Vollering finishes solo in Waregem
After a 10km solo from Nokereberg, Demi Vollering added Dwars door Vlaanderen to her record of achievements after Strade Bianche earlier this season. Last year's winner Consonni sprinted to second place, with Marianne Vos completing the podium.
The women started their 11th edition around 14h50 at the hippodrome in Waregem. A ride of about 115 km awaited them with eight hills and seven cobbled sections along the way. The first breakaway come on the Kanarieberg, the third climb of the day. There it was Marlen Reusser (Team SD Worx), winner of Gent-Wevelgem, who lit the fuse. Among others, Lippert (Movistart Team Women), Moolman-Pasio (AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step), Vos (Team Jumbo-Visma) and Vollering (Team SD Worx) responded, but that party didn't last.
At 60km from the line, Francesca Barale (Team DSM) and Victoire Berteau (Cofidis) went for their chance. The two were joined further on by Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ-Suez) and Van Agt (Team Jumbo-Visma), but the latter had to drop out at the front on the Knokteberg. Meanwhile, in the chase, an elite group formed with Reusser and Vollering (Team SD Worx), Lippert (Team DSM), Mackaj (Movistar Team Women), Van Anrooij (Trek-Segafredo), Moolman-Pasio (AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step) and Vos (Team Jumbo-Visma).
For Vos, things were not going fast enough and so she placed an attack just before the top of the Hotond. The response came from Reusser, the winner of Gent-Wevelgem. On the cobbles of the Maria-Borrestraat, the two joined the front. Barale was the first to have to let go at the front, and not much later things went too fast for Uttrup Ludwig and Berteau too.
Vos and Reusser defended a lead of barely 20 seconds over the chasing group that included Vollering, Van Anrooij, Lippert, Mackaij and Moolman-Pasio. The difference between the lead and the chasers remained small. At the first passage on Herlegemstraat, everything was to be redone with 16 km to go. Mackaij tried, but without success. At 10 km from the line, Vollering deemed her moment had come. At the top of the final climb, Nokereberg, the Dutch rider went on the attack alone and looked for her first win in Waregem. Vos responded, but could just barely hold on.
Under the banner of the last 5km, Lippert made another attempt, after which Vos also reacted. It was not possible to break away, so a sprint would decide the second and third places. On the Verbindingsweg, it was last year's winner Consonni who sprinted to the podium ahead of Vos. But that was a long way behind Vollering, who just before was allowed to triumph solo on the Verbindingsweg in Waregem.
