Let’s close our photo album of the 2021 Strade Bianche Women Élite with this beautiful shot of the final podium, portraying the world champion Anna van der Breggen, the Italian champion Elisa Longo Borghini, and the winner, Chantal van den Broek-Blaak.
After attacking, chasing and hunting down each other for 136 kilometres, over 8 gravel road sectors, they finally entered the Piazza del Campo in Siena.
Van der Breggen worked flawlessly to protect her teammate in the breakaway, while keeping enough focus to beat the other pursuers in a dash to the line for third place.
Longo Borghini was the quickest to respond to what proved to be the decisive attack. She ground away until the end, only to give up in the last few metres, and finishing prominently in second.
Van den Broek-Blaak attacked, unexpectedly and audaciously, at 6 kilometres out. She fought for it, confidently. On the steep Via Santa Caterina, just when it looked as if victory was slipping away, she managed to stay strong and she jumped away, taking her first Strade Bianche Women Élite on a memorable day.
