Heading toward the end of the season, last week the UCI Women’s WorldTour took a rest before the series’ final European race next weekend.
However, the peloton never stands still and there was plenty of racing in the sunshine of the European autumn.
German Champion Liane Lippert (Team Sunweb) took the general classification at the four- day Lotto Belgium Tour. Consistent throughout, the 20-year-old from Friedrichshafen finished sixth in the 3.6km prologue, but based her win on the final 115.8km stage starting and finishing in Geraardsbergen.
In Italy, Soraya Paladin (Alé Cipollini) took the victory at the Premondiale Giro Toscana Internazionale Femminile - Memorial Michela Fanini. The 25-year-old convincingly took the final 121.8km stage between Lucca and Capannori, her 28 second advantage there enough to ensure overall success.
Across the border in France it was the turn of the time triallists at the Chrono Champenois - Trophée Européen, a 33.4km test in Bétheny, outside Reims. There it was UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Women's Team’s Leah Thomas who continued her excellent season, winning ahead of Olga Zabalenskaya.
Saturday, September 15 - Sunday, September 16, Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta (Spain)
Known more as a mountain biker, this year Sophie Wright has made a full time move to the road. At just 19 years old she joined her first UCI Women’s Team, Cervélo Bigla Pro Cycling Team in August, and has already scored two top-10 finishes at Italy’s Premondiale Giro Toscana Internazionale Femminile - Memorial Michela Fanini, results which brought her sixth place overall.
She is hardly new to the road, however. In 2016 she finished third in the European Championships Junior road race, and this summer animated the Commonwealth Games road race with an 80km solo breakaway.
In the UK this year she has been dominant, winning the domestic road race series with one race to spare.
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