Vollering (NED), Wiebes (NED) and Kopecky (BEL) all missing from the lead group. The crash happened at the absolute worst moment. Deignan (GBR) and Henderson (GBR) just off the back of the leaders with Georgi (GBR) in the lead group.
Attack
Mavi Garcia (ESP)
She is being followed by a long line of riders as they ride through this wall of noise on the cobbled climb. The peloton is shrinking all the time.
Faulkner (USA) launched a big move and drags the breakaway back as they head onto the Côte de la butte Montmartre.
Hanson (AUS) now on the front for Brown (AUS) as they edge closer to the Côte de la butte Montmartre.
Chloe Dygert (USA) before the start today: “I’m just kind of taking it day by day. We still have the team pursuit coming. So I’m gonna really just play it smart today I hope to have good legs and just take care of my leg as well.
“The Team Pursuit is a team event so I’m really going to make sure that I’m there for them. I’ll do what I can today. Kristen Faulkner is here too, so we have a really strong team and we have a lot of cards to play and so hopefully, either one of us can get across the finish line first.”
Alison Jackson (CAN) before the start today: “I’m going to win by tactics, not by being the strongest out there. We’ll see if we can be smart enough to get on the podium”
50km to go
Hanna Tserakh (INA) is actually still with Fariba Hashimi (AFG) 24″ ahead of the peloton as Spain now set the pace for Mavi Garcia into the final 50km of the race.
Cecchini (ITA) launches again as they are caught by the bunch. So many riders immediately jumping on moves, so we now have a brief hiatus.
And about 5 others but it is dragged back yet again.
This is absolute carnage on the streets of Paris. So many attacks in the peloton. Nothing sticking for the time being, though.
Atttack
Paula Patiño (COL) Mireia Benito (ESP) Julie van de Velde (BEL)
Closed down again, though.
Immediate counter attack by Megan Armitage (IRE) and then Vos (NED) launches a new move.
60km to go
Just 1’29” up to the breakaway that are almost back together again. The peloton slows up for the time being.
Attack
Lauretta Hanson (AUS) Silvia Persico (ITA)
Cordon-Ragot (FRA) leading the chase, though.
Vos (NED) drags Henderson (GBR) back just as the peloton rejoins them.
Attack
Anna Henderson (GBR)
She gets a small gap then Vos (NED) launches a big move with Lach (POL) joining her.
France now come to the front of the peloton and a small group gets a tiny gap but Hanson (AUS) closes the Berteau (FRA) led group.
Wave after wave of attacks now. Several moves by Team GB too. Then Italy with Elena Cecchini launching a move but everything is being followed.
Attack
Jelena Erić (SRB)
She is quickly closed down as well.
Mechanical
Kim Le Court (MAU)
Such a shame as she made the selection of the big names over that climb. She may hold on for the descent as the group as shrunk dramatically.
Attack
Anna Henderson (GBR)
The silver medalist in the time trial is quickly closed down by Demi Vollering (NED).
Attack in peloton
Mavi Garcia (ESP) Marianne Vos (NED) Naomi Rüegg (SUI) Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) Liane Lippert (GER)
Closed down by Lizzie Deignan (GBR).
Crash!
Margot Vanpachtenbeke (BEL) Milagro Mena (CRC)
Attack in break
F. Hashimi (AFG) Tserakh (INA)
They distance the rest of the group on the final climb before the race heads back into Paris.
70km to go
The six rider break still have +3’21” on the Van Dijk (NED) peloton and it is closing all the time. Peloton have control of the race here.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Van Dijk (NED) currently guiding the peloton to the final climb before heading to the Montmartre circuit. She has single handily brought the gap down to +3’46” up to the break.
Crash!
Marcela Prieto (MEX)
She is already back riding.
Behind, the Netherlands are joined by Poland on the front of the peloton.
Yulduz Hashimi (AFG) is finally getting her handlebars sorted and back in the right position.
Caught
Olga Zabalinskaya (UZB)
She just went way too late and had too much to do. The 44 year old is now back in the peloton.
80km to go
The break have +4’10” on Zabelinskaya (UZB) and +4’32” on the peloton. Several riders from the smaller cycling nations are losing touch on these short sharp climbs. Just over halfway to go.
(Image credit: Zac Williams/SWpix.com)
Mechanical
Nora Jenčušová (SVK)
All her breakaway companions were trying to help her to get her chain back on but she had to stop and managed to get her chain back on in a huge gear but it back riding again.
The Netherlands and Belgium have now upped the pace once again as they get closer to Paris once more. It is getting much more serious as the gap drops from over six minutes to 5’40”.
