Cycling: The Dutch have not managed to maintain their winning streak. Italy's Elisa Balsamo is the new world champion in road racing. The reigning European champion Linda Riedmann won bronze in the juniors.
Balsamo annoys the Oranje
The Dutch women have dominated road cycling for years. Today, however, the gold party is not celebrated in orange. On the 157,7 kilometer course from Antwerp to Leuven it should be for Marianne Vos in front of the Pole Katarzyna Niewiadoma only enough for the silver medal. The Italians can be happy about gold Elisa Balsam have prepared the sprint perfectly. In the last few kilometers there were repeated attacks – also from the Dutch women. But neither a soloist nor a small group was able to break away. Only in the last 500 meters did the Italians line up at the front and even tore a gap in the group. Elisa Balsamo just didn't have to compete with Marianne Vos, who was no longer able to sprint out of the slipstream of her opponent. As the best German Lisa Brennauer Ninth.
Elisa Balsamo: "I'm totally speechless. I have no words to describe this feeling. It was a dream for me. My team was so good; without them, this jersey would not be possible. After the last corner I only switched off my brain and said, 'You have to go full gas.'” # Flanders2021 pic.twitter.com/kGOpM268Vx
— Neal Rogers (@nealrogers) September 25, 2021
Linda Riedmann wins bronze after European Championship gold
European Champion Linda Riedman can also look forward to a medal at the World Championships. The 18-year-old German won bronze in the junior women's road race. Gold went to the Briton after 75 kilometers with start and finish in Leuven Zoe Backstedt, the first is 17 years old and already won the silver medal in the individual time trial a few days ago. The American Kai Schmid can be happy about silver. Both finished 57 seconds ahead of the first chasing group, of which Linda Riedmann was the fastest.
Without a doubt she is enjoying her moment of glory…and the cycling community is right there with her <3
Go Zoe! @Backstedt_Zoe 🌈
UCI World Championships #flanders2021 pic.twitter.com/TR4XgutWQq
- UCI (@UCI_cycling) September 25, 2021