Soraya Paladin finished fifth in the Trofeo Alfredo Binda on Sunday. The Italian rode more than twenty kilometres with a group of five in pursuit of Elisa Longo Borghini. Paladin’s compatriot had escaped alone and held up well.
“The race was closed for quite a while. We tried to create a good situation for ourselves with Pauliena Rooijakkers and had hoped her breakaways would have been slightly more supported by the peloton. It was difficult to be successful with only two”, says sports director Lars Boom, who saw Rooijakkers being caught again and a complete peloton started the four final laps in and around Cittiglio.
TEAM IN GOOD SHAPE
On Orino’s penultimate climb, Elisa Longo Borghini launched a brutal attack. Soraya Paladin looked strong and started the chase, along with Marianne Vos, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, Kasia Niewiadoma and Mavi García. After the gap had fluctuated around 20 seconds for many kilometres, the pursuit broke and the Italian was able to build up a safe lead.
“Longo Borghini was really strong. And the cooperation in the chasing group was not always optimal. In any case, Soraya has given her all. Firstly aiming to get Longo Borghini back, and later hoping to get on the podium, but unfortunately that was out of reach”, says Boom.
“Fortunately, the team is in good shape. Sofia Bertizzolo finished in eighth place. She was just unable to follow when Longo Borghini attacked and the chasing group was formed. She’s looking for validation which will happen, because she is doing really well.”
Photo credits: Cor Vos