Sandra Alonso (Ceratizit-WNT) outsprinted breakaway companion Giada Borghesi (Human Powered Health) to win the Tour of Guangxi on Sunday after the two rode away from the peloton with 35km remaining. Alonso’s teammate Marta Lach won the mass sprint for third place from the chase group that finished 2:47″ down.
This year’s course was markedly different than last year’s, with the peloton having to complete five laps of a 27.2km circuit that included Qingxiu Mountain, a 1.4km climb at a gradient of 11%.
Attacks began early-on with riders vying for QOM points, as well as points at the intermediate sprints, and the peloton experienced frequent changes and splintering on the climb and the steep 6km descent afterwards.
It was with 35km remaining that Alonso and Borghesi made their move, following an attack by Borghesi.
Within a short time, the two leaders had more than a minute on the the chasing group of 20-odd riders behind. With around 15km remaining, Borghesi and Alonso had close to three minutes on their chasers. As the last kilometers wound down the duo began to play cat-and-mouse, with neither one wanting to take the front position.
In the end, Alonso forced Borghesi to take the lead and sat on her until the final 100 meters before she jumped around her to take the win. Alonso’s teammates Marta Lach and Kathrin Schweinberger took third and fourth place from the chase group that arrived 2:47″ behind.
RIDER REACTIONS
Giada Borghesi: “I put in a good attack but it was thanks to Giorgia (Bronzini, DS) who from the car convinced me to try to go. Together with Alonso we made a nice breakaway and we pushed a lot to the finish.”
“It’s a great feeling to make a WorldTour podium and finish my first season in a WorldTour team like this,” Borghesi further said. “I am really happy because it has been a difficult few months after breaking my elbow at the Giro d’Italia”
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