The fourth categorised climb of Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse is very close for the break. Immediately followed by the Côte de Châteaufort then a few uncategorised lumps before the Côte du Pavé des Gardes. They then head to the laps in Montmartre.
Bike change
Pfeiffer Georgi (GBR)
Bit of an issue for the British national champion. Smooth change and she’s back on the move again.
Interesting issue for Yulduz Hashimi (AFG).
Her handlebars have dropped. She’ll need them adjusted back and she may have to do it while on the move.
Heading to the next climb of the day. The Côte de Cernay-la-Ville. The breakaway are working very well together now.
100km to go
Jenčušová (SVK) Y. Hashimi (AFG) Gafinovitz (ISR) F. Hashimi (AFG) Nguyễn (VTN) Tserakh (INA)
Chase +3’23”
Zabelinskaya (UZB)
Peloton +5’18”
Fisher-Black gets a new battery and she is back riding with full use of her gears again.
Mechanical
Niamh Fisher-Black (NZL)
She’s only just got the bike and she already has an issue. It looks like the battery on her front mech isn’t charged. This is so frustrating for her.
Bike change
Niamh Fisher-Black (NZL)
New attack in peloton
Mireia Benito (ESP) Linda Zanetti (SUI)
But all back together again.
Attack in peloton
Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA)
She is a real danger and Ellen van Dijk (NED) isn’t letting her go at all.
The Netherlands, Australia, Switzerland, Germany, Australia and Denmark leading the peloton now.
Attack in peloton
Olga Zabelinskaya (UZB)
The veteran rider gets a gap and goes clear from the peloton to try and bridge the +3’32” gap to the leading group of six.
Dropped from peloton
Anna Kiesenhofer (AUT)
The defending champion seems to be really struggling. She crashed multiple times in the time trial last weekend.
Attack in peloton
Berteau (FRA) leading the move but it is quickly dragged back together by the Dutch and Belgians.
Jenčušová (SVK) is very close to being caught by the chasers now. They are just 5″ behind the Slovakian rider.
The Netherlands briefly took the lead and control in the peloton but have sat up again. Now Belgium and Australia take over the pace setting for the moment. The gap is now +4’20”
Back in the peloton, Italy, Great Britain, Netherlands and Denmark have riders up working on the front.
The riders just went over the second climb, the Côte de Port-Royal. As Y. Hashimi (AFG) has been caught by the chasers as they try and catch Jenčušová (SVK). 44″ between the lone leader and the chase.
120km to go
Jenčušová (SVK)
+38″ Y. Hashimi (AFG)
+45″ Gafinovitz (ISR) F. Hashimi (AFG) Nguyễn (VTN) Tserakh (INA)
Peloton +2’03”
Attack
Hanna Tserakh (INA) Thị Thật Nguyễn (VTN) Fariba Hashimi (AFG)
Several moves but these riders seem to be allowed to go so far.
Attack
Rotem Gafinovitz (ISR)
She is trying to join the leading duo who are about to come together.
Attack
Yulduz Hashimi (AFG)
She now goes solo and is already half way across the gap to Jenčušová (SVK).
Attack
Fariba Hashimi (AFG)
She is trying to bridge over to Jenčušová (SVK).
However, lots of counter moves mean the rider from Afghanistan is dragged back.
130km to go
Nora Jenčušová (SVK) has around 45″ on the peloton currently led by Afghanistan, Switzerland and Germany.
Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (South Africa) is coming off a fractured vertebra from a crash in the Volta a Catalunya in early June. She had a smooth recovery and did a lot of preparation on Zwift.
She said it is “surreal” and “feels like I’m in a dream” because she didn’t expect to make it here. She’s got high ambitions for today.
“It’s obviously a really tricky city circuit it’s a bit like a criterium. For me, obviously, it would be ideal to get into a breakaway before that city circuit. We saw yesterday that there was a medal from the breakaway so I think that’s a really good opportunity and that’s what I’ll be looking for today.”
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Mavi Garcia (Spain) coming off a top 10 overall in the Giro d’Italia was surprised by the men’s race, she thought there would be a big group coming to the finish but was pleased to see the race broke up.
“It’s good news for me because I’m strong but not [a sprinter]. I think the race is really hard in the final, the climbs aren’t long but it’s a hard circuit and I like it.”
(Image credit: Getty Images)
New Zealand’s Kim Cadzow: “I’m just really excited to get out there and race. I think it’s completely unpredictable, and so it’s gonna be a lot of fun.
“I think the woman’s race always plays out a little bit differently to the men’s but be some early breaks, early attacks and then it’s just going to be a chaotic final.
“I think it’s gonna be hard, especially with some of the bigger nations but I’ll give it my best and me and Niamh [Fisher-Black] will try and outfox them.”
