Elena Cecchini today finished fifth in the third race of the UCI Women’s WorldTour, Trofeo Binda – Comune di Cittiglio, Italy. For the first time in over ten years, the race finished in a reduced bunch sprint where Coryn Rivera (SUN) outsprinted a peloton of 25 riders to take victory.

The race was aggressive as expected but it wasn’t until the final two circuits around the town of Cittiglio that the peloton really started to split. Tiffany Cromwell launched a solo attack with around 30km to go and was caught on the top of the penultimate climb in Orino.

Soon after Alena Amialiusik was present in a dangerous move on the flat section and a second move in quick succession on the final climb. Neither move stayed away and at the final it was surprisingly a large group of 25 riders that came to the line for a bunch sprint finish.

Following the race a disappointed Elena Cecchini said “It was a hard race as usual. The team did a good race, with Alena and Pauline helping me and then Tiffany being active off the front in the last part was also really good. In the final though I chose the wrong wheel and I came out of the last corner around 9th or 10th and in the end I was 5th. I must admit that I am disappointed. It’s not often that Trofeo Binda is decided in a sprint and this could have been an opportunity for me.”

Alena Amialiusik said the team raced actively but still has room for improvement. “I liked how we raced but we could have been even better. It’s easy to say that now after the race but step by step you can see we are closer and closer. Now we are more hungry of victory. I felt good myself and it was good our team was represented in the two breaks on the final lap.  I feel confident for the next races and already all of us we can’t wait to race again.”

The team will next race at Dwars door Vlaanderen on Wednesday 22 March in Belgium. The team’s roster will be Hannah Barnes, Lisa Brennauer, Tiffany Cromwell, Barbara Guarischi, Mieke Kröger and Leah Thorvilson.

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