‘Incredible’ Anna powers to rare double win at worlds
IMOLA: Dutch rider Anna van der Breggen on Saturday capped a stellar season by winning the women’s road race world title after claiming timetrial gold in Imola two days ago.
The reigning Olympic champion attacked 40km from the finish line, beating compatriot Annemiek van Vleuten and Italian Elisa Longo Borghini, in a photo-finish 1min 20sec behind the winner.
The 30-yearold Dutchwoman becomes the first woman to achieve the double in the same year since the French rider Jeannie Longo in 1995.
“It’s incredible,” said Anna following her third victory in a week after the time-trial and the women’s Giro d’Italia last Saturday under the jersey of her new team Boels-Dolmans.
“It was a really hard race, we were fighting from the beginning. The climbs were really tough.
“In the fourth lap, I felt strong and I just went for it.
“I never expected this. This season is pretty good for me so far.”
Anna dominated the race to reclaim the title she won in 2018 ahead of last year’s winner Annemiek, after the 143km run through the sunny hills of Romagna.
The peloton left the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola but was quickly cut to 100 riders following tough climbs up Mazzolano and Cima Gallisterna.
Annemiek, who was competing with a fractured left wrist which she hurt just nine days ago in the Giro d’Italia, narrowly edged Italian Longo Borghini, who again settled for bronze after 2012.
“It was probably my last world championships in which I had a chance to win,” said Anna.
Since winning the Dutch national title on Aug 22, Anna, a qualified nurse before turning professional in 2012, has been unstoppable.
She has been going from strength to strength winning the European time-trial title, the Giro, capping her season with the world double.
Defending champion Annemiek could not believe she was on the podium with a broken wrist.
“I’m grateful to the doctors who helped me defend my title,” said the 37-year-old.