On paper, the demanding course of these world championships – 2,400 m of altitude difference over 154 km including four laps of a final circuit of 27 km – fits like a glove to Demi Vollering and Lotte Kopecky, the two teammates of the SD Worx team who had already dominated the debates last year in Glasgow. In Scotland, the Belgian beat the Dutchwoman to win her first rainbow jersey.
France has nothing to lose
With the Polish Kasia Niewiadoma, winner of the Tour de France in August, Kopecky and Vollering are shaping up to be the main contenders for the world title. But several factors could disrupt the game, starting with the rain which is forecast and could make a winding course full of tricky descents dangerous. And then there is Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, one of the greatest cyclists of all time, world champion fifteen times in four different cycling disciplines (road in 2014, mountain biking, cyclo-cross and gravel), whose return is the big attraction of these World Championships.
READ ALSO. Cycling. What do we know about the accident that caused the death of Muriel Furrer?
With “PFP”, France is moving forward another notch in the hierarchy while it can already count on a very solid group, notably including three riders who finished in the top 10 of the last Tour de France with the climber Evita Muzic , 4th, Cedrine Kerbaol, 6th, and the historic leader Juliette Labous, 9th despite a Covid.
Follow the women’s road race at the Cycling Worlds ⬇️
World Championships – Women’s Road Race
In progress
Uster – Zurich (154.1 km)
- Back of the race
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Pauline Ferrand Prévot
France
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???? 56 km
Still no breakaway but a peloton that is slipping away
???? 63 km
Demi Vollering takes command of the peloton
In a slight timeout, the Dutchwoman positioned herself at the head of the peloton, before the technical parts. Juliette Labous hangs on, it’s more complicated for Évita Muzic.
???? 67 km
The runners have progressed at an average of 38 km/h since the start of the race this afternoon in Uster.
???? 70 km
The peloton returned to the leading group
While they had two riders at the front, the Dutch decided to toughen up the race within the peloton. They have therefore returned to the leading group, which benefits the Belgians and the French in particular.
???? 75 km
❌ Pauline Ferrand-Prévot is no longer part of the favorites
The Frenchwoman is part of a second group more than a minute behind the favorites. Juliette Labous, Cédrine Kerbaol and Évita Muzic are in this first peloton.
???? 78 km
2nd passage on the Zurich coast – Bergstrasse
???? 82 km
New crossing of the finish line
The runners once again pass through the streets of Zurich. There are 3 laps left to complete before the final finish. The peloton is close to the leading group.
???? 88 km
Riejanne Markus at the head of the race
Dutchwoman Riejanne Markus leads the race for the Netherlands, as does her teammate Mischa Bredewold. Demi Vollering and Marriane Vos remain warm in the peloton for the moment.
???? 94 km
That’s it for today’s escape
Caroline Baur, Sara Martín and Nina Berton were caught by the peloton before a group of 8 riders set off on a counterattack. The French did not follow.
???? 97 km
????⚪???? Marion Bunel off the hook
The young French runner was the victim of a movement at the front of the race and was unable to keep up with the pace of the peloton.
???? 104 km
“A small wall of Huy”
The runners enter the main difficulty of the day, the Zürich – Bergstrasse hill. 800 m of climb for an average of 7.1% and a passage at 17.2% which recalls the legendary Flèche Wallonne coast.
???? 108 km
The lead of the 3 leading women drops below 30”
Caroline Baur, Sara Martín and Nina Berton cross the finish line for the first time in Zurich with an estimated lead of 29 seconds over the peloton.
???? 112 km
????⚪???? The composition of the French team
Around Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Évita Muzic, Cédrine Kerbaol and Juliette Labous, respectively 4th, 6th and 9th in the last Tour de France. Léa Curinier occupies the role of road captain while Jade Wiel (24 years old) and Marion Bunel (19 years old) complete a squad which can be ambitious today.
???? 117 km
Big acceleration from Lotte Kopecky at the head of the peloton!
The reigning world champion toughens the race and shows that we will still have to count on her this afternoon in Zurich. All the favorites responded.
???? 120 km
The Netherlands favorites for the title of world champion?
With the Dutch Demi Vollering and Marianne Vos, the Netherlands seem equipped to win the world title. They will have to be wary of the reigning world champion, the Belgian Lotte Kopecky. And why not French women, led by Pauline Ferrand-Prévot.
???? 124 km
The runners enter the final circuit
They will do the 27 km loop 4 times which presents a main difficulty.
???? 128 km
Hannah Ludwig and Jazilla Mwamikazi victims of a fall
Rwandan Jazilla Mwamikazi and German Hannah Ludwig have fallen and are waiting for help from their cars on the side of the road.
???? 136 km
Switzerland, Spain and Luxembourg represented at the front
At home, the Swiss Caroline Baur escaped from the first kilometers. She is accompanied by the Spaniard Sara Martín and the Luxembourger Nina Berton.
???? 143 km
????️ Conditions are very difficult today
The rain continues to fall on the runners. A fall has already occurred within the peloton, involving the Afghan Yulduz Hashimi (24 years old). We will have to be careful this afternoon in Switzerland.
???? 147 km
The runners observed a minute of silence at the starting line
After the death of the Swiss Muriel Furrer, which occurred after her fall during the road race of the junior world championships, the runners observed a very moving minute of silence on the starting line.
???? 150 km
3 runners start at the front
???? 154 km
The start has been given!
The runners set off from Uster, in the rain.
12h40
????⚪???? Olympic mountain bike champion, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, candidate for victory?
Olympic mountain bike champion this summer in Paris, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot is launching a new challenge on the road. The Frenchwoman is a credible candidate for the title of world champion. She will have a lot to do with the Belgian Lotte Kopecky and the Dutch Demi Vollering in particular.
12h28
???? We present to you the challenges of the weekend ????
Program, route, favorites, we present to you the challenges of the weekend in Zurich.
12h13
????Departure at 12:45 p.m.!
The women’s road race will start from Uster at 12:45 p.m. The runners will cover 154.1 km and 2,384 m of elevation gain to reach the finish in Zurich.
12h06
Welcome to this live. We will follow the women’s road race at the World Cycling Championships live in Zurich (Switzerland).
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