Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling’s Giorgia Bronzini won the Prudential RideLondon Grand Prix in front of Buckingham Palace, on London’s prestigious tree-lined Mall. The former two-time road World champion managed to outsprint current rainbow jersey Marianne Vos (Rabo-Liv) with a late surge for the line as the two rivals went head to head once again. Behind the two big sprinters Lizzie Armitstead beat British criterium champion Eileen Roe (Starley Primal) in the battle for third.
Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling’s British Road Race Champion Laura Trott, the winner of the inaugural event in 2013, finished in fifth place.
“It was a really amazing race, right in the centre of the city,” said Bronzini. “For me it was quite exciting because the last time I was there was for the Olympic Games. That day was a little bit unlucky, so today I wanted to replace that day and try to win. That day there was Vos and Armitstead in first and second so I wanted to try to beat them.
“The race was really full-on attacks, and from the middle of the race I asked my teammates to make it a hard race to try to put pressure on Rabo and [Specialized-lululemon], and Vos and Armitstead too,” the Italian added. “They made a lot of breaks.
“In the sprint – it was a long sprint from Vos – and I took her wheel,” Bronzini explained. “There was a headwind so in the last 50 metres I came out. The speaker was ‘Vos! Vos! Vos!’ and in the last moment ‘Bronzini wins!’
“I knew the headwind was there because I felt it in the other laps so I thought that waiting until the last 50 metres was the only solution.”
Having covered every move in the first half of the race, Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling then began to put pressure on the other teams, with Emily Collins, Emilia Fahlin, Peta Mullens and Amy Roberts all putting in big attacks. Each time a black and orange rider was caught, another would launch an their move on the opposite side of the road
A massive attack from Roberts with just over a kilometre to go caused panic in the rest of the bunch, and forced Vos herself to lead the chase. The 19-year-old Welshwoman almost managed to hold off the pursuit, but was caught just inside the finishing straight as the sprinters were getting ready for the finish.
Vos burst from the centre of the pack, and only Bronzini was able to go with her. As the finish line approached, the Italian moved to the World champion’s left and managed to ease her front wheel ahead as they hit the line.
Result
1. Giorgia Bronzini (Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling)
2. Marianne Vos (Rabo-Liv)
3. Lizzie Armitstead (Boels-Dolmans)
5. Laura Trott (Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling)
Photo Credit: Prudential RideLondon
