Cycling-Van Vleuten wins women’s road race world title

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Dutchwoman Annemiek van Vleuten staged a classic late attack to win the world championship road race for the second time in a stunning finish in Wollongong, Australia, on Saturday.

The 39-year-old, who was a doubt for the race after fracturing her elbow in a crash in the mixed relay, swept to the front as the sprinters were jockeying for position on the other side of the road about 500 metres from the line.

Van Vleuten clocked four hours, 24 minutes and 25 seconds over the 164.3-km course along the Pacific coast from Helensburgh down to, and around, Wollongong to win the rainbow jersey for the second time after 2019.

Belgian Lotte Kopecky finished second with Italian Silvia Persico third. The men’s road race concludes the championships on Sunday.

(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by)