Strade Bianche Donne 2023: Vollering crowns SD Worx powerplay

foto: Cor VosTeam mates Demi Vollering and Lotte Kopecky catch attacker Kristen Faulkner inside the last 600 metres before it comes down to a two-up sprint. Vollering takes the win with a decisive jump to the line. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 2023 Strade Bianche Donne

1. Demi Vollering (nld)
2. Lotte Kopecky (bel) s.t.
~~3. Kristen Faulkner (usa) + 0.18~~
3. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (den) + 2.01
4. Annemiek van Vleuten (nld) s.t.
5. Puck Pieterse (nld) + 2.15
6. Kasia Niewiadoma (pol) + 2.16
7. Liane Lippert (ger) + 2.27
8. Riejanne Markus (nld) + 2.36
9. Pfeiffer Georgi (gbr) + 2.39
10. Floortje Mackaij (nld) + 2.41

Race report
The peloton remains bunched untill halfway and then Zanardi, Coston, Blanco and Vigilia give it a go. The four are caught on the San Martino in Grania sector.

Swinkels attacks when the riders are back on asphalt, while Faulkner tracks her down with almost 40 kilometres to go. After 8 kilometres together the American continues on her own and she opens a gap of almost 2 minutes.

The gap has fallen to 1.35 minutes on sterrato 7 when Vollering strikes from a group with Kopecky, Uttrup Ludwig, Pieterse, Niewiadoma, Lippert and Van Vleuten.

Kopeckey joins her team mate Vollering on the El Tolfe climb with a powerful effort. They reach the village 1 minute after Faulkner.

The SD Worx duo makes the catch inside the final 600 metres before Vollering outguns Kopecky in a photo finish sprint.

Faulkner comes home in third place, but ten days later she is disqualified for wearing a blood glucose monitoring device during the race.

Another interesting read: route and start list 2023 Strade Bianche Donne.