First ever Monument top-ten finish for Blues

Polish rider claims best ever finish for Spanish squad in Tour of Flanders after solid, committed racing; Biannic, González also within WorldTour's best.

Małgorzata Jasińska claimed the best ever finish for a Movistar Team rider in the Ronde van Vlaanderen at the 15th edition of the women’s race on Sunday. The veteran battler from Poland led yet another great performance by Jorge Sanz’s roster in the first Monument of their classics season, the 15th edition of the women’s ‘De Ronde’, over 151km around Oudenaarde with eleven ‘hellingen’ and plenty of cobblestones.

As well ‘Jasi’ as Aude Biannic and Alicia González were able to stay unharmed after a tremendous pile-up with 60km to go, just before the Kapelmuur, where almost the entire Blue group was caught – yet remained without serious injuries. Jasińska was later on able to make the right moves and stay with the strongest at the Kanarieberg and Kruisberg ascents. At the latter, ‘Jasi’ kept the pace of a ten-woman group from which Olympic champion Anna Van der Breggen (DLT) soon launched her winning move.

The Dutchwoman soon opened a gap of nearly one minute over the pursuir group, where ‘Jasi’ struggled to keep up into the climbs of Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg -she was 10th over the final hill- but then bridged back with patience and courage. Joining a four-rider group including World champion Blaak or Ellen Van Dijk and following a relentless pursuit, Jasińska was able to make it back to the group and contest the sprint for the podium, ending up in 6th place.

Biannic (22nd) and Alicia González -into the third main group- completed the Movistar Team’s great performance in ‘De Ronde’, where they reasserted they deserve a place and attention inside the top races in the UCI Women’s WorldTour, where they’re already playing a major role.

Picture (c): Sean Robinson / Vélofocus