Karlijn Swinkels sprints to victory at St. Feuillien Grand Prix de Wallonie

Karlijn Swinkels (UAE Team ADQ) outsprinted Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) and Anouska Koster (Uno-X Mobility) from a reduced peloton to win St. Feuillien Grand Prix de Wallonie (1.1) on Wednesday in Namur, Belgium.

Swinkels was first through the last corner going into the final 100 meters and led out the sprint with Longo Borghini on her wheel. Longo Borghini looked ideally positioned to come around Swinkels, but with the finish line fast approaching it was too little, too late, and she had to settle for second. Koster put in fine performance, rounding out the podium in third ahead of Amber Kraak (FDJ-SUEZ) and Justine Ghekiere (AG Insurance-Soudal).

Swinkels explained afterwards why she led out the sprint. “My teammate Silvia Persico, 2nd last year, advised me to take the lead at the last corner. The finishing straight was long but fortunately I was able to hold on until the end. I’m very happy. The whole team worked for me today. It’s even more special when you feel that all my teammates believe in my chances.”

Longo Borghini was satisfied with her second place, but regretted not getting through the final corner before Swinkels. “I couldn’t do anything in the sprint against Karlijn. She moved into first position at the last corner, which is very important in a finale like this. I couldn’t put it back together. I’m coming out of a big training block in preparation for the Worlds. I went through a complicated period with a fall which deprived me of (competing at) the Tour de France. Then I got sick. This second place gives me confidence for Zurich.”

Koster was pleased to be on the podium and had good legs during the race. “I felt good today. Although I had never ridden the race before, I knew that the arrival on the Citadel had to be good for me. The team gave me a lot of confidence and during the race I had a lot of support from my teammates. I was well-positioned on the final climb and managed to squeeze out a nice third place in the sprint. I am very happy with that, a nice reward for me and the team.”

How it happened

There were plenty of climbs right from the start of the 139.3km race, but it wasn’t until the second half of the race that a group with enough firepower was able to get away. This group contained Ilse Pluimers (AG-Soudal), Nina Buijsman (FDJ-SUEZ), Alenia Amialiusik (UAE/ADQ), Alison Jackson (EF-Oatly-Cannondale) and Brodie Chapman (Lidl-Trek), and gained almost one minute on the peloton before Movistar decided to take action and bring them back.

With 23km to go, the lead group was reeled in and it was Lid-Trek’s turn to attack on the Côte du Tienne-aux-Pierres with Elisa Longo Borghini leading the charge. The peloton began to splinter and Borghini’s teammate, Gaia Realini, then took over and went solo for the next 13 kilometers or so, gaining and losing time over the hills and descents until FDJ-SUEZ went to the front and brought her back with the help of UNO-X Mobility.

With less than 10km to go, the peloton was reduced to 25-30 riders, and it appeared that the race would come down to the final climb, Citadel of Namur (2.9 km at 4.1%).

On the Citadel of Namur, Julie Bego (Cofidis) was the first to try an attack, but couldn’t get a gap. Next to try was Realini, who also failed, but stayed on the front and resigned herself to setting the pace for teammate Longo Borghini.

In final 500 meters, riders jockeyed for position before the last corner with Swinkels getting through first and leading out the sprint. Coming out of the corner, Longo Borghini was on Swinkels wheel but didn’t have the power to come around Swinkels in the short charge to the line. Anouska Koster (UNO-X Mobility) sprinted to third, ahead of Amber Kraak (FDJ-SUEZ) and Justine Ghekiere (AG/Soudal).

RESULTS

St Feuillien Grand Prix de Wallonie (1.1) 139.3km

1. SWINKELS, KARLIJN (UAE/ADQ)
2. LONGO BORGHINI, ELISA (LIDL-TREK)
3. KOSTER, ANOUSKA (UNO-X-MOBILITY)
4. KRAAK, AMBER (FDJ-SUEZ)
5. GHEKIERE, JUSTINE (AG INS./SOUDAL)
6. VANPACHTENBEKE, MARGOT (VOLKERWESSELS)
7. SQUIBAN, MAEVA (ARKEA-B&B HOTELS)
8. BORGHESI, LETIZIA (EF-OATLY-CANNONDALE)
9. MUZIC, EVITA (FDJ-SUEZ)
10. QUAGLIOTTO, NADIA (LABORAL KUTXA-FUNDACION EUSKADI)