Unstoppable Lizzie Deignan solos to history at Paris-Roubaix Femmes – VeloNews

Unstoppable Lizzie Deignan solos to history at Paris-Roubaix Femmes – VeloNews
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ROUBAIX, France (VN) — Lizzie Deignan (Trek-Segafredo) stormed into the history books Saturday with a picture-perfect race to win the inaugural Paris-Roubaix Femmes.

The British star attacked on the first cobbles, and never looked back.

The 2015 world champion dropped the hammer with more than 80km to go, stayed upright, and avoided traffic to finish alone in the photo in cycling’s most famous velodrome.

“I feel so incredibly proud,” Deignan said. “The athletes proved today we can do one of the hardest races of the world, and I am so proud I am the first winner of one of the hardest races of the world.”

Marianne Vos (Jumbo Visma) put up a brave fight, opening up a late attack on the Carrefour de l’Arbre sector, but could not bring back the Brit.

Vos hit second, with Elisa Longo Borghini finishing third to give Trek-Segafredo two of three spots on the final podium.

Nerves, emotions riding high at start

Nerves and emotions were riding high at the start for the historic first edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes, even more so following overnight rain that left some sectors covered in mud.

Some 129 riders started in Deinan, and after 34km of three laps of a paved circuit, the main pack sprinted onto the first major sector of cobbles with 85km to go.

Also read: Review all the action in the Paris-Roubaix Femmes live updates

Deignan opened up a gap north of one minute after the opening sectors as the main bunch fractured under crashes, punctures and the general chaos that comes with racing on the cobbles.

“That really wasn’t the plan,” Deignan said. “The plan was to be at the front on the first cobbles, and I looked behind me, and there was no one there. So I just kept going.”

Overnight rain left some pavé sectors slicker than ice, and several riders, including newly minted world champion Elisa Balsamo, were sent clattering to the ground.

Deignan did not relent and steered clear of danger when a seven-rider group formed following some flares from Marianne Vos.

Vos gives chase, but too late

Conditions worsened as the race unfolded. Overnight rain turned the already treacherous cobbles into an extra challenge, and light rain fell in the final hour of racing.

Vos led a concerted chase with 35km to go, and a group of chasing seven formed to keep Deignan on a leash of just more than two minutes.

Vos decided it was too late to wait, and jumped ahead of the Carrefour de l’Arbre sector with 20km to go, and it was a smart move. A few riders crashed out of the chase group behind her, including Ellen van Dijk,

Vos trimmed the gap to nearly a minute, but Deignan turned on her TT motor once she cleared the Carrefour. Longo Borghini survived the bedlam to give chase in Vos’s wake.

The closing kilometers was a pursuit race between the two titans of women’s racing. Deignan — alone at the front all day — was alone at the finish line.

History was made Saturday with an exclamation point.

Paris-Roubaix Femmes Results

Stage
Rank Name Team Time
1 DEIGNAN Elizabeth Trek-Segafredo Women 2:56:07
2 VOS Marianne Team Jumbo-Visma Women 1:17
3 LONGO BORGHINI Elisa Trek-Segafredo Women 1:47
4 BRENNAUER Lisa Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling 1:51
5 BASTIANELLI Marta Alé BTC Ljubljana 2:10
6 NORSGAARD Emma Movistar Team 2:10
7 KOCH Franziska Team DSM 2:10
8 CORDON-RAGOT Audrey Trek-Segafredo Women 2:10
9 CAVALLI Marta FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope 2:10
10 VAN DEN BROEK-BLAAK Chantal SD Worx 2:10
11 MAJERUS Christine SD Worx 3:03
12 THOMAS Leah Movistar Team 3:03
13 VAN ‘T GELOOF Marjolein Drops – Le Col s/b TEMPUR. 3:03
14 PIETERS Amy SD Worx 4:26
15 KOPECKY Lotte Liv Racing 4:33
16 LUDWIG Cecilie Uttrup FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope 4:33
17 BEEKHUIS Teuntje Team Jumbo-Visma Women 4:36
18 KASPER Romy Team Jumbo-Visma Women 4:41
19 MARTINS Maria Drops – Le Col s/b TEMPUR. 5:55
20 JOUNIER Lucie Arkéa Pro Cycling Team 5:55
21 BIANNIC Aude Movistar Team 6:04
22 CONFALONIERI Maria Giulia Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling 6:20
23 ROY Sarah Team BikeExchange 6:20
24 JACKSON Alison Liv Racing 6:20
25 CECCHINI Elena SD Worx 6:24
26 BARNES Alice Canyon SRAM Racing 6:24
27 DUVAL Eugénie FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope 6:28
28 HENDERSON Anna Team Jumbo-Visma Women 6:37
29 CROMWELL Tiffany Canyon SRAM Racing 7:59
30 CONSONNI Chiara Valcar – Travel & Service 8:27
31 RIJNBEEK Maud NXTG Racing 8:27
32 VAN DIJK Ellen Trek-Segafredo Women 8:32
33 MACKAIJ Floortje Team DSM 8:35
34 MARKUS Riejanne Team Jumbo-Visma Women 8:57
35 VAN DER HULST Amber Parkhotel Valkenburg 9:04
36 LACH Marta Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling 9:04
37 BOSSUYT Shari NXTG Racing 9:08
38 LE NET Marie FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope 9:25
39 MARKUS Femke Parkhotel Valkenburg 9:43
40 BRAAM Danique Lotto Soudal Ladies 9:53
41 WIEL Jade FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope 9:55
42 VANDENBULCKE Jesse Lotto Soudal Ladies 9:55
43 BUJAK Eugenia Alé BTC Ljubljana 9:55
44 KESSLER Nina Team TIBCO – SVB 9:55
45 SMULDERS Silke Lotto Soudal Ladies 9:59
46 GUTIÉRREZ Sheyla Movistar Team 11:32
47 PENTON Sara Drops – Le Col s/b TEMPUR. 11:38
48 STEIGENGA Nicole Doltcini- Van Eyck – Proximus Continental Team 11:39
49 GUARISCHI Barbara Movistar Team 11:41
50 CHABBEY Elise Canyon SRAM Racing 11:41
51 VIGIE Margaux Valcar – Travel & Service 11:41
52 HANSON Lauretta Trek-Segafredo Women 11:41
53 UNEKEN Lonneke SD Worx 12:00
54 DE ZOETE Mylene NXTG Racing 12:00
55 VERHULST Gladys Arkéa Pro Cycling Team 12:00
56 DEMEY Valerie Liv Racing 12:00
57 BALSAMO Elisa Valcar – Travel & Service 12:00
58 GEORGI Pfeiffer Team DSM 12:00
59 BARNES Hannah Canyon SRAM Racing 13:30
60 GROSSETÊTE Maëlle FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope 13:35
61 PARKINSON Abby-Mae Lotto Soudal Ladies 13:49

Results provided by ProCyclingStats.

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