Refresh
Onto the Witikon climb now. The gap when it was last shown was 59″ and it is still looking like that is the gap. This is thanks to the pace set by Labous (FRA) in the chasing pack.
No attacks coming from the big names chasing as Holmgren (CAN), Henderson (GBR) and Chabbey (SUI) losing touch from that group.
Markus (NED) leads over the top of the steepest section and the gap is apparently down to 19″ but quickly it jumps back to 1’18”, which seems more likely.
The favourites group now also head onto the Zurichbergstrasse. The attacks much come soon from this group.
Onto the Zurichbergstrasse for the final time and Markus (NED) continues setting the pace with Vos (NED) on her wheel with Ghekiere (BEL) and Roseman-Gannon (AUS) fighting for the wheel of Vos.
Justine Ghekiere (BEL) looks very uncomfortable and very cold. She was trying to get some food from her pockets but was really struggling getting her hand under her gillet.
With a minute between the leading quad of riders and the chasing group of favourites, the race is wide open and could see a very surprising winner. Or, Vos (NED) getting her fourth road race world title.
One lap to go!
The Zurichbergstrasse has been the main point where selections have been made throughout this week. With one more ascent to come, it is likely to be the same again in this race.
The leaders:
Attack
Attack
Bredewold (NED) is sprinting onto this little kicker before the technical descent. The Dutch are not happy with the situation despite having Markus (NED) up the road.
The Dutch are still pushing the pace behind despite having Markus (NED) up the road alongside Ghekiere (BEL). This is such bizarre team tactics and shows that they are not united as a nation.
40km to go
Attack
It is extremely Autumnal on the roads around Zurich today.
Kopecky (BEL) back at the car yet again. She is looking so calm and smooth on the bike today. A real worry for her rivals. Meanwhile, Markus (NED) catches Labous (FRA) and it is all together again.
Attack
Andersson (SWE) dragged back but then she kicks on yet again. This time, she is joined by Ghekiere (BEL) but the returning Vas (HUN) drags it back again.
Markus (NED) and Dygert (USA) have made it back into the front group.
Attack
Somehow, Puck Pieterse (NED) has made it back across to the leaders.
Attack
Attack
Vollering (NED) hammering the pace now with only Neve Bradbury (AUS) left out of the U23 riders in the lead group. She could be flying to the U23 title as Vas (HUN) is in the second group.
Tour de France Femmes winner, Kasia Niewiadoma (POL) has been dropped!! As has Puck Pieterse (NED).
Fisher-Black (NZL), Henderson (GBR), A. Holmgren (CAN) all losing touch.
Rooijakkers (NED) using her last ounces of energy to rip the race to bits. However, this sees Vos (NED), Bredewold (NED), Roseman-Gannon (AUS) and Chabbey (SUI) all get dropped.
50km to go
The group has been split to pieces as Faulkner (USA), Uttrup Ludwig (DEN) and Brown (AUS) all out of the back.
Marianne Vos (NED) now really upping the pave with Lippert (GER) and Vollering (NED) also up there. Labous (FRA) and Kopecky (BEL) trying to stay at the front too. Longo-Borghini (ITA also up there.
Puck Pieterse (NED) now takes over the paxing on the Zurichbergstrasse with Markus (NED) joining her upping the tempo.
Chloe Dygert (USA) upping the pace in the peloton now. This is an interesting decision by her with her teammate and Olympic champion, Kristen Faulkner (USA) near the back.
Two laps to go
Kopecky (BEL) having an issue with her skinsuit needing the mechanic to cut it open a little bit to stop some of the pressure on her abdomen, which can be quite uncomfortable.
Bredewold (NED), Markus (NED), Pieterse (NED) and Vollering (NED) are the first four riders at the front of the peloton. The Dutch are very keen to have a strangle hold on this race.
60km to go
The Dutch now leading down the descent with Bredewold (NED) taking over from Vollering (NED). Kopecky (BEL) comfortably in second wheel and even showed a smile before starting the downhill section.
Mechanical
Vollering (NED) starts upping the pave on one of these little kickers and she is beginning to string out the bunch.
Gaia Realini (ITA) struggling to hold onto the back of the peloton with a lot of riders just losing the wheels as the weather continues to worsen.
Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (FRA) has been distanced out on course. This is her first road race back after a very long time of focusing on mountain biking.
The team from the Netherlands are continuing to be very active as they look to shape the narrative of this race with various attacks now being followed by more intense pace setting.
The peloton has been significantly reduced now with the weather playing a massive part as well as the very tough route.
70km to go
Attack
Break caught
Fariba Hashimi (AFG), Usoa Ostolaza (ESP), Teniel Campbell (TTO) and several others also losing contact with the peloton as Rooijakkers (NED) continues to set her brutal tempo.
Dropped from peloton
Koch (GER) gets caught by the peloton.
