Untouchable on the climbs: Longo Borghini shines with solo win at Brabantse Pijl

The Brabantse Pijl marks the start of the Ardennes spring. Those who perform well here often carry that form into the bigger races still to come. So it was no surprise that quite a few big names lined up in Lennik. Anna van der Breggen for SD Worx Protime, Marianne Vos representing Visma Lease a Bike, and EF Education Oatly’s Kristen Faulkner were all there, as was defending champion Elisa Longo Borghini. The UAE Team ADQ rider was back in action for the first time since her heavy crash at the Tour of Flanders.

A recurring theme in women’s racing is how difficult it can be for a breakaway to form. This race was no different. A fast opening phase made life tough for attackers and added a layer of tension to the bunch. The result was a crash for Anna van der Breggen, on her birthday no less, though she was quickly back on the bike. Attacks kept coming, but even halfway through the race no break had stuck. By then, the riders had reached the first ascent of the Holstheide, which marked the entry onto the local circuit.

The tempo stayed sky high on the local circuit, neutralizing every attack. But it also caused serious damage, with the peloton quickly whittled down to around 40 riders. From that reduced bunch, a group finally managed to break free. Seven riders made up the lead group: Brodie Chapman (UAE Team ADQ) was joined by Niamh Fisher Black (Lidl Trek), Steffi Häberlin (SD Worx Protime), Monica Trinca Colonel (Jayco AlUla), Jade Wiel (FDJ SUEZ), Anne Knijnenburg (VolkerWessels), and Eva van Agt (Visma Lease a Bike).

It was a strong move that gained over thirty seconds with around 40 kilometers to go. Fenix Deceuninck had missed the split and took up the chase, but the seven leaders worked well together and the gap even grew slightly. Van Agt sat on and did not contribute, saving her legs with teammate Marianne Vos still a major card to play. On the punishing Moskestraat climb, the peloton shattered and a group of favorites surged clear. That group quickly bridged across to the break.

Among the riders who made the bridge were Marianne Vos, Elisa Longo Borghini, Anna Henderson (Lidl Trek), Letizia Paternoster (Jayco AlUla), Amber Kraak (FDJ SUEZ), Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ), and Femke Gerritse (SD Worx Protime). But before they could even make contact, the Italian national champion lit it up. Longo Borghini launched such a fierce acceleration that she dropped all the favorites and bridged solo to the lead group. Vos and the others were left chasing, but the bunch eventually reeled them back in, turning it into a battle of UAE Team ADQ versus the rest.

Longo Borghini had support from teammate Brodie Chapman, who drove the pace at the front. But on the penultimate passage of the S bend, where the finish line was located, FDJ SUEZ brought everything back together in one hard push. Right after the line, Riejanne Markus (Lidl Trek) launched a well timed attack. The time trial specialist opened up a small gap, but it was closed again on the Hertstraat. From there it was downhill into the Moskestraat, and once again Longo Borghini hit the steep ramps with full force. She was clearly the strongest rider in the race. With just a few seconds over the top, she kept going all in.

It was tense, but on the Holstheide, the penultimate climb, Longo Borghini extended her lead. Ten seconds became twenty, then thirty. Behind her, the chase group began to fade. Anna van der Breggen was setting the pace, but even she could not hold the tempo on the climb. It was starting to look like a one sided fight. On the S bend, Mischa Bredewold took over the chase and suddenly the gap began to drop quickly. On the heavy final ramps, it is easy to stall and Longo Borghini began to feel it too. But she held on and capped her comeback with a brilliant solo victory.