The women’s road race at the upcoming UCI Road World Championships looks set to be an attacking, attrition-fest that favours punchy riders.
The first test, Mount Keira comes with 42km passed as the race heads south from the start in Helensburgh. If it’s raced full gas, its 5% average gradient over 8.7 kilometres could shatter the race early.
The bunch heads south from Helensburgh, hugging the dramatic Pacific coast. The first test, Mount Keira, comes 42km into the racing after the peloton first passes through Wollongong and onto a single circuit of the 34.2km loop that takes the race back up to the Illawarra escarpment. If it’s raced full gas, its 5% average gradient over 8.7 kilometres could shatter the race early.
Next there are six circuits around Wollongong, with the climb of Mount Pleasant the centrepiece. In all, there are an estimated 2,433 metres of climbing and the 164.3km route will be the longest in the event’s history.
The Dutch will line up on September 24 as favourites, given their incomparable strength in depth. Almost every rider in their eight-woman line-up could legitimately challenge for the win.
However, Italian Elisa Balsamo is the defending champion, after breaking their four-year winning streak in Belgium last year, following the wins Annemiek Van Vleuten (2019), Anna van der Breggen (2018 and 2020) and Chantal van den Broek-Blaak (2017).
Who joins the likes of Van Vleuten, Marianne Vos and Demi Vollering as contenders for the hallowed rainbow jersey? Cyclingnews takes a look at ten riders to watch for the elite women’s road race in Australia.
Her power, experience and stamina make her a threat no matter what the course. For this one that suits her, Van Vleuten will be especially motivated to add a second elite road rainbow jersey to her collection. This is her penultimate chance too, with retirement pencilled in for the end of 2023.
The form is undeniably there: the 39-year-old has been the rider of the season, with victories at the Tour de France Femmes, Giro d’Italia Donne, Ceratizit Challenge by la Vuelta, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad this year. Her rivals will be on the lookout for an attack from her, but will they be able to do anything about it?
The world title Van Vleuten took in Yorkshire 2019 was a show of strength, going on a solo attack for 105 kilometres after…
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