferrand-Prevot and van der Breggen were able to use their numerical advantage in attempt to wear down the group.
The duo launched repeated attacks, eventually causing Amialiusik and Neff to fall off the pace. Ferrand-Prevot launched what initially appeared to be a decisive attack before the final climb up to Orino.
“I was very concerned that I was outnumbered by Rabobank,” Armitstead admitted. “It was really hard. Every time a Rabobank girl attacked, they were led out by a motorbike as well, so that made it doubly hard. In the last lap alone, I would say they attacked us at least 15 times.”
“I had a little bit of a combine with Elisa, which was good,” Armitstead added. “I knew on the climb that I could bring Pauline back at my own pace, so that worked out. I caught her just before the top.”
From the top of the climb, just under eight kilometres remained until the finish. Armitstead responded to attacks on the twisty descent and the flat roads, remaining calm before the uphill sprint to the line.
“They were continually attacking me,” Armitstead recalled. “Elisa quite rightly did nothing. She knew that she wouldn’t win the sprint. She played the gamble. I used my track background, sticking to right side of the road, so I knew I only had to look to the left for attacks.”
“They attacked me all the way to the line,” added Armitstead. “I had [sport director] Danny [Stam] in my earpiece saying: ‘You’ve got to be on the wheel straightaway. Don’t hesitate. Be straight on the wheel.’ I guess you could say there were a couple of warm-up sprints before the final one.”
To add to the drama in the finale, Amialiusik and Neff managed to claw their way back to the leaders in the last kilometre. Neither would prove a problem for Armitstead.
“Having gotten second last year, I didn’t want to leave it too late,” said Armitstead. “I opened the sprint.”
“Pauline is fast,” Armitstead added. “Her attacks were the hardest to counter today. It was hard to get back on her wheel. I knew she would have a good kick in the end, but I was stronger today.”
Armitstead twice stood on the podium during the post-race presentations. She was called to the top step as race leader. Shortly after, she stood on the stage again to accept the iconic World Cup series leader jersey.
It’s a familiar jersey for Armitstead. She pulled it on in Ronde van Drenthe last year, having won the opening round of the World Cup series, and kept it all the way to the series finish in Plouay, France.
“This is only my second World Cup victory,” said Armitstead. “You know, I won the World Cup series last year, but I only won one World Cup. It’s important to me to win big races. It gives me confidence for those World Championships and Olympic Games.”
Trofeo Alfredo Binda - Comune di Cittiglio
: Laveno Mombello > Cittiglio
Sunday 29th March (2015)
Classification: CDM
Category: Int. Woman
Distance: 123.7km
| 1. |  |
ARMITSTEAD Elizabeth
Boels - Dolmans Cycling Team
|
03:08:13 |
| 2. |  |
FERRAND-PREVOT Pauline
Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team
|
- |
| 3. |  |
VAN DER BREGGEN Anna
Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team
|
- |
| 4. |  |
LONGO BORGHINI Elisa
Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
|
- |
| 5. |  |
AMIALIUSIK Alena
Velocio- SRAM
|
- |
| 6. |  |
NEFF Jolanda
|
0:03 |
| 7. | |
VAN VLEUTEN Annemiek
Bigla Pro Cycling Team
|
1:31 |
