Vos solos to second road world championship

The stage was set and Marianne Vos (Netherlands) didn't disappoint as she romped to victory in the women's road race at the world championships on home roads in Valkenburg.

After a remarkable and frustrating run of five successive silver medals, Vos ended her Worlds hoodoo in considerable style by attacking on the final climb of the Cauberg to win by 10 seconds from Rachel Neylan (Australia), while Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy) came home a further 8 seconds back in third.

It was Vos' first world road title since she took the rainbow jersey as a neo-professional in Salzburg in 2006. In the intervening period, the 25-year-old has asserted her pre-eminence as the outstanding rider of her generation across a variety of disciplines, but had repeatedly fallen just short on the set-piece occasion.

In winning a thrilling road race at the London 2012 Olympics in August, however, Vos had perhaps already shaken off her fear of events, and even before she took flight on the Cauberg, there was an air of inevitability about her win.

"I knew how having the jersey felt from a long time ago, but I almost forgot after 2006," a delighted Vos said afterwards. "But this year has been very special, after the Olympics I focused really hard on this. I felt good and knew I had to profit from that."

The climb of the Cauberg was a heaving cavern of orange-clad supporters on Saturday afternoon, and Vos was always likely to forge her win on its slopes. Indeed, such was her comfort on the climb that she used it no fewer than three times as a platform to dictate the outcome of the race.

With just over two laps to go, Vos found herself corralled in the main peloton, 30 seconds behind a leading group that contained Rossella Ratto (Italy), Amber Neben (USA), Neylan (Australia), Charlotte Becker (Germany) and Vos' fellow countrywoman Anna Van der Breggen.

Sensing that the race for the rainbow jersey was in danger of unfolding without her, Vos simply took matters into her own hands, darting clear of the peloton on the Cauberg with only Longo Borghini for company. The Italo-Dutch pairing made the juncture with the leaders shortly afterwards, and with that firepower added to the mix there was little chance that they would be reeled back.

On the penultimate time up the Cauberg, Vos decided to unfurl another attack. Though lacking the ferocity of her move on the previous lap, the acceleration had the desired effect as Vos whittled down the leading group and issued a stark warning as to how the rest of the afternoon would unfold.

Only Longo Borghini and then Neylan could initially respond, while Van der Breggen and Neben would latch back on a kilometre later, but even at this stage there was a sense that the die had already been cast. Both Vos and Van der Breggen were particularly vigorous in their turns at the front of the winning break, and their intention must surely have been to draw the sting out of the rivals rather than keep their distance ahead of a peloton that was already over two minutes behind.

At the final reckoning up the Cauberg, the impressions of the previous time up the climb were confirmed. Just as the road kicked up its steepest point, Vos accelerated with venom and her move scattered the group across the hillside. Neylan edged away from Longo Borghini, while Neben and Van der Breggen watched their medal hopes slowly recede.

Up ahead, Vos was all but dancing up the Cauberg, pulling further and further away with every pedal stroke. The false flat over the top had proved fatal to the late attackers in the under-23 race in the morning, but Vos was operating on another plane.

As Vos zoomed up the finishing straight, she even had time to snatch a Dutch flag from a supporter on the roadside and freewheel across the line. After six long years, an aberration was finally put to rights.

