European Championships: Lorena Wiebes pips Elisa Balsamo to win road race gold for the Netherlands

Dutch rider Lorena Wiebes continued her stunning 2022 by winning the women’s road race at the European Championships in a photo finish. Wiebes edged out Elisa Balsamo to win the event on a tight street-circuit in Munich, ahead of bronze medallist Rachele Barbieri and Lisa Brennauer, who finished her final-ever cycling race in fourth, just outside of the medals.

Ad Wiebes went early in the bunch sprint and just held off Balsamo by half a wheel to follow up compatriot Fabio Jakobsen’s gold from last Sunday in the men’s road race. Nokere Koerse'Very convincing' Wiebes sprints to Nokere Koerse victory16/03/2022 AT 15:08 The Netherlands controlled the majority of the 130km race with defending champion Ellen van Dijk playing a big domestique role, bringing the breakaway back in the closing kilometres.

Italy then went to the front with Wiebes forced to follow the wheel, latching onto the back of Balsamo. She launched her sprint first with around 250m to go and withstood a charging Balsamo on the throw at the line.

‘It’s odd!’ – Unusual scenes as riders stop in church to light candles ahead of Stage 3 ‘No one could touch him’ – Reaction to ‘phenomenal’ Bennett’s sprint triumph The Italian team gathered around a phone after the race to see the photo-finish footage which confirmed Wiebes had taken the gold. “We really worked as a team today and had a really clear plan,” said Wiebes.

“The pressure was on but I also have that [when I ride] at Team DSM so there was maybe a bit more pressure.” “As expected the Italian train came up. In the end I was next to them and it was a really long sprint.” It’s been a great year for Wiebes as she won the overall RideLondon Classique, three stages on the Women’s Tour and two stages of the Tour de