Gran Fondo Florida, March 17, 2024 - FIND OUT MORE!
United States | Southeast | Virginia >> Chantal Blaak wins Elite Women's Rainbow Jersey

Chantal Blaak wins Elite Women's Rainbow Jersey

Chantal Blaak has won the title of World Champion in Bergen, Norway, the Dutch rider attacked in the last 6 kilometres and soloed to victory

Australia's Katrin Garfoot took silver with last year's champion Amalie Dideriksen of Denmark taking bronze.

It was a total of 152.8 km, 13 laps of the Bergen circuit.

Blaak crashed after 65 kms "No, I can't believe it, everything happened in the race: I crashed, I was in a lot of pain, in that moment I thought my race was over, I thought I can come back and see what I can do. The plan was not that I should win race but do my best possible for the team."

Blaak initally attacked with 23 kms to go and Briton Hannah Barnes and Audrey Cordon of France joined her in the breakaway. 

A counter attack led by Annemiek Van Vleuten and Van der Breggen saw the lead group swell to seven riders - three of them Dutch - with 11 kms to go.

Garfoot, Barnes, Cordon and Katarzyna Niewiadoma of Poland were all marking Van Vleuten and Van der Breggen, the Dutch trio gave them a huge tactical advantage, so Blaak attacked with 6 kilometres fo go.

"After that I just followed my heart and stayed away." said Blaak

Chantal Blaak wins Elite Womens Rainbow Jersey

None of the breakaway rivals would chase knowing that both Van Vleuten and Van der Breggen twould be on their wheel, so Blaak had a lead of more than 30 seconds as she neared the finish line.

"We didn't really talk to each other but we knew what to do, We were seven in the breakaway and three of us were Dutch. Annemiek attacked first and everyone was reacting. I thought this was the right moment to attack. We had really good teamwork, everything went as planned, everyone was strong and we raced aggressively. There was a lot of pressure because we have to win, but it worked."

"I was already super happy that I had the national jersey this year but, yeah, it's a dream."

The chase group was caught by what was left of the shredded peloton inside the final kilometre.

Garfoot took the bunch sprint, with the fast-finishing Dideriksen coming from far back to take third.

2017 Elite Women's World Champioship Road Race

1. Chantal Blaak (Netherlands / Netherlands) 4:06:30"
2. Katrin Garfoot (Australia) +28"
3. Amalie Dideriksen (Denmark)
4. Annemiek van Vleuten (Netherlands)
5. Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Poland)
6. Christine Majerus (Luxembourg)
7. Susanne Andersen (Norway)
8. Anna van der Breggen (Netherlands)
9. Emilia Fahlin (Sweden)
10. Elena Cecchini (Italy)

Chantal Blaak wins Elite Womens Rainbow Jersey