Vos takes home first win in Dwars door Vlaanderen
Dutch Marianne Vos has won Dwars door Vlaanderen for the first time in her career. She beated Shirin van Anrooij in a sprint. Paternoster completed the podium.
At 14:30 the women started their 12th edition of Dwars door Vlaanderen. At the Hippodrome in Waregem, the starting signal sounded for a ride of about 130 km through the Flemish Ardennes. It was waiting until the Kanarieberg, 66 km from the line, before a leading group formed. A group of about ten riders formed after an acceleration by Dutch rider Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck). Among others, world champion Kopecky (Team SD Worx-Protime) and Lidl-Trek duo Deignan and Longo Borghini were able to follow her trail.
A little further on, the race was neutralised for a while after an accident on the course. The race was eventually able to resume, but the Hotond and Trieu climbs were dropped from the race. Because the lead of the breakaway group was limited, the peloton started again in closed formation.
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At the top of Ladeuze, Van Empel (Team Visma I Lease A Bike) pulled firmly ahead, with only Pieterse, Van Anrooij & Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek), Paternoster (Team Jayco-AlUla) and Vos (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) able to follow her trail. On the Huisepontweg, it was the world champion who crossed from the peloton and joined the elite leading group.
Just before the second and final climb of Nokereberg, Van Anrooij attacked. She accelerated briskly and only Vos responded. In the chasing group they were looking at each other and the Dutch duo at the front quickly gained 10 seconds. Paternoster and Longo Borghini tried to make the ultimate jump to the front, but Kopecky closed the gap.
The lead of the two riders in front was no longer in danger and a sprint would decide the victory. In the end, it was the experienced Vos who beat Van Anrooij, adding Dwars door Vlaanderen to her list of honours after the opening classic. In the chasing group, Paternoster sprinted ahead of world champion Kopecky for third place.
