The Trofeo Alfredo Binda, the oldest race on the current women’s calendar, was held on March 19, 2023, and Cyclingnews provided live coverage of the event. The race features several climbs that are well-suited to puncheurs, but there are also sprinters in the competition. The article provided a summary of the teams and riders, including those who dropped out and late additions. The article also mentioned the possibility of adding a women’s Milan-Sanremo race in the future. Meanwhile, the live updates during the race described the riders’ positions and notable events during the competition. The article also provided some interesting statistics on the Trofeo Binda, such as the fact that there are several former winners in the race. Finally, the article mentioned that it was a warmer day in Cittiglio than in the snowy Ronde van Drenthe the previous weekend.
Dutch cyclist Shirin van Anrooij of Trek-Segafredo took the victory at the Trofeo Alfredo Binda in Cittiglio, Italy, with an impressive solo finish of almost 25 km. This was her first win at any level as a professional cyclist on the road, and it came in a WorldTour Classic race that is one of the oldest in the calendar. Trek-Segafredo secured a 1-2 finish as Elisa Balsamo made it to the line in second place. Vittoria Guazzini from FDJ-SUEZ completed the top three.
Van Anrooij’s win came after an impressive tactical execution by Trek-Segafredo, who had missed the decisive split in the race. The young rider was not initially part of the team’s plan to stay away, but she proved to be too strong for her competitors. After the race, she expressed her surprise and joy at the win, stating that she never expected to stay away and that she thought Barzi (Elisa Balsamo) would win the sprint. Trek-Segafredo has now won this race for three consecutive years with three different riders.
The chasing group, which included riders from Team DSM, failed to close the gap on Van Anrooij, who had over 20 seconds on them towards the end of the race. Trek-Segafredo neutralized any efforts behind them by keeping Balsamo and Amanda Spratt in the group. Van Anrooij had 15 seconds to defend towards the end of the race, but with the finish being downhill or flat, she managed to secure her victory with ease.
The Women’s WorldTour continues on Thursday with the Classic Burgge-De Panne. In case you missed the Trofeo Alfredo Binda race, you can find the full report on the cyclingnews.com website.
Dutch rider Shirin van Anrooij of Trek-Segafredo is leading the race with a significant gap of 30 seconds. The final ascent to Orino will prove decisive, and it’s SD Worx who are working to bring the gap down in favor of Lorena Wiebes. However, climbers like Anna Shackley and Niamh Fisher-Black are doing the job, and it’s not an easy task. Van Anrooij’s lead is increasing, with the gap now closer to 20 seconds. Only SD Worx is taking up the chase, and they’re struggling to catch her.
The chase group includes some fast riders such as Persico, Balsamo, and Paladin, but it’s unlikely they’ll get their chance to sprint for the win. Mavi García is taking up the efforts on the front of the peloton, making the climb really hard and putting many riders in trouble. Wiebes is distanced, with Balsamo just about hanging on. Grace Brown of FDJ-SUEZ is making an attack, hoping to catch Van Anrooij, who is alone over the top of the climb.
Van Anrooij is onto the descent now, and she’ll have to use all her technical skills to stay away. The poorly paced moto has already impeded her a little. The chasing group is not organized, which plays into Van Anrooij’s hands. A DSM rider is attacking, with Niewiadoma following. Several riders have been dropped from the chasing group, including seemingly all of the SD Worx riders, except Balsamo.
The final ascent to Orino will prove decisive, and Van Anrooij has a gap of around 10 seconds. Elise Chabbey attacks as the rest of the riders in the group look at each other. It could be very touch and go, but Van Anrooij is hovering around 10 seconds ahead. García is accelerating again, and it was her efforts earlier that broke the group apart. Van Anrooij’s advantage is going back out again, with no clear team chasing in this group.
The climb is proving to be a challenge for Van Anrooij, and her lead is coming down a couple of seconds. It’s a rotation of Ghekiere, Cavalli, and García who are putting in the efforts behind. Marianne Vos has a mechanical issue, which is a shame for her first race back to end this way. García is looking strong, but the Spanish champion can’t make this catch on her own, and she’s not getting much support.
Ciabocco out front in Trofeo Alfredo Binda
Italian rider Chiara Ciabocco (Valcar-Travel & Service) has attacked the reduced peloton and has a 10-second gap as the riders head towards Orino for the second time in the race. The bunch seems to be taking a breather after a long period of attacks. It remains to be seen whether the peloton is confident the gap will come back or just conserving energy.
Small breakaway gains an advantage
Ciabocco is now being joined by Karlijn Swinkels from Jumbo-Visma. The duo has now got 15 seconds on the peloton, which is being led by FDJ-SUEZ.
Loes Adegeest (FDJ-SUEZ) is in pursuit of the leading duo, but the Dutch woman is closer to the peloton than the leaders.
