Vos repeats as women's road race world champion

Her rivals lined up to ask questions of her in the finale of the elite women's world championships road race, but Marianne Vos (Netherlands) provided an emphatic answer with a clinical attack the last time up the climb of Via Salviati.

Vos had a lead of just five seconds over Emma Johansson (Sweden) and Rosella Ratto (Italy) when she crested the summit with 3.5 kilometres to go, but that was all she needed to claim her second successive world road race title, and her third in total.

The Dutchwoman showed strength and poise to fend off the pursuers through the streets of Florence, and had time to savour her victory as she crossed the line, while Johansson out-sprinted Ratto for second place 15 seconds later.

"Of course it's great to defend the title. They say always it's hard to win one, but to do it two in a row it's even more difficult," Vos said. "It was especially with such strong competition, the Italians were very strong today, they made it a tough race."

It was perhaps the manner of Vos' single attack, rather than her margin at the top of the final climb, that broke the resistance of the elite group that had formed at the front on the penultimate lap of the demanding Florence circuit.

When Vos took the bell for the final lap, she had just Anna van der Breggen for company in a group that included the Italian trio of Rosella Ratto, Tatiana Guderzo and Elisa Longo Borghini, Emma Johansson (Sweden), Evelyn Stevens (USA), Tiffany Cromwell (Australia), Linda Villumsen (New Zealand), Claudia Hausler (Germany) and Tatiana Antoshina (Russia).

On the long haul up to Fiesole, the penultimate climb on the circuit, Guderzo and Longo Borghini took turns to attack for Italy, while Cromwell and later Stevens put in fierce digs closer to the summit. Seemingly unmoved, Vos simply feathered the pedals in the heart of the group, while her teammate van der Breggen diligently tracked the moves at the front.

Stevens tried again on the steep wall of Via Salviati, before Johansson – who had wisely allowed the Dutch, Americans and Italians dictate affairs for much of the afternoon – finally showed her hand midway up the climb.

Johansson's move shattered the leading group, but it also had the effect of stirring Vos into action. The Dutchwoman edged her way up to Johansson's shoulder and then kicked fiercely as the gradient stiffened. Vos immediately opened a small gap, but such was the purpose behind her move that it already seemed unbridgeable.

Behind, Johansson and Ratto had battled their way clear of the remnants of the leading group, which was now strewn across the hillside. Johansson, in particular, fought to breathe life into the chase, but with Ratto unwilling to contribute to the chase, she was reliant on an error from Vos if she was to have any hope of catching her.

No such error was forthcoming, and Vos even stretched out her advantage as she entered the final kilometre. By that point Johansson was resigned to her fate and, reluctant to tow Ratto to the silver medal, she sat up, all but confirming Vos' second consecutive world title.

While Italy had the greatest strength in numbers in the selection that ultimately decided the destination of the rainbow jersey, the Dutch had the greater strength in depth. Van der Breggen performed her supporting role to perfection – raising and lowering the pace as necessary, and dutifully tracking the vital moves – and she even summoned up the strength to jump clear for fourth place on the day, while Evelyn Stevens took fifth, just ahead of Villumsen, Guderzo and Longo Borghini.

How it unfolded

Low Autumn sunshine and pleasant temperatures greeted the peloton as it rolled out of Montecatini Terme, and the racing was similarly benign on the run-in to the finishing circuit in Florence, with most riders eager to save their legs for the five demanding laps around Fiesole and Via Salviati.

Once on the circuit, the American and Italian teams were conspicuous in controlling affairs at the head of the peloton. Their tempo was gradually dropping riders from the rear of the bunch every time the road went uphill and with three laps to go the leading group had been whittled down to 30 or so riders.

"They started already at beginning of the circuit, but then we knew this was going to be a hard five laps," Vos said of the American forcing. "But it was a really good race from the Dutch team. They gave me the opportunity to keep us as quiet as possible in the bunch until the last lap."

Tiffany Cromwell (Australia) ignited the racing in earnest on the third to last lap when she hurtled after Lucinda Brand (Netherlands) on the descent of Fiesole. Although she was pegged back shortly afterwards, Cromwell was undeterred and remained an aggressive presence every time the road plunged downhill.

On the penultimate lap the climb of Fiesole forced another selection, with Stevens and van der Breggen's pressing shedding a number of riders, including Lizzie Armitstead (Great Britain) and Giorgia Bronzini (Italy), from the leading group. When Ratto followed up on Via Salviati, the leading group was whittled down to just eleven riders as they approached the final lap.

The three Italian riders deliberated on the front as they came through the finish line for the penultimate time, and they duly set about probing Vos as soon as the road climbed towards Fiesole. But as is so often the case, Vos had the final word.

