CHIARA SHINES WITH FIRST WORLDTOUR PODIUM OF THE YEAR!

In a battle between the fastest women in the peloton at a race dubbed ‘The Great Sprint Classic’, Chiara Consonni unleashed a powerful kick, pushing European champion Lorena Wiebes to the limit but ultimately finishing second.

Arguably, no-one has come closer in recent times to toppling the dominant sprinter of this era in women’s cycling. In today’s Classic Brugge-de Panne, Chiara held tight in the draft before launching a final, last-ditch overtaking attempt. With this, she achieved her first WorldTour podium of  2025.

“I’m really, really happy about my podium after the first part of the season didn’t start in the best way. I pushed all the way to the line, but I think I started my sprint a bit late. Still, I’m happy to take second place and to start the Flanders Classics with a podium. I’m also very happy with how we worked as a team – we tried to stay in front, knowing that the finish here can be chaotic, and I think we did a really good job with this.”

“Race by race, we are getting to know each other more, and we’re starting to work much better together.”

Chiara began her 2025 season in late January with a second-place finish at Trofeo Marratxí-Felanitx in Mallorca, but struggled to find success at UAE Tour, one of her favoured stomping grounds. Despite this, a third-place finish at GP Oetingen two weeks ago demonstrated that her form for the classics was building nicely.

“Today’s race suited me much better than other sprints I’ve done this year. The team were all there, we were just trying to stay as close as possible, and after the last corner, I knew exactly what I needed to do.”

Under atypical spring classic conditions of perfect blue skies and light breezes, the peloton set off from Markt square in Bruges, not with winter jackets, but with sunscreen. The 154-kilometre race followed a controlled script initially – as calm and steady as a group of 140 riders can be, despite missing a key character.

Though the absence of wind might have given the impression of a relaxed peloton, the race was as chaotic as ever on the inside. A two-rider breakaway escaped in the final 90km before being caught, and on the last 43km circuit, a solo attacker added some entertainment. With 2.5km to go, Ferguson (MOV) was caught, while Chiara sat in a prime position amongst the top 10 wheels behind Wiebes and the Lidl-Trek sprint train. Through the final swarms of teams pushing to the front, the narrowings, and the twists of the technical finale, Chiara showcased the same exceptional finesse that has driven her sprinting success in the past.

As the race neared its final 200m, Chiara held her position firmly behind Wiebes, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. With 175m to go, both riders darted through a gap and opened up their sprints. In the final metres, Chiara surged from the slipstream of the European champion and made a bid for the win, desperately throwing her bike and emptying the tank completely. She couldn’t quite edge ahead, but Wiebes admitted to feeling Chiara’s shadow looming behind her. Despite being close, Chiara was completely satisfied with her effort.

“In the end, it’s a podium behind a rider who won Sanremo last week and has won nearly everything she can. I’m most pleased and really motivated by being there, showing my sprint, and coming with more speed from the back.”

While there is much jubilation tonight from an ever-energetic Chiara, attention will quickly shift to Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields on Sunday, where she finished third in 2024.