Van Anrooij solos with perfect Trek-Segafredo setup
Trek-Segafredo is looking strong as Shirin van Anrooij attacks the peloton. The Dutch rider has a couple of seconds’ advantage, with Trek-Segafredo protecting Elisa Balsamo over the climb and sending one of their best puncheurs up the road.
Reduced peloton taking it easy
The peloton is crossing the finish line for the penultimate time with one 17km lap to go. The gap is around 43 seconds for the leaders, and the reduced peloton seems to be taking it easy for now.
Orino climb could shake things up
The riders are heading into the foot of Orino, which could shake up the situation once again. Trek-Segafredo is setting the pace on the climb, and the gap is coming down on the climb, down to 27 seconds now.
SD Worx is well-represented in the remaining ‘peloton’ with all five of their starters, including Lorena Wiebes.
Adegeest’s presence helping the leaders
Loes Adegeest has joined the leading pair, which now makes it three riders up the road. Adegeest’s presence is a definite help to the leaders, as the e-Sports world champion has a big engine to help this trio stay away.
The bunch has let this move go, and the gap has gone out, with the bunch now a minute behind the leaders.
Women’s WorldTour race – Trofeo Alfredo Binda: live updates
The Trofeo Alfredo Binda is a Women’s WorldTour race held in Italy, and the 2023 edition is underway. The race has a total distance of 141.8km, which is covered over four laps of a 35.5km circuit.
Small or solo move could win it for Team DSM
Team DSM does not have a sprinter in the race, so their best chance of winning would be a small or solo move. The repeated moves are putting many riders in trouble, and the group is getting smaller.
Breakaway riders
Former winners Marianne Vos and Kasia Niewiadoma are part of a seven-rider breakaway that includes Shirin van Anrooij, Mischa Bredewold, Riejanne Markus, Esmée Peperkamp, and Francesca Barale. The group has around 12 seconds of an advantage.
Climbs
The race has two climbs: Casale, which is 800m long with an average of 7%, and Orino, which is 2.6km and averages 5%. Orino has historically provided the opportunity for winning moves.
Lorena Wiebes
Lorena Wiebes, who has never won the Trofeo Alfredo Binda despite her many victories, is still in the peloton along with Elisa Balsamo.
Reduced peloton
The peloton has been reduced to around 40 riders due to the repeated attacks, and the pace is still high.
Assessment of situation
The teams are taking a minute to assess the situation, but the attacks will likely continue.
Team DSM’s Eleonora Ciabocco attacks solo
Eleonora Ciabocco from Team DSM has attacked solo and has a small gap on the peloton.
Other attacks
Liv Racing TeqFind and FDJ-SUEZ are among the teams that have initiated attacks, but FDJ has been successful in bringing them back.
Nine riders up the road
After the first climb of Orino, a group of nine riders, including Elise Chabbey and Tiffany Cromwell, got a small gap. However, the group was caught soon after by FDJ-SUEZ.
The race still has a long way to go, and with so many strong riders, anything can happen.
The first half of the race has been completed and the peloton is now on the toughest roads and climbs. The riders are nearing the top of the first passage of the Orino climb, which is expected to be challenging. Unfortunately, a crash has occurred in the bunch involving Kim Cadzow, Alena Ivanchenko, and Tamara Dronovoa. Gaia Realini, who ceded a win to Elisa Longo Borghini at the UAE Tour, has won the QoM over the top of Casale, indicating that she may be a top contender. The peloton is heading towards the start line to begin the laps, and Jumbo-Visma is working hard to control the front of the group. The riders will complete four laps, each consisting of a 17.5km loop, with both the Casale and Orino climbs included. The race is expected to heat up once the peloton hits the circuits, as the climbs come one after the other with no time for rest in between. The second intermediate sprint was won by Amber Kraak of Jumbo-Visma, and the riders are now together again as they approach the next climb.
Italian riders dominate early breakaway in the Trofeo Alfredo Binda
The 2023 Trofeo Alfredo Binda has already seen some early action, with a breakaway forming just a few kilometers into the race. Three Italian riders, namely Elena Pirrone of Israel Premier Tech Roland, Francesca Barale of Team DSM, and Giorgia Bariani of Liv Racing TeqFind, managed to break free from the peloton and quickly built up a lead of a few seconds.
Nguyễn attempts a solo chase
The peloton initially seemed content to let the trio go, but as the gap began to widen to 30 seconds, Thị Thật Nguyễn of Israel Premier Tech Roland attempted to bridge the gap with a solo attack. However, the peloton was not far behind and reabsorbed Nguyễn soon after.
First intermediate sprint
The first intermediate sprint came around the 25-kilometer mark, with Giorgia Bariani taking the win. The peloton remained hot on the heels of the breakaway, with Jumbo-Visma leading the chase.
Masciago Primo climb
The breakaway’s lead began to shrink as they approached the Masciago Primo climb, the first categorized climb of the day. The 5.1-kilometer climb with an average gradient of 4.6% is not expected to be decisive, but it is likely to put pressure on the riders.
