Swiss rider Elise Chabbey seized the opportunity to substitute for her captain Demi Vollering in the Strade Bianche Women’s Race and ended up following in her footsteps to take the win.
The peloton kicked off at a brisk pace, taking up the whole width of the road. At the entrance of the first gravel sector, a massive crash involved several riders. The peloton finally came back together at km 18. Rijnbeek attacked at km 20, but was brought back at km 26. After the first hour of racing, the average speed is 37.200 km/h.
At km 75, a group of 24 riders formed at the front of the race, followed by 20 or so riders 52” behind. Chabbey and Wlodarczyk pulled away at km 84; the immediate chasers were 12” behind. At km 90, the breakaway duo were leading by 33” over the chasing group.
When leaving the gravel sector of ‘Le Tolfe’, Longo Borghini accelerated out of the chasing group, eventually bridging across to Chabbey and Wlodarczyk at km 93, and bringing Koch, Vallieres Mill, Rüegg, Pieterse, Van Anrooij, Fisher-Black, Trinca Colonel and Lippert with her at km 94. At km 114, only Chabbey and Longo Borghini remained out front; Koch, Niewiadoma, Vallieres Mill, Rüegg, Pieterse, Van Anrooij, Fisher-Black, Trinca Colonel, Lippert and Vos were trailing at 15”.
At km 120, Koch, Niewiadoma, Vallieres Mill, Rüegg, Pieterse, Van Anrooij, Lippert and Vos jumped across to Chabbey and Longo Borghini. At km 122, the leading group is down to Niewiadoma, Pieterse and Longo Borghini.
At km 127 (-6 km), Niewiadoma, Pieterse and Longo Borghini were joined by Chabbey, Koch, Vallieres Mill and Vos. At km 128 (-5 km), Trinca Colonel also bridged across to the breakaway group. Koch tried to clip off at km 129 (-4 km), but she is immediately brought back.
At the flamme rouge, Niewiadoma, Pieterse, Longo Borghini, Chabbey, Koch, Vallieres Mill, Vos and Trinca Colonel were out front, battling for victory. Chabbey, Koch, Niewiadoma and Longo Borghini attacked on the closing ascent of Santa Caterina.
It was a thrilling finale with eight riders regrouping before the final ascent to Santa Catarina street in Siena. Cahbbey and her FDJ-Suez team outnumbered the others and she was perfectly positioned by Franziska Koch before the last corner to take the win. Kasia Niewiadoma from Poland and Germany‘s Franziska Koch rounded out the podium.
2026 Strade Bianche Women’s Results
- Elise Chabbey (FDJ United – Suez) at 3h 35’42”
- Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) s.t.
- Franziska Kock (FDJ United – Suez) s.t.
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