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Women's Ronde thru Patrick Verhoest lens

Our Belgian friend Patrick staked out the Oude Kwaremont to document the race coming through in the finale. By this time the race was full on. Elisa Longo Borghini was off on her long breakaway and behind the chase was frantic.

By Jens
  • First to arrive is Elisa Longo Borghini of Wiggle-Honda. A race commisaire and a camera-moto protecting her from the ominously lurking Shimano neutral service.
  • At this point she has been away for a little more than 10 kms and built a lead of around a minute.
  • Now back to complete fitness, the Wiggle star said she was confident when she attacked. Feeling that even if she hadn't made it, her teammates behind would have taken the win after her initial work.
  • The chase group as it had formed on the Kruisberg. Lizzie Armitstead forcing the pace to close a gap that has been holding steady until now.
  • Following closest are the better climbers. Amialiusik, Anna van der Breggen,Ferrand Prevot, Annemiek van Vleuten and Moolman-Pasio.
  • Armitstead came in as the big favorite and took charge of the chase.
  • At the back the stronger sprinters are struggling to keep the pace. Italian champ Cecchini has let a gap open and Longo Borghini's teammate Jolien D'Hoore is just about to.
  • The World champ Pauline Ferrand Prevot flying the colors in a race she has never managed to finish in the front of in the past.
  • Belgian champ D'Hoore was Wiggle's ace in the chase group. As long as she sat on in the group she was a motivation-killer with her strong sprint.
  • Elena Cecchini has found a solid level this year. For Lotto a great asset in their home race.
  • Chantal Blaak no doubt spent after doing the lion's part of the chasing coming into the Kwaremont. She had also covered earlier attacks for Boels-Dolmans and Armitstead.
  • A bit after came the group who just missed out on following on the Kruisberg. Astonishingly, Emma Johansson fights back, 3 weeks after her collarbone-fracture.
  • Last year's winner Ellen van Dijk. One year ago it was her solo off the front on the Kwaremont.
  • Rossella Ratto, leader in the World Cup Youth competition.
  • Behind there is only pain. Trixi Worrack raced the first Ronde in 2003 and is still fighting.
  • Giorgia Bronzini covered earlier attacks but couldn't stay with the front today. The Wiggle teamwork worked to perfection in the end though.
  • Top sprinter Kirsten Wild on Hitec had hopes of winning. In the end she didn't have the super day she would have needed to stay in contention on this course.
  • Cars, cars, cars. The race caravan is awe-inspiring on the narrow roads of Flanders

In the end we would see the race end up pretty much how we saw it on the Oude Kwaremont. Jolien D'Hoore fought back both there and on the Paterberg to reconnect with the chase. That put her in the perfect position to give Wiggle-Honda a double win. The chase never got closer than 43 seconds behind Elisa Longo Borghini who could cross the finish line in tears. Lizzie Armitstead was unlucky to unclip as she launched her sprint the door was wide open for D'Hoore to win the sprint ahead of van der Breggen.

Many thanks to Patrick for the photos!

You can see the highlights and interviews from the UCI here:

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All photos by: Patrick Verhoest

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