UCI World Cup: Vos victorious after battle with compatriot Worst
Worst fought back to catch Vos but couldn't match World Cup leader's final attack
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Marianne Vos (Waowdeals Pro Cycling Team) shook Annemarie Worst (Steylaerts-777) in the final lap in Bern to take victory after a tough battle with her Dutch compatriot.
“This is a win that provides me with a lot of morale for the remainder of the World Cup. This feels great,” Vos said.
The hot, dry course made for fast dusty conditions, and Eva Lechner (Creafin Tüv Sud) immediately took the front, with Marianne Vos on her wheel. Ellen van Loy (Telenet Fidea Lions) and Kaitie Compton (KFC Racing) followed shortly behind.
A lead group soon formed, with Worst, Sanne Cant (Corendon-Circus), Loes Sels (Topsport Vlaanderen Thompson), and Sophie de Boer (Parkhotel Valkenberg) joining the front four.
However, on the second lap, Vos put in a huge attack, with none able to match her as the lead group splintered.
At the start of lap three, Worst launched out of the chase group, and soon managed to pull back seven seconds to Vos, with Compton immediately behind. Worst continued to close the gap, and by lap six, had caught Vos, with Compton battling at seven seconds back, and the chasers 12 seconds behind her.
Vos and Worst were inseparable in the final lap, with Worst attempting several attacks. However, with a half lap to go, Vos put in another huge attack through a technical, hilly section that Worst was unable to follow. Vos went on to victory, with Worst coming second, nine seconds back, and Compton third, 22 seconds behind the leader.
“I rode my own race because when you’re in traffic and something happens at an obstacle then you’re in trouble,” Vos said.
With this victory, Vos strengthened her lead in the World Cup standings against chasers Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing CX) and Katerina Nash (CLIF Pro Team).