Strade Bianche 2020 - women: Van Vleuten bests García in thrilling finale

Mavi García is riding an impressive solo in the Strade Bianche Donne. But Annemiek van Vleuten catches her in the finale and wins the race for the second consecutive year. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results Strade Bianche 2020

1. Annemiek van Vleuten (nld)
2. Mavi García (spa) + 0.22
3. Leah Thomas (usa) + 1.53
4. Anna van der Breggen (nld) + 2.05
5. Elisa Longo Borghini (ita) + 2.11
6. Marianne Vos (nld) + 2.26
7. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (den) + 2.40
8. Lisa Brennauer (ger) + 3.26
9. Karol-Ann Canuel (can) + 4.20
10. Marta Bastianelli (ita) + 5.20

Race report
The race really gets going on the third gravel sector when the peloton splits and thirteen riders form a lead group. The pace remains high until the fourth sector is done. More and more riders bridge across until the first group is a peloton again.

But not for long. Anna van der Breggen and Lizzie Deignan set the pace on sector 5 until only twenty riders are left.

The scenario repeats itself as riders manage to rejoin the first group on the asphalt. And again, not for long. Van Dijk, Spratt, Garcia, Leleivyte, Canuel, Shapira, Paladin, Brennauer, Thomas, Chapman and Balsamo break clear before Mavi Garcia tries her luck on her own with 45 kilometres out.

The Spanish rider opens a 4 minutes gap, while Van Vleuten bridges across to the chasers with 20 kilometres to go and she goes alone after García on El Tolfe.

The World Champion makes the catch just before Siena and on the steep climb onto the famous square she goes alone to win the Strade Bianche again.

Another interesting read: route Strade Bianche for women 2020.