The former two-time road World Champion beat Dutch sprint rival Kirsten Wild (Hitec Products) to the line by more than a bike length with Fanny Riberot (French National Team) winning the close battle for third.
Bronzini had been edged out by Wild twice in the Tour of Chongming Island earlier in the week so the Wiggle Honda riders decided to change tactics to try to beat the Hitec Products rider. The team had three options for the finish, with on-form Chloe Hosking and double track World Champion Nettie Edmondson in addition to Bronzini.
“We were together for the lead out for Chloe but there was some chaos before the last corner that divided us, so I remained with Nettie in my wheel,” Bronzini explained. “At 700 metres to go the best thing was go out in the right side to pull for a sprint, but I had no space so I decided to wait.
“At 300 metres to go I checked behind me and also Nettie wasn't in my draft so I decided to defend my position and keep Wild’s wheel. Fortunately for me there was a strong head wind and she had to take a long sprint, so I could come out the last moment.”
Bronzini’s victory is the third in the World Cup for Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling in 2015 so far, after Jolien D’hoore’s Ronde van Drenthe win, and Elisa Longo Borghini’s in the Tour of Flanders. Rabo-Liv's Anna van der Breggen retains the series lead.
@chloe_hosking_ I didn't think this season could get any more surreal. Third World Cup victory for the team in China today, this time it was our team captain and fearless leader @giorgia_bronzini with her hands in the air. #earnedit
Chongming World Cup
1 Giorgia Bronzini (ITA) Wiggle Honda 3hr 09min 45sec
2 Kirsten Wild (NED) Hitec Products
3 Fanny Riberot (FRA) France
4 Shelley Olds (USA) Bigla
5 Lotta Lepistö (FIN) Bigla
6 Kim De Baat (NED) Lensworld.eu-Zannata
7 Pascale Jeuland (FRA) Poitou-Charentes.Futuroscope.86
8 Annalisa Cucinotta (ITA) Ale Cipollini
9 Roxane Fournier (FRA) Poitou-Charentes.Futuroscope.86
10 Jutatip Maneephan (THA) Thailand