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Full Results
1Marianne Vos (Netherlands)3:14:29
2Rachel Neylan (Australia)0:00:10
3Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy)0:00:18
4Amber Neben (United States of America)0:00:33
5Anna Van Der Breggen (Netherlands)0:00:55
6Rossella Ratto (Italy)0:03:40
7Linda Villumsen (New Zealand)0:04:37
8Judith Arndt (Germany)Row 7 - Cell 2
9Emma Johansson (Sweden)Row 8 - Cell 2
10Paulina Brzezna-Bentkowska (Poland)Row 9 - Cell 2
11Annemiek Van Vleuten (Netherlands)Row 10 - Cell 2
12Ashleigh Moolman (South Africa)Row 11 - Cell 2
13Joelle Numainville (Canada)Row 12 - Cell 2
14Alena Amialiusik (Belarus)Row 13 - Cell 2
15Emma Pooley (Great Britain)Row 14 - Cell 2
16Evelyn Stevens (United States of America)Row 15 - Cell 2
17Jessie Daams (Belgium)Row 16 - Cell 2
18Liesbet De Vocht (Belgium)Row 17 - Cell 2
19Hanka Kupfernagel (Germany)0:04:49
20Giorgia Bronzini (Italy)Row 19 - Cell 2
21Leah Kirchmann (Canada)Row 20 - Cell 2
22Inga Cilvinaite (Lithuania)Row 21 - Cell 2
23Ceclie Gotaas Johnsen (Norway)Row 22 - Cell 2
24Oxana Kozonchuk (Russian Federation)Row 23 - Cell 2
25Yevgeniya Vysotska (Ukraine)Row 24 - Cell 2
26Ivanna Borovichenko (Ukraine)Row 25 - Cell 2
27Larisa Pankova (Russian Federation)Row 26 - Cell 2
28Anna Sanchis Chafer (Spain)Row 27 - Cell 2
29Carmen Small (United States of America)Row 28 - Cell 2
30Karol-Ann Canuel (Canada)Row 29 - Cell 2
31Tiffany Cromwell (Australia)0:04:52
32Tatiana Antoshina (Russian Federation)0:04:54
33Megan Guarnier (United States of America)Row 32 - Cell 2
34Charlotte Becker (Germany)Row 33 - Cell 2
35Eneritz Iturriagaechevarria Mazaga (Spain)0:04:58
36Clemilda Fernandes Silva (Brazil)Row 35 - Cell 2
37Edwige Pitel (France)Row 36 - Cell 2
38Elena Cecchini (Italy)Row 37 - Cell 2
39Sharon Laws (Great Britain)Row 38 - Cell 2
40Sofie De Vuyst (Belgium)Row 39 - Cell 2
41Kelly Druyts (Belgium)Row 40 - Cell 2
42Martina Ruzickova (Czech Republic)Row 41 - Cell 2
43Annelies Van Doorslaer (Belgium)Row 42 - Cell 2
44Kristin McGrath (United States of America)Row 43 - Cell 2
45Claudia Hausler (Germany)Row 44 - Cell 2
46Aleksandra Burchenkova (Russian Federation)Row 45 - Cell 2
47Pauline Ferrand Prevot (France)0:05:03
48Lucinda Brand (Netherlands)Row 47 - Cell 2
49Olena Sharga (Ukraine)Row 48 - Cell 2
50Cherise Taylor (South Africa)Row 49 - Cell 2
51Lise Nostvold (Norway)Row 50 - Cell 2
52Malgorzta Jasinska (Poland)Row 51 - Cell 2
53Shara Gillow (Australia)Row 52 - Cell 2
54Ane Santesteban Gonzalez (Spain)Row 53 - Cell 2
55Amelie Rivat (France)Row 54 - Cell 2
56Katazina Sosna (Lithuania)Row 55 - Cell 2
57Trixi Worrack (Germany)Row 56 - Cell 2
58Andrea Dvorak (United States of America)Row 57 - Cell 2
59Olivia Dillon (Ireland)0:05:39
60Nicole Cooke (Great Britain)Row 59 - Cell 2
61Petra Zrimsek (Slovenia)Row 60 - Cell 2
62Jennifer Hohl (Switzerland)Row 61 - Cell 2
63Edita Janeliunaite (Lithuania)Row 62 - Cell 2
64Francesca Cauz (Italy)Row 63 - Cell 2
65Claudia Veronica Leal Balderas (Mexico)Row 64 - Cell 2
66Nikki Harris (Great Britain)Row 65 - Cell 2
67Veronique Labonte (Canada)Row 66 - Cell 2
68Amanda Spratt (Australia)Row 67 - Cell 2
69Adrie Visser (Netherlands)0:05:41
70Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Germany)Row 69 - Cell 2
71Jessie MacLean (Australia)0:06:04
