KEY MOMENTS

San Martino

While there is a battle for each of the sectors it is the 9.5km sector at San Martino in Grania, which comes after 67.9km in the women’s race (111.7km for the men), that is key.

“You need to take it really fast and before it you need to be in position,” explains van Vleuten. “Last year I had the feeling we were going through a war; you go with a group of crazy girls all super fresh to hit that gravel first because you know there is more risk at the back. If you have bad luck you are out of the race.”

Le Tolfe

The final three gravel sectors, of which Le Tolfe is the last, all come within 12km of each other and though they are short they are all steep. It is here that Anna van der Breggen (Sdworx) attacked to win solo in 2018 and where van Vleuten did the same the following year. With gradients in the mid-teens a selection is always made here, making the closing 12.5km to the line one of the most frantic and dynamic finals in the sport.

Via Santa Caterina

If a group comes into the city together the 16 per cent ascent of Via Santa Caterina will decide the winner. “Last year I had to drop Mavi García because she was still with me. I had to go so deep to take the opportunity. It’s super tough because your legs are exploding,” says van Vleuten. Never has the woman who led around the corner at the top failed to win.

“Positioning is the most important thing, more than in Flanders,” van Vleuten tells us. “At Flanders I am more in control, this is more about luck and more risks. This is more special, a special race.”