World Cycling Championships 2021 Flanders: Balsamo outsprints Vos in road race

fotobureau Cor VosElisa Balsamo sprints to victory in the road race of World Championships in Flanders. She outguns Marianne Vos on the line, while Kasia Niewiadoma finishes in third. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results women's road race Worlds 2021
1. Elisa Balsamo (ita)
2. Marianne Vos (nld) s.t.
3. Kasia Niewiadoma (pol) + 0.01
4. Kata Blanka Vas (hun) s.t.
5. Arlenis Sierra (cub) s.t.
6. Alison Jackson (can) s.t.
7. Demi Vollering (nld) s.t.
8. Cecilie Ludwig Uttrup (den) s.t.
9. Lisa Brennauer (ger) s.t.
10. Coryn Rivera (usa) s.t.

Race report
Urška Bravec is the most active rider in the opening of the race, but Michaela Drummond is the first rider to open a proper gap. She jumps clear just after the first run on the Leuven circuit to put 45 seconds into the peloton.

Just before entering the Flandrien circuit Drummond drops back into the peloton.

The second ascent of the Smeysberg decimates the peloton before several riders make it back to the front.

Finally, the road race heats up. Attacks galore on the way back to Leuven, but no break.

Aude Biannic escapes with two laps to go. Marlen Reusser brings her back on the Keyzersberg with the favourites in her wheel.

Mavi García is next and she opens up a 30 seconds gap, which is halved when she enters the last lap before she is caught one the last ascent of the Keyzersberg.

Marianne Vos, Ellen van Dijk, Elisa Longo Borghini, Alison Jackson and Kasia Niewiadoma jump clear at the Wijnpers before some riders bridge across.

Longo Borghini leads-out voor Elisa Balsamo and Vos jumps to her wheel. Nobody follows the move, so it will be Vos or Balsamo. The three time World Champion misses the final punch to kick for the win. So the 23-year old Balsamo wins the rainbow jersey ahead of Vos, while Niewiadoma sprints to third place.

Other interesting reads: route women's road race at the 2021 Worlds in Flanders.