It is always an odd situation in the Worlds for the Netherlands as they have several leaders. Two rider in the break but they are also chasing the break down. Very odd choices here.
Rooijakkers (NED) back on the front of the peloton with Vollering (NED) locked on her wheel. Lippert (GER) in third wheel followed by various other big favourites.
Abandon
It does appear that Spanish leader, Mavi Garcia, is losing touch on this climb as she struggles with the conditions.
Žigart (SLO) leading on the Zurichbergstrasse alongside Fisher-Black as the break look to pull out their advantage again with 12″ gap.
Three laps to go
Mischa Bredewold (NED) has bridged the gap along with one other rider. The former European champion used the descent to catch Niedermaier (GER) and Bradbury (AUS) and pull them back into the peloton before launching across the gap herself.
90km to go
More riders are trying to bridge with Antonia Niedermaier (GER) and Neve Bradbury (AUS) just off the front of the pack with 16″ to bridge.
Poland are one of the big teams to have missed this move and are now working for their leader and Tour de France Femmes winner, Kasia Niewiadoma.
Yet more attacks coming behind in the peloton as a few key teams have missed this move that could be telling for the final outcome today in Zurich.
Christine Majerus (LUX) and Teniel Campbell (TTO) get across the gap alongside Soraya Paladin (ITA) but the break only have around 10″ gap.
More riders now trying to bridge this very small gap with Teniel Campbell (TTO) and Soraya Paladin (ITA) try to get across.
100km to go
Attack
Break caught
Attack from peloton
Martin (ESP) makes it back to Berton (LUX) with new attacks coming across!
Caught
Dropped from break
105km to go
Confirmed gap at +33″ between the three-woman break and the chasing peloton as they now launch into the full laps around Zurich.
The foreshortening of the camera makes the gap between the break and the peloton look very small but it is still being said to be about 30″.
The break go under the flamme rouge for the first time as they head to the finish line. They cross the line five times today.
Attack/110km to go
The peloton now split to bits. I believe there was a crash but it was very difficult to see as the camera was with Eric (SRB) who has just been caught.
Attack in peloton
The pace immediately drops over the top of that small kick and the peloton regroup as Kopecky (BEL) was very well marked by Niewiadoma (POL), Ferrand-Prevot (FRA) and the other big favourites.
Attack!
120km to go
The breakaway just hold a gap of 49″ on the peloton now.
The Dutch come to the front with Pauliena Rooijakkers working for her many leaders in the Netherlands squad.
Malcotti (ITA) comes to the front to start pacing for Elisa Longo-Borghini (ITA). Very solid climber for a day like today.
Crash
Onto the Maur Wall, the first climb of the day. 18.9% gradient and the beginning of the race proper.
Caught
130km to go
Crash
Attack
The breakaway have a gap of 1’18” over the peloton, now. The counter moves have stopped in the bunch and it is settling down.
The leading trio have 38″ on the peloton. Berton (LUX), Baur (SUI) and Martín (ESP) in the leading group.
Interestingly, it is Ireland who were leading the peloton. Now several other teams move up including team GB with Elinor Barker. Elisa Balsamo (ITA) looking to be marking moves as well.
So many attacks going out of the peloton as they see the three riders ride away early on. This is their opportunity to force a break and, perhaps, give themselves a chance to get a big result.
Crash
Attack in peloton
There are, of course, two titles available today. The elite title as well as the under 23 title. So very much two races in one, which makes tactics rather tricky.
Attack
Dropped
Attack
No early moves as the riders jostle for position to keep their leaders safe.
154.1km to go
The riders have started the short neutral zone.
Very emotional scenes before the start with some riders finding it all a bit much. A very difficult moment for all the riders as they set off on the same course in the same conditions.
The riders are lined up ready to go. All of them are wrapped up in their water proofs. They will be holding a moment of silence before they set off in a few minutes time.
One rider who was due to start but is now not is Israeli rider, Rotem Gafinovitz. That leaves just one rider from Israel with Adar Shriki.
Throughout the racing so far at these championships, the racing has been extremely tough and a war of attrition with riders coming to the line in very small groups, pairs or solo riders in rather inclement weather.
Lotte Kopecky (BEL) comes into this as one of, if not the, favourite. However, after a disappointing time trial by her standards, there may be some doubts as she battles against Demi Vollering (NED), Marianne Vos (NED), Elisa Longo-Borghini (ITA), Kasia Niewiadoma (POL) and more… Not to mention the return to road cycling for Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (FRA).
Today’s women elite road race is set to begin at 12:47 local time and will consist of 154.1km of racing taking on one lap of the Greifensee lake before heading to the city laps around Zurich which will be tackled four times with 2,384 metres of elevation.
Today there will be a lot of focus on the racing. However, plenty of focus will be on the two riders who passed away yesterday. Muriel Furrer and Bas van Belle.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the elite and under-23 women’s road race at the Road World Championships in Zurich!