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Denmark) was all smiles at the start, saying, “Super excited. Yeah, we’re at the Olympics, we’re in front of the Eiffel Tower – it doesn’t get much better.”
She had a crash in the TT but is OK and hoping to keep it upright today. “I think it’s going to be super, super hard course. it might be difficult to make the difference on the climbs, but as we saw yesterday, there’s probably going to be some lulls after climbs where there might be some attacks so you just got to be eyes open on the circuit.”
Attack
Nora Jenčušová (SVK)
She has a small gap on the bunch.
Attack
Antri Christoforou (CYP) Kim Cadzow (NZL) Fariba Hashimi (AFG)
Dragged back yet again.
Attack
Kim Cadzow (NZL) Rebecca Koerner (DEN)
All dragged back though.
Double puncture
Minji Song (KOR)
Dropped
Houili (ALG) Al Sayegh (UAE) Ukpeseraye (NGR) Ingabire (RWA)
Bamogo (BKF) has gone from out front to out of the back on this climb.
Caught
Onto the first climb of the day. The Côte des Gardes. Nine catgorised climbs on today’s route. Bamogo (BKF) dragged back as the pace behind it too high for the rider from Burkina Faso.
150km to go
Bamogo (BKF) has around 45″ over the peloton.
Kasia Niewiadoma – winner of La Flèche Wallonne – said it’s been a very long build-up to today but she’s very excited to get the race started.
“I’m confident about my form. Yet. I also know that this race is going to be super open because it basically suits all of the riders. So besides great shape, as we saw yesterday with Remco, you also need this little bit of luck to go in the right place. I hope we will be able to find our moment.”
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Lizzie Deignan told Laura Weislo her preparation sucked – she broke her arm at the Tour of Flanders and she crashed in the Thuringen Tour last month.
The 2012 silver medalist still has hopes for today, though. “I really believe that it’s a wide open race and you know, there’s pressure on my back. I’ve done everything I wanted to in my career. Obviously Olympic gold is missing, but a silver medal is pretty hard to come by, too. So I’m just ready to enjoy myself.”
She is in her last Olympics but will race on one more year with Lidl-Trek.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Our person on the ground in Paris, Laura Weislo, spoke to Giro d’Italia women’s champion, Elisa Longo-Borghini (ITA) before the start.
Laura asked her about the men’s race and Belgium’s success with two potential winners. She said, “We have four riders that are capable of anything a very fast one with [Elisa] Balsamo. an all rounder like me. Silvia Persico is strong rider, a young one that can surprise everybody, and [Elena] Cecchini is somebody that has a lot of knowledge and experience so we are ready to fight and to do our operation.”
On the form of her life, she summed up her feeling in one word: Determined.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Attack
Awa Bamogo (BKF)
157.6km to go
And the racing begins!!
Neutral start
The riders have started the neutralised zone.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Team USA come to the race with Chloe Dygert and Kristen Faulkner. Two excellent riders for a course like this and should not be counted out.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Team GB come here with three riders despite having four slots. They decided to have track rider Anna Morris on the list and then pull her out before the race. This gives Team GB an extra track rider, but means they miss a rider in the road race. Either way, they have national champion Pfeiffer Georgi, London 2012 silver medalist Lizzie Deignan and ITT silver medalist Anna Henderson.
The Dutch are coming here with a superb team. All four riders are definitely in with a chance of taking the win. stage racing megastar Demi Vollering, GOAT Marianne Vos, sprinting goddess Lorena Wiebes and Classics/ITT star Ellen van Dijk.
It is fantastic to see the two riders from Afghanistan lining up at the Olympic road race. The sisters, Fariba and Yulduz Hashimi.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
With just under half an hour before the race starts, the first photos from sign on are coming in. Beginning with the hosts, France. They bring the experience of Audrey Cordon-Ragot, the outside favourite of Julietta Labous and the national champion Victoire Berteau. Silver and bronze in the men’s road race, maybe another big result today?
(Image credit: Getty Images)
I think it is safe to say that Lotte Kopecky (BEL) i the big favourite. However, she doesn’t have the strongest team with Justine Ghekiere, Julie van de Velde and Margot Vanpachtenbeke in the squad. It will be difficult for them to control the super four of the Netherlands.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Saturday’s equivalent event for the Men road race culminated with a spectacular solo victory for Remco Evenepoel of Belgian, his second gold in just under a week. Laura Weislo reported on his post-race reaction here.
The battle to succeed Anna Kiesenhofer of Austria as reigning Olympic Champion is due to start in just over an hour’s time at 1410 CET, with 91 riders – including Kiesenhofer – in the 2024 Road Race peloton.
Hello and bienvenue to Cyclingnews‘ live coverage of the women’s road race at the Paris Olympic Games!
