Karlijn Swinkels takes first WorldTour victory at Trofeo Alfredo Binda

Cor Vos

UAE Team ADQ had one of the strongest teams at the Trofeo Alfredo Binda on Sunday, with three of its riders getting away in a late race move of six. Karlijn Swinkels was one of them, and even under the pressure of former world champion Anna van der Breggen of SD Worx-Protime, she did not crack. As Swinkels, Van der Breggen, and Uno-X Mobility's Mie Bjørndal Ottestad sprinted towards the line, Swinkels was able to pull ahead to take her first WorldTour victory.

1. Karlijn Swinkels (UAE Team ADQ)
2. Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) st.
3. Mie Bjørndal Ottestad (Uno-X Mobility) +02
4. Blanka Vas (SD Worx-Protime) +44
5. Letizia Borghesi (AG Insurance-Soudal) st.

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The sprint

How it happened

• Due to snow on the course, the first climb of the day was cut from the race before the start, but the route remained as planned from 106.3 km to go. As a result of the modification, the race was cut down from 152.7 km to 146.1 km.
• There was one early breakaway, featuring only one rider - Hannah Ludwig of Cofidis. She was eventually caught with 63 km remaining, once the race had entered the circuits that make up the majority of the course.

Ludwig, having a nice Sunday spin ahead of the peloton.

• Once Ludwig was caught, it opened the race for attacks from other riders. A few tried, but the first really notable move was from the Italian champion Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) with 34 km to go, on the third passage of the Orino climb.

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