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Full Results
1Marianne Vos (Netherlands)3:44:00
2Emma Johansson (Sweden)0:00:15
3Rossella Ratto (Italy)Row 2 - Cell 2
4Anna van der Breggen (Netherlands)0:00:33
5Evelyn Stevens (United States of America)0:00:46
6Linda Melanie Villumsen (New Zealand)0:00:50
7Tatiana Guderzo (Italy)0:00:52
8Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy)Row 7 - Cell 2
9Tiffany Cromwell (Australia)0:01:40
10Tatiana Antoshina (Russian Federation)Row 9 - Cell 2
11Elena Kuchinskaya (Russian Federation)0:02:41
12Claudia Häusler (Germany)0:03:34
13Pauline Ferrand Prevot (France)0:04:20
14Megan Guarnier (United States of America)0:04:41
15Annemiek Van Vleuten (Netherlands)0:05:03
16Eleonora Van Dijk (Netherlands)Row 15 - Cell 2
17Paulina Brzezna (Poland)Row 16 - Cell 2
18Maja Wloszczowska (Poland)0:05:05
19Elizabeth Armitstead (Great Britain)0:05:28
20Trixi Worrack (Germany)Row 19 - Cell 2
21Eugenia Bujak (Poland)Row 20 - Cell 2
22Ashleigh Moolman (South Africa)Row 21 - Cell 2
23Flavia Oliveira (Brazil)Row 22 - Cell 2
24Francesca Cauz (Italy)0:05:30
25Carlee Taylor (Australia)Row 24 - Cell 2
26Giorgia Bronzini (Italy)0:05:35
27Lucinda Brand (Netherlands)0:06:44
28Valentina Scandolara (Italy)0:07:40
29Jolanda Neff (Switzerland)Row 28 - Cell 2
30Oxana Kozonchuk (Russian Federation)Row 29 - Cell 2
31Shara Gillow (Australia)Row 30 - Cell 2
32Kristin McGrath (United States of America)Row 31 - Cell 2
33Karol-Ann Canuel (Canada)Row 32 - Cell 2
34Edwige Pitel (France)Row 33 - Cell 2
35Doris Schweizer (Switzerland)0:07:46
36Tetyana Riabchenko (Ukraine)0:08:51
37Mara Abbott (United States of America)0:09:40
38Miriam Bjørnsrud (Norway)0:12:09
39Liesbet De Vocht (Belgium)Row 38 - Cell 2
40Eri Yonamine (Japan)Row 39 - Cell 2
41Susanna Zorzi (Italy)Row 40 - Cell 2
42Inga Cilvinaite (Lithuania)Row 41 - Cell 2
43Anastasiya Chulkova (Russian Federation)0:13:00
44Andrea Dvorak (United States of America)Row 43 - Cell 2
45Eivgenia Vysotska (Ukraine)Row 44 - Cell 2
46Anna Sanchis Chafer (Spain)Row 45 - Cell 2
DNFNoemi Cantele (Italy)Row 46 - Cell 2
DNFHanna Solovey (Ukraine)Row 47 - Cell 2
DNFAudrey Cordon (France)Row 48 - Cell 2
DNFMadelene Olsson (Sweden)Row 49 - Cell 2
DNFJoanne Kiesanowski (New Zealand)Row 50 - Cell 2
DNFNatalia Boyarskaya (Russian Federation)Row 51 - Cell 2
DNFLorena Maria Vargas Villamil (Colombia)Row 52 - Cell 2
DNFMaaike Polspoel (Belgium)Row 53 - Cell 2
DNFReta Trotman (New Zealand)Row 54 - Cell 2
DNFEnkhjargal Tuvshinjargal (Mongolia)Row 55 - Cell 2
DNFCecilie Gotaas Johnsen (Norway)Row 56 - Cell 2
DNFPaz Bash (Israel)Row 57 - Cell 2
DNFUenia Fernandes Da Souza (Brazil)Row 58 - Cell 2
DNFAude Biannic (France)Row 59 - Cell 2
DNFAmanda Spratt (Australia)Row 60 - Cell 2
DNFElise Delzenne (France)Row 61 - Cell 2
DNFOlivia Dillon (Ireland)Row 62 - Cell 2
DNFMelanie Späth (Ireland)Row 63 - Cell 2
DNFIngrid Lorvik (Norway)Row 64 - Cell 2
DNFJulie Leth (Denmark)Row 65 - Cell 2
DNFDaiva Tuslaite (Lithuania)Row 66 - Cell 2
DNFDiana Peñuela (Colombia)Row 67 - Cell 2
DNFAgne Silinyte (Lithuania)Row 68 - Cell 2
DNFŠpela Kern (Slovenia)Row 69 - Cell 2
DNFMalgorzta Jasinska (Poland)Row 70 - Cell 2
DNFPatricia Schwager (Switzerland)Row 71 - Cell 2
DNFLex Albrecht (Canada)Row 72 - Cell 2
