Ponferrada: Women’s Elite Road Race
Defending champion Marianne Vos missed out on medals as France’s Pauline Ferrand Prevot won gold in the women’s road race ahead of Lisa Brennauer (Germany) and Emma Johansson (Sweden) in second and third, and Giorgia Bronzini (Italy) in a narrow fourth.
Towards the top of the final ascent of Mirador, Armitstead went clear with Vos, Johansson and Elisa Longo Borghini of Italy.
“The attack of the group of four with Vos, Armitstead, Johansson and Borghini made a big mess.”
The quartet maintained their advantage on the 2km descent into Ponferrada but began looking at each other, rather than working together in the final kilometer.
That allowed a group containing 22-year-old Ferrand Prevot to catch them 500m from the finish. Vos led the sprint into the final 200m but Ferrand Prevot, Brennauer, Johannson and Bronzini all raced by.
The attack of the group of four with Vos, Armitstead, Johansson and Borghini made a big mess.” said Giorgia Bronzini to Castelli after the race. “When we caught them with 500m to go, I found myself boxed in and didn’t really have the punch to overtake Lisa or Emma when I finally found my line next to the barrier. ”