| 8. | |
VAN DIJK Ellen
Boels - Dolmans Cycling Team
|
- |
| 9. | |
CECCHINI Elena
Lotto Soudal Ladies
|
- |
| 10. |  |
MOOLMAN PASIO Ashleigh
Bigla Pro Cycling Team
|
- |
| 11. |  |
CROMWELL Tiffany
Velocio- SRAM
|
- |
| 12. |  |
SMALL Carmen
TWENTY16 presented by Sho-Air
|
- |
| 13. |  |
NIEWIADOMA Katarzyna
Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team
|
- |
| 14. | |
SCANDOLARA Valentina
Orica - AIS
|
- |
| 15. | |
BRAND Lucinda
Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team
|
- |
| 16. | |
BUJAK Eugenia
BTC City Ljubljana
|
- |
| 17. |  |
KOZONCHUK Oxana
|
- |
| 18. | |
BRONZINI Giorgia
Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
|
- |
| 19. | |
RATTO Rossella
Inpa Sottoli Giusfredi
|
- |
| 20. |  |
BRENNAUER Lisa
Velocio- SRAM
|
- |
| 21. | |
WORRACK Trixi
Velocio- SRAM
|
- |
| 22. | |
HALL Lauren
TWENTY16 presented by Sho-Air
|
- |
| 23. | |
PLICHTA Anna
|
- |
| 24. | |
RIVAT Amelie
Poitou-Charentes.Futuroscope.86
|
- |
| 25. | |
DREVILLE Anabelle
|
- |
| 26. | |
GUARNIER Megan
Boels - Dolmans Cycling Team
|
- |
| 27. | |
VIECELI Lara
S.C. Michela Fanini Rox
|
- |
| 28. | |
CAUZ Francesca
Alé Cipollini
|
- |
| 29. | |
VASILIEVA Svetlana
|
- |
| 30. | |
BERLATO Elena
Alé Cipollini
|
1:36 |
| 31. |  |
CANUEL Karol-ann
Velocio- SRAM
|
- |
| 32. | |
BLAAK Chantal
Boels - Dolmans Cycling Team
|
- |
| 33. | |
GILLOW Shara
Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team
|
- |
| 34. | |
TAYLOR Carlee
Lotto Soudal Ladies
|
- |
| 35. | |
DVORAK Andrea
TWENTY16 presented by Sho-Air
|
- |
| 36. |  |
RIABCHENKO Tetyana
Inpa Sottoli Giusfredi
|
- |
| 37. | |
STEVENS Evelyn
Boels - Dolmans Cycling Team
|
- |
| 38. | |
PITEL Edwige
S.C. Michela Fanini Rox
|
- |
| 39. | |
ABBOTT Mara
Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
|
1:39 |
| 40. |  |
MAJERUS Christine
Boels - Dolmans Cycling Team
|
6:35 |
| 41. | |
POTOKINA Anna
Servetto Footon
|
6:43 |
| 42. |  |
JANKAUSKAITE Milda
Astana - Acca Due O
|
6:46 |
| 43. | |
INDERGAND Linda
|
- |
| 44. | |
TUSLAITE Daiva
Inpa Sottoli Giusfredi
|
- |
| 45. | |
BASTIANELLI Marta
Aromitalia - Vaiano
|
- |
| 46. |  |
VEKEMANS Anisha
Lotto Soudal Ladies
|
- |
| 47. | |
CHEKINA Alexandra
|
- |
| 48. | |
TAGLIAFERRO Marta
Alé Cipollini
|
- |
| 49. | |
LELEIVYTE Rasa
Aromitalia - Vaiano
|
- |
| 50. | |
TUHAI Ksenyia
Bepink Laclassica
|
- |
| 51. | |
SOUYRIS Manon
|
- |
| 52. | |
WILLIAMS Lizzie
Orica - AIS
|
- |
| 53. | |
BRZEZNA Monika
|
- |
| 54. | |
PIEROBON Chiara
Top Girls Fassa Bortolo
|
- |
| 55. |  |
SAARELAINEN Sari
Servetto Footon
|
- |
| 56. | |
IAKOVENKO Anastasia
|
- |
| 57. | |
KUCHINSKAYA Elena
Servetto Footon
|
- |
| 58. |  |
KERN Spela
BTC City Ljubljana
|
- |
| 59. | |
LAWS Sharon
Bigla Pro Cycling Team
|
- |
| 60. | |
SCHWEIZER Doris
Bigla Pro Cycling Team
|
- |
| 61. | |
PINTAR Ura
BTC City Ljubljana
|
- |
| 62. | |
JASINSKA Malgorzta
Alé Cipollini
|
- |
| 63. |  |
SANTESTEBAN GONZáLEZ Ane
Inpa Sottoli Giusfredi
|
- |
| 64. | |
BRZEZNA BENTKOWSKA Paulina
|
- |
| 65. | |
FRAPPORTI Simona
Alé Cipollini
|
- |
| 66. | |
SICOT Marion
|
- |
| 67. | |
GARFOOT Katrin
Orica - AIS
|
- |
| 68. | |
LESUEUR Mélodie
Lointek
|
- |
| 69. | |
LELEU Fanny
|
- |
| 70. | |
ARZUFFI Alice Maria
Inpa Sottoli Giusfredi
|
- |
| 71. | |
KOMANSKI Lauren
TWENTY16 presented by Sho-Air
|
- |
| 72. | |
STRICKER Anna Zita Maria
Inpa Sottoli Giusfredi
|
- |
| 73. |  |