72Gracie Elvin (Australia)Row 71 - Cell 2
73Marta Tagliaferro (Italy)Row 72 - Cell 2
74Noemi Cantele (Italy)Row 73 - Cell 2
75Hanna Nilsson (Sweden)Row 74 - Cell 2
76Evelyn Arys (Belgium)Row 75 - Cell 2
77Kirsten Wild (Netherlands)Row 76 - Cell 2
78Sandrine Bideau (France)0:06:22
79Tatiana Guderzo (Italy)0:07:01
80Lilibeth Chacon Garcia (Venezuela)0:08:24
HDLex Albrecht (Canada)Row 80 - Cell 2
HDMiriam Bjørnsrud (Norway)Row 81 - Cell 2
DNFRomy Kasper (Germany)Row 82 - Cell 2
DNFLoren Rowney (Australia)Row 83 - Cell 2
DNFSiobhan Horgan (Ireland)Row 84 - Cell 2
DNFAleksandra Sosenko (Lithuania)Row 85 - Cell 2
DNFSerika Guluma Ortiz (Colombia)Row 86 - Cell 2
DNFDoris Schweizer (Switzerland)Row 87 - Cell 2
DNFDaniela Pintarelli (Austria)Row 88 - Cell 2
DNFLise Olivier (South Africa)Row 89 - Cell 2
DNFAlexandra Chekina (Russian Federation)Row 90 - Cell 2
DNFMartina Ritter (Austria)Row 91 - Cell 2
DNFMayuko Hagiwara (Japan)Row 92 - Cell 2
DNFMaria Briceno (Venezuela)Row 93 - Cell 2
DNFRimma Luchshenko (Kazakhstan)Row 94 - Cell 2
DNFAudrey Cordon (France)Row 95 - Cell 2
DNFSara Mustonen (Sweden)Row 96 - Cell 2
DNFJessica Kihlbom (Sweden)Row 97 - Cell 2
DNFPatricia Schwager (Switzerland)Row 98 - Cell 2
DNFSophie Creux (France)Row 99 - Cell 2
DNFJoanna Van De Winkel (South Africa)Row 100 - Cell 2
DNFKatie Colclough (Great Britain)Row 101 - Cell 2
DNFShelley Olds (United States of America)Row 102 - Cell 2
DNFEmilia Fahlin (Sweden)Row 103 - Cell 2
DNFEllen Van Dijk (Netherlands)Row 104 - Cell 2
DNFLoes Gunnewijk (Netherlands)Row 105 - Cell 2
DNFEmily Collins (New Zealand)Row 106 - Cell 2
DNFEugenia Bujak (Poland)Row 107 - Cell 2
DNFOlena Pavlukhina (Ukraine)Row 108 - Cell 2
DNFAnna Nahirna (Ukraine)Row 109 - Cell 2
DNFSemra Yetis (Turkey)Row 110 - Cell 2
DNFRotem Gafinovitz (Israel)Row 111 - Cell 2
DNFMia Radotic (Croatia)Row 112 - Cell 2
DNFMayra Del Rocio Rocha (Mexico)Row 113 - Cell 2
DNFKathryn Bertine (Saint Kitts and Nevis)Row 114 - Cell 2
DNFKaat Hannes (Belgium)Row 115 - Cell 2
DNFRobyn De Groot (South Africa)Row 116 - Cell 2
DNFAn-Li Pretorius (South Africa)Row 117 - Cell 2
DNFSari Saarelainen (Finland)Row 118 - Cell 2
DNFPolona Batagelj (Slovenia)Row 119 - Cell 2
DNFRoberta Monaldini (San Marino)Row 120 - Cell 2
DNFIsabelle Soderberg (Sweden)Row 121 - Cell 2
DNFLenore Pipes (Guam)Row 122 - Cell 2
DNFJulia Martisova (Russian Federation)Row 123 - Cell 2
DNFAndrea Graus (Austria)Row 124 - Cell 2
DNFYennifer Cesar (Venezuela)Row 125 - Cell 2
DNFEmma Crum (New Zealand)Row 126 - Cell 2
DNFKate Chilcott (New Zealand)Row 127 - Cell 2
DNFMartina Sablikova (Czech Republic)Row 128 - Cell 2
DNFAgne Silinyte (Lithuania)Row 129 - Cell 2
DNFUrsa Pintar (Slovenia)Row 130 - Cell 2
DNFPavlina Sulcova (Czech Republic)Row 131 - Cell 2

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Barry Ryan
Head of Features

Barry Ryan is Head of Features at Cyclingnews. He has covered professional cycling since 2010, reporting from the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and events from Argentina to Japan. His writing has appeared in The Independent, Procycling and Cycling Plus. He is the author of The Ascent: Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche and the Rise of Irish Cycling’s Golden Generation, published by Gill Books.

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