World Cycling Championships 2018 Innsbruck, Austria: Favourites Road Race – women
Who is the most likely new World road champion? Statistics probably would point to a Dutch rider. Which makes sense, the orange squad is an impressive powerhouse. Anybody able to challenge the Dutch and win the women's road race at the Worlds in Innsbruck?
The Dutch are as dominant as ever in women’s cycling, so all eyes will be on orange squad. Anna van der Breggen and Annemiek van Vleuten stand out, as they are the best climbers of the team. This could also raise problem – who will be the leader? Usually, they race for different teams, but now they have to work together. Being 35 years of age and with a route that matches her talents, the road race in Innsbruck is possibly Van Vleuten’s last chance to ride into the rainbow bands. Yet, Van der Breggen definitely does not intend to efface herself. The World Championships road race has been her major goal once the route was published. Even to an extent that she skipped the Giro Rosa, which is the most important multi-day stage race for women. Instead she opted to prepare for the Worlds.
At 156.2 kilometres, the course of the women’s road race in Innsbruck features 2,413 vertical metres. The race ends with three 23.9 kilometres laps on a circuit with a 7.9 kilometres climb at 5.7% standing out. Following the last passage over the top it is still 13.5 kilometres out. Firstly a 7.5 kilometres drop down and then a flat 6 kilometeres run-in to the line.
In the hilly races of 2018 Van der Breggen and Van Vleuten were head and shoulders above their rivals. Van der Breggen won Strade Bianche, La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, while Van Vleuten took the Giro Rosa and La Course. Amanda Spratt, Van Vleuten’s team mate at Mitchelton-Scott, bested the two Dutch powerhouses in Emakumeen Bira, a four-day stage race in the Basque Country.
The route of last July’s La Course was similar to the Worlds’ road race. At 112.5 kilometres, the event in the French Alps featured 2,139 vertical metres. It came down to the last climb, Col de la Colombière. Anna van der Breggen, Annemiek van Vleuten and Ashleigh Moolman were the only contenders left when Van der Breggen attacked 1 kilometre before the top. She crested with the two chasers within 10 seconds, but while descending Moolman was distanced and Van Vleuten kept pushing. The drop down continued for some 10 kilometres with a gap of 5 to 10 seconds. On the false flat to the line Van Vleuten mustered all her strengths for the final ordeal and dramatically snatched victory in the final few metres.
Favourites World Championships Road Race women
*** Anna van der Breggen, Annemiek van Vleuten
** Amanda Spratt, Elisa Longo Borghini, Ashleigh Moolman
* Megan Guarnier, Katarzyna Niewiadoma, Eider Merino
Watch the highlights of recent races here:
Related articles Route road race - men - World Cycling Championships 2018 Innsbruck, Austria Riders Road Race - men - World Cycling Championships 2018 Innsbruck, Austria Favourites Road Race – men - World Cycling Championships 2018 Innsbruck, Austria Anna van der Breggen blows competition away - World Cycling Championships 2018 Innsbruck, Austria Rohan Dennis power to his first ITT world title - World Cycling Championships 2018 Innsbruck, Austria Route ITT – men - World Cycling Championships 2018 Innsbruck, Austria Start times ITT – men - World Cycling Championships 2018 Innsbruck, Austria Riders ITT – men - World Cycling Championships 2018 Innsbruck, Austria Favourites ITT – men - World Cycling Championships 2018 Innsbruck, Austria Annemiek van Vleuten defends title with commanding victory - World Cycling Championships 2018 Innsbruck, Austria Route ITT – women - World Cycling Championships 2018 Innsbruck, Austria Start times ITT – women - World Cycling Championships 2018 Innsbruck, Austria Riders ITT – women - World Cycling Championships 2018 Innsbruck, Austria Favourites ITT – women - World Cycling Championships 2018 Innsbruck, Austria Quick-Step Floors storms to world title - World Cycling Championships 2018 Innsbruck, Austria Route TTT - men - World Cycling Championships 2018 Innsbruck, Austria Start times TTT – men - World Cycling Championships 2018 Innsbruck, Austria More articles Summer Olympics 2024 Paris: Route ITT (m/w)
Summer Olympics 2024 Paris: Start list + times ITT – men
Summer Olympics 2024 Paris: Start list + times ITT – women
Summer Olympics 2024 Paris: Route road race – men
Summer Olympics 2024 Paris: Riders road race – men
Summer Olympics 2024 Paris: Route road race – women
Summer Olympics 2024 Paris: Riders road race – women
Clásica de San Sebastián 2024: The Route
Tour de France Femmes 2024: The Route
Tour de France Femmes 2024 Route stage 1: Rotterdam - The Hague
Tour de France Femmes 2024 Route stage 2: Dordrecht - Rotterdam
Tour de France Femmes 2024 Route stage 3: Rotterdam ITT
Tour de France Femmes 2024 Route stage 4: Valkenburg - Liège
Tour de France Femmes 2024 Route stage 5: Bastogne - Amnéville
Tour de France Femmes 2024 Route stage 6: Remiremont - Morteau
Tour de France Femmes 2024 Route stage 7: Champagnole - Grand-Bornand
Tour de France Femmes 2024 Route stage 8: Grand-Bornand - Alpe d'Huez
Vuelta 2024: The Route
Vuelta 2024: Riders
Vuelta 2024 Route stage 1: Lisbon - Oeiras
Vuelta 2024 Route stage 2: Cascais - Ourém
Vuelta 2024 Route stage 3: Lousã - Castelo Branco
Vuelta 2024 Route stage 4: Plasencia - Pico Pitolero
Vuelta 2024 Route stage 5: Fuente del Maestre - Seville
Vuelta 2024 Route stage 6: Jerez de la Frontera - Yunquera
Vuelta 2024 Route stage 7: Archidona – Córdoba
Cycling Calendar 2024
Tour de France 2024: Withdrawals
Like our Facebook page and stay on top of all pro-race information!