RITTER Martina
BTC City Ljubljana
|
- |
| 74. | |
BRAVARD Charlotte
Poitou-Charentes.Futuroscope.86
|
- |
| 75. | |
BOYARSKAYA Natalia
|
- |
| 76. |  |
COVRIG Ana
Bepink Laclassica
|
- |
| 77. | |
MUCCIOLI Dalia
Alé Cipollini
|
- |
| 78. | |
SPRATT Amanda
Orica - AIS
|
- |
| 79. | |
NUMAINVILLE Joëlle
Bigla Pro Cycling Team
|
- |
| 80. | |
WILES Tayler
Velocio- SRAM
|
- |
| 81. | |
ANTOSHINA Tatiana
Servetto Footon
|
- |
| 82. |  |
HAGIWARA Mayuko
Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
|
- |
| 83. | |
PALADIN Asja
Top Girls Fassa Bortolo
|
6:58 |
| DNF. | |
LINNELL Allison
Aromitalia - Vaiano
|
- |
| DNF. | |
GULINO Nina
S.C. Michela Fanini Rox
|
- |
| DNF. | |
BALDUCCI Michela
S.C. Michela Fanini Rox
|
- |
| DNF. |  |
KELIL Eyerusalem
S.C. Michela Fanini Rox
|
- |
| DNF. | |
INTINO Azzurra
S.C. Michela Fanini Rox
|
- |
| DNF. |  |
LIVINGSTONE Ruby
Bepink Laclassica
|
- |
| DNF. | |
WILLIAMS Georgia
Bepink Laclassica
|
- |
| DNF. | |
NIELSEN Jaime
Bepink Laclassica
|
- |
| DNF. | |
BORTOLOTTI Simona
Bepink Laclassica
|
- |
| DNF. | |
BIOLA Martina
Aromitalia - Vaiano
|
- |
| DNF. | |
MARTINI Alessia
Aromitalia - Vaiano
|
- |
| DNF. |  |
LAIZANE Lija
Aromitalia - Vaiano
|
- |
| DNF. |  |
LUDWIG Cecilie Uttrup
Team Rytger
|
- |
| DNF. | |
FRASER Chloe
Team Rytger
|
- |
| DNF. | |
PADER Lucie
Poitou-Charentes.Futuroscope.86
|
- |
| DNF. | |
HILL Amy
Team Rytger
|
- |
| DNF. |  |
HUUSKO Elinor
Team Rytger
|
- |
| DNF. | |
JACOBSEN Olivia Overskov
Team Rytger
|
- |
| DNF. | |
OVESEN Nina Krebs
Team Rytger
|
- |
| DNF. | |
BITTO Irene
Top Girls Fassa Bortolo
|
- |
| DNF. | |
LEONARDI Elena
Top Girls Fassa Bortolo
|
- |
| DNF. | |
FIORI Jennifer
Top Girls Fassa Bortolo
|
- |
| DNF. | |
PALADIN Soraya
Top Girls Fassa Bortolo
|
- |
| DNF. | |
PERCHTOLD Christina
No Radunion Vitalogic
|
- |
| DNF. | |
SIMENC Laura
No Radunion Vitalogic
|
- |
| DNF. | |
DEUERLEIN Julia
No Radunion Vitalogic
|
- |
| DNF. | |
RIEGLER Elisabeth
No Radunion Vitalogic
|
- |
| DNF. | |
REISENHOFER Sandra
No Radunion Vitalogic
|
- |
| DNF. | |
JORGENSEN Laura
Pepper Palace Pro Cycling p/b The Happy Tooth
|
- |
| DNF. | |
FISCHER Heather
|
- |
| DNF. | |
BAZIN Marjolaine
|
- |
| DNF. | |
SHAMANOVA Tatiana
|
- |
| DNF. | |
WILKOS Katarzyna
|
- |
| DNF. | |
KARDAS Aleksandra
|
- |
| DNF. | |
SKALNIAK Anna
|
- |
| DNF. | |
GYSLING Mirjam
|
- |
| DNF. | |
STIENEN Jutta
|
- |
| DNF. | |
WEISS Sandra
|
- |
| DNF. | |
RICHIOUD Greta
Poitou-Charentes.Futuroscope.86
|
- |
| DNF. | |
MAZZOTTA Riccarda
Servetto Footon
|
- |
| DNF. | |
BATAGELJ Polona
BTC City Ljubljana
|
- |
| DNF. | |
FRANCHI Elena
Servetto Footon
|
- |
| DNF. | |
LECHNER Eva
BTC City Ljubljana
|
- |
| DNF. | |
ZHAPAROVA Aizhan
Astana - Acca Due O
|
- |
| DNF. | |
PANKOVA Larisa
Astana - Acca Due O
|
- |
| DNF. | |
CAMPAGNARO Marika
Astana - Acca Due O
|
- |
| DNF. | |
DOBRYNINA Kseniya
Astana - Acca Due O
|
- |
| DNF. | |
DEMYDOVA Olena
Astana - Acca Due O
|
- |
| DNF. | |
KOPPENBURG Clara
Bigla Pro Cycling Team
|
- |
| DNF. | |
MEYVISCH Molly
Lotto Soudal Ladies
|
- |
| DNF. | |
RIJKES Sarah
Lotto Soudal Ladies
|
- |
| DNF. | |
CORDON RAGOT Audrey
Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
|
- |
| DNF. | |
ELVIN Gracie
Orica - AIS
|
- |
| DNF. | |
SANCHIS CHAFER Anna
Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling
|
- |
| DNF. | |
NEYLAN Rachel
Orica - AIS
|
- |