Leading quartet forms
As the climb began, a leading quartet formed, with Gaia Realini of Trek-Segafredo, Anna Shackley of SD Worx, Kim Cadzow of Jumbo-Visma, and Pauliena Rooijakkers of Canyon-SRAM breaking away from the peloton. Realini took first place on the QoM point at the top of the climb.
Plateau and descent
After the climb, the riders had a few kilometers of plateau before a 7-kilometer descent. The breakaway’s lead remained slim, with Jumbo-Visma controlling the pace in the peloton.
Second intermediate sprint
The second intermediate sprint came around the 50-kilometer mark, with Amber Kraak of Jumbo-Visma taking the win. The peloton remained all together, with no major attacks occurring.
Up and down all the way to the line
With the circuits starting after the next climb, the riders can expect an up-and-down race all the way to the finish. The circuits consist of four laps, with each lap covering a 17.5-kilometer distance and including both the Casale and Orino climbs.
The Trofeo Alfredo Binda is known for its challenging terrain, and with some of the best riders in the world taking part, it’s sure to be an exciting race.
Women’s Strade Bianche kicks off in Italy
The Women’s Strade Bianche race has begun in Italy, and after 5 kilometers, the peloton is still together. There have been no breaks yet, but the race is expected to heat up soon. The circuits don’t start until 68 kilometers into the race, but there’s a small rise in the first 20 kilometers that could be a launchpad for a breakaway to go. The peloton may not split until the first categorised climb, which starts in 30 kilometers.
135 riders are racing today, and there are four former winners in this race: Marianne Vos, Elisa Balsamo, Kasia Niewiadoma, and Coryn Labecki. The race can come down to anything from a sizeable bunch sprint to a long solo move.
The team has not provided any information on why Kristen Faulkner did not start this morning. Faulkner crashed during Wednesday’s Nokere Koerse, and she may still be feeling the effects.
At the start this morning, Marianne Vos shared her thoughts on the race. She is part of Jumbo-Visma, which is controlling things and leading the bunch up the climb, making sure the leaders’ advantage stays slim.
There are some interesting SD Worx + Trofeo Binda stats here. The team may continue their winning streak today. It will be interesting to see how the teams race with quite a few fast finishers riding today. Teams like SD Worx and Trek-Segafredo would be better suited to keeping the race together for their sprinters, rather than trying to send an attacker up the road – especially in the absence of Lotte Kopecky and Elisa Longo Borghini.
After more than half of the race, the toughest roads (and climbs!) are ahead. The first intermediate sprint is coming up in Brissago Valtravaglia, and the first categorised climb in Masciago Primo is just over 10 kilometers away.
Women’s WorldTour: Trofeo Alfredo Binda 2023
The 7th round of the Women’s WorldTour is taking place today in Italy, and the peloton is getting ready to start the Trofeo Alfredo Binda. This is the 24th time the race has been held on the top-level women’s calendar, and it’s the oldest race on the current women’s calendar, dating back to 1974.
Biggest talking points
The Trofeo Alfredo Binda is a race that is well-suited to puncheurs, but there are quite a few sprinters lining up today. Elisa Longo Borghini is not here today after suffering from Covid, and SD Worx’s Barbara Guarischi is a late dropout. In positive news, Marta Cavalli is set to start after taking a break from racing, and Marianne Vos is also lining up again after surgery on her iliac artery.
Some big questions to be answered today include whether SD Worx can continue their winning streak and whether the Italians will flood the podium again. Cyclingnews discussed these and other important issues in their Trofeo Binda preview.
Course
The race is taking place in Maccagno, hugging the shores of Lake Maggiore before turning inland towards Cittiglio and the climbs. The first portion of the day includes a couple of climbs, but as they’re pretty far out, it will be the repeated hilly laps that should be decisive. The riders will do four laps of the 17.5km finishing circuit, which includes the climbs to Orino and Casale.
Start list
The start list for the race includes some big names, such as Elisa Balsamo, Kasia Niewiadoma, and Lorena Wiebes. Four former winners are also taking part in the race: Marianne Vos, Elisa Balsamo, Kasia Niewiadoma, and Coryn Labecki.
Junior’s race
Trofeo Binda is a rare women’s WorldTour race that also has a juniors race. The junior’s race concluded earlier today, and it was won by Great Britain’s Cat Ferguson.
Updates
Kristen Faulkner, who was recently disqualified from Strade Bianche for wearing a glucose monitor, is not racing today. This weekend could feature another women’s race in Italy, as the possibility of a women’s Milan-Sanremo has resurfaced this month. Annemiek van Vleuten is a fan of the idea – the longer the better in her view.
The weather in Cittiglio is a lot warmer than last weekend’s snowy Ronde van Drenthe, with the temperature sitting at around 15°C today. Welcome to Cyclingnews’ live coverage of Trofeo Alfredo Binda, the oldest women’s Classic. I’m Matilda, and I’ll be your guide through all the action.
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