DNFRomy Kasper (Germany)Row 73 - Cell 2
DNFLisa Brennauer (Germany)Row 74 - Cell 2
DNFLeah Kirchmann (Canada)Row 75 - Cell 2
DNFAne Santesteban Gonzalez (Spain)Row 76 - Cell 2
DNFDenise Ramsden (Canada)Row 77 - Cell 2
DNFPolona Batagelj (Slovenia)Row 78 - Cell 2
DNFUrsa Pintar (Slovenia)Row 79 - Cell 2
DNFCarolina Rodriguez Gutierrez (Mexico)Row 80 - Cell 2
DNFAmy Cure (Australia)Row 81 - Cell 2
DNFGracie Elvin (Australia)Row 82 - Cell 2
DNFChristine Majerus (Luxembourg)Row 83 - Cell 2
DNFAnnelies Van Doorslaer (Belgium)Row 84 - Cell 2
DNFSofie De Vuyst (Belgium)Row 85 - Cell 2
DNFEsther Fennel (Germany)Row 86 - Cell 2
DNFAndrea Graus (Austria)Row 87 - Cell 2
DNFMartina Ritter (Austria)Row 88 - Cell 2
DNFDaniela Pintarelli (Austria)Row 89 - Cell 2
DNFSara Mustonen (Sweden)Row 90 - Cell 2
DNFJoelle Numainville (Canada)Row 91 - Cell 2
DNFAmy Pieters (Netherlands)Row 92 - Cell 2
DNFMinami Ueno (Japan)Row 93 - Cell 2
DNFAna Fagua (Colombia)Row 94 - Cell 2
DNFLilibeth Chacon Garcia (Venezuela)Row 95 - Cell 2
DNFBelen Lopez Morales (Spain)Row 96 - Cell 2
DNFVita Heine (Latvia)Row 97 - Cell 2
DNFKatarzyna Niewiadoma (Poland)Row 98 - Cell 2
DNFSari Saarelainen (Finland)Row 99 - Cell 2
DNFIngrid Drexel (Mexico)Row 100 - Cell 2
DNFJessie Daams (Belgium)Row 101 - Cell 2
DNFKirsten Wild (Netherlands)Row 102 - Cell 2
DNFKatie Colclough (Great Britain)Row 103 - Cell 2
DNFNikki Harris (Great Britain)Row 104 - Cell 2
DNFLoes Gunnewijk (Netherlands)Row 105 - Cell 2
DNFLelizaveta Oshurkova (Ukraine)Row 106 - Cell 2
DNFSilvija Latozaite (Lithuania)Row 107 - Cell 2
DNFIvanna Borovychenko (Ukraine)Row 108 - Cell 2
DNFKatarzyna Pawlowska (Poland)Row 109 - Cell 2
DNFLauren Kitchen (Australia)Row 110 - Cell 2
DNFMartina Ruzickova (Czech Republic)Row 111 - Cell 2
DNFAna Teresa Casas Bonilla (Mexico)Row 112 - Cell 2
DNFEdith Guillen (Costa Rica)Row 113 - Cell 2
DNFDiána Szurominé Pulsfort (Hungary)Row 114 - Cell 2
DNFNontasin Chanpeng (Thailand)Row 115 - Cell 2
DNFJutatip Maneephan (Thailand)Row 116 - Cell 2
DNFAntonela Ferencic (Croatia)Row 117 - Cell 2
DNFClemilda Fernandes Silva (Brazil)Row 118 - Cell 2
DNFSupaksorn Nuntana (Thailand)Row 119 - Cell 2
DNFKathryn Bertine (Saint Kitts and Nevis)Row 120 - Cell 2
DNFVéronique Fortin (Canada)Row 121 - Cell 2
DNFKatazina Sosna (Lithuania)Row 122 - Cell 2
DNFChristel Ferrier-Bruneau (France)Row 123 - Cell 2
DNFEmilia Fahlin (Sweden)Row 124 - Cell 2
DNFJessica Kihlbom (Sweden)Row 125 - Cell 2
DNFCéline Van Severen (Belgium)Row 126 - Cell 2
DNFSvetlana Stolbova (Russian Federation)Row 127 - Cell 2
DNFHanna Nilsson (Sweden)Row 128 - Cell 2
DNFMartina Thomasson (Sweden)Row 129 - Cell 2
DNFElke Gebhardt (Germany)Row 130 - Cell 2
DNFKaren Doljak (Paraguay)Row 131 - Cell 2
DNFCarmen Small (United States of America)Row 132 - Cell 2
DNFJade Wilcoxson (United States of America)Row 133 - Cell 2
DNFLucy Garner (Great Britain)Row 134 - Cell 2
DNFEmily Collins (New Zealand)Row 135 - Cell 2
DNFTereza Trefná (Czech Republic)Row 136 - Cell 2
DNFLotta Lepistö (Finland)Row 137 - Cell 2
DNFSamah Khaled (Jordan)Row 138 - Cell 2
DNFCindi Magali Dinatale (Argentina)Row 139 - Cell 2
DNFDragana Kovacevic (Serbia)Row 140 - 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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