World Championships Stay – Lotte Kopecky defends rainbow jersey at elite ladies’s highway race

120km to go

The hole did drop to 29″ however does seem like eking again out for the breakaway because the climb has been taken on. 

The breakaway simply maintain a spot of 49″ on the peloton now. 

The Dutch come to the entrance with Pauliena Rooijakkers working for her many leaders within the Netherlands squad. 

Malcotti (ITA) involves the entrance to start out pacing for Elisa Longo-Borghini (ITA). Very strong climber for a day like at present. 

Crash

A number of riders down with Djazilla Umwamikazi (RWA) being one of many riders down and Hannah Ludwig (GER). Everybody again on their ft with the 2 talked about needing mechanical assist. 

Onto the Maur Wall, the primary climb of the day. 18.9% gradient and the start of the race correct. 

Caught

Tiffany Maintain (RSA)

130km to go

With the break having 1’49” on the peloton. Maintain (RSA) within the hole however simply forward of the peloton. 

Crash

Not fairly capable of see who it was however they had been very near the entrance of the bunch. They’re rapidly again on their ft and on the bike once more. 

Assault

As quickly as I mentioned the attacking stopped, one goes once more from South Africa and Tiffany Maintain who rides for UK primarily based crew DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK who received the British Biking Nationwide Highway Sequence crew classification this 12 months. 

The breakaway have a spot of 1’18” over the peloton, now. The counter strikes have stopped within the bunch and it’s settling down. 

The main trio have 38″ on the peloton. Berton (LUX), Baur (SUI) and Martín (ESP) within the main group. 

Curiously, it’s Eire who had been main the peloton. Now a number of different groups transfer up together with crew GB with Elinor Barker. Elisa Balsamo (ITA) trying to be marking strikes as effectively. 

So many assaults going out of the peloton as they see the three riders journey away early on. That is their alternative to power a break and, maybe, give themselves an opportunity to get a giant end result. 

Crash

Yulduz Hashimi (AFG)

A heavy fall for the rider from Afghanistan. She appears to be in a little bit of ache after that however is again on her ft. 

Assault in peloton

Heidi Franz (USA)

A number of riders observe. 

There are, in fact, two titles obtainable at present. The elite title in addition to the underneath 23 title. So very a lot two races in a single, which makes techniques fairly difficult. 

Assault

Nina Berton (LUX)
Sara Martín (ESP)
Caroline Baur (SUI)

The Swiss rider leaping for the second time and, this time, appears profitable in forming the break. 

Dropped

Emmanuella Rukundo (BDI)

Sadly, the 20-year-old rider from Burundi loses contact. 

Assault

Caroline Baur (SUI)

The host nation launching the primary transfer of the day however it’s effectively marked and is not actually getting a lot of a spot. 

No early strikes because the riders jostle for place to maintain their leaders secure. 

154.1km to go

The flag is waved and racing begins!

The riders have began the quick impartial zone. 

Very emotional scenes earlier than the beginning with some riders discovering all of it a bit a lot. A really tough second for all of the riders as they set off on the identical course in the identical circumstances. 

The riders are lined up able to go. All of them are wrapped up of their water proofs. They are going to be holding a second of silence earlier than they set off in a couple of minutes time. 

One rider who was as a consequence of begin however is no longer is Israeli rider, Rotem Gafinovitz. That leaves only one rider from Israel with Adar Shriki. 

All through the racing to date at these championships, the racing has been extraordinarily powerful and a conflict of attrition with riders coming to the road in very small teams, pairs or solo riders in fairly inclement climate. 

The climate is, but once more, poor. Simply 12 levels centigrade and rain all day. The rain could ease and even cease however the showers are anticipated all day.  

Lotte Kopecky (BEL) comes into this as one among, if not the, favorite. Nevertheless, after a disappointing time trial by her requirements, there could also be some doubts as she battles in opposition to Demi Vollering (NED), Marianne Vos (NED), Elisa Longo-Borghini (ITA), Kasia Niewiadoma (POL) and extra… To not point out the return to highway biking for Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (FRA).

>>> UCI Highway World Championships 2024 – Elite-U23 ladies’s highway race contenders 

In the present day’s ladies elite highway race is about to start at 12:47 native time and can encompass 154.1km of racing taking over one lap of the Greifensee lake earlier than heading to the town laps round Zurich which will likely be tackled 4 instances with 2,384 metres of elevation.

In the present day there will likely be a number of concentrate on the racing. Nevertheless, loads of focus will likely be on the 2 riders who handed away yesterday. Muriel Furrer and Bas van Belle. 

Furrer died after a really heavy crash within the ladies’s junior highway race two days in the past. Van Belle died unexpectedly.

It’s anticipated that there will likely be a second of silence earlier than the beginning of the remaining races in addition to muted podium celebrations. 

To learn extra, click on the hyperlink under…

>>> Swiss rider Muriel Furrer dies after World Championship crash 

>>> Races go on however UCI World Championships in mourning after demise of Muriel Furrer 

>>> UCI unable to offer data on Muriel Furrer’s deadly World Championships crash as a consequence of police investigation 

Hiya and welcome to our dwell protection of the elite and under-23 ladies’s highway race on the Highway World Championships in Zurich!