On the final ascent of the Cauberg with just three kilometres to go in the race, lone leader Grace Brown (BikeExchange) was passed by an attack from Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) with riders fighting to stay on her wheel until Niewiadoma took over midway up the famous climb and surged clear. UCI Women's WorldTour leader Longo Borghini managed to catch Niewiadoma by the top of the climb with 1.5 kilometres of flat left to the finish.
Longo Borghni sat on Niewiadoma's wheel steadfastly refusing to do work to help the pair stay away despite the chasers forming behind and none of her Trek-Segafredo teammates being present. With Niewiadoma yelling at her to help - the audio from the camera moto being clear enough to pick up the intent rather than the content - Longo Borghini stayed back even as the Polish rider swung back and forth across the road.
They were swept up with just under 400 metres to go, then just seconds later Longo Borghini was the first to launch the sprint. She was passed by a flying Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) who went on to win, with Longo Borghni finishing in eighth and Niewiadoma tenth.
"It's just a pity I couldn't finish it off," said Longo Borghini after the finish. "Maybe we were just looking at each other too much in the end, they caught us. It's a bit of a bitter taste as on the Cauberg I was really strong and I think we could have arrived actually."
Longo Borghini's comments were a bit of a surprise given that it appeared to be the Italian star that was the one who refused to cooperate.
Longo Borghini also surrendered her Women's WorldTour leader's jersey to Vos, while Niewiadoma herself was looking to try and defend her Amstel Gold title from 2019, with the 2020 race cancelled due to COVID-19.
“To be so close to a great result and then end up so far off the podium, it hurts,” said Niewiadoma.
“The start was a bit rough because of the early time and cold conditions but by lap two, and with every passing lap I was feeling better.
"When Annemiek attacked with three laps to go I could see she was going hard, and I was following her and still in control of my effort. That gave me a lot of confidence for the final; I knew where I wanted to attack.
"I just needed to stay patient and pray that there wasn’t a breakaway that would stay to the end.”
Niewiadoma revealed she did not want to end up alongside Longo Borghini and once it happened was prepared to persevere, but it all fell apart in the end.
“I felt great in my attack," Niewiadoma said. "I’m disappointed first of all that Longo Borghini was on my wheel after the attack because the ideal scenario was that I was solo.
"When she was there, I thought ‘okay now we just need to go to the finish and then battle to see who wins.’ I could feel some resistance from her.
"She attacked me and I followed. Maybe I should have attacked her after that but I was still thinking we could both make it to the finish and we go for first and second. We didn’t cooperate at all.
"In the end, we fought for the last position in the group that caught us and not for the top of the podium.”
Kasia Niewiadoma has extended her contract to remain with Canyon-SRAM until the end of 2024 and will look to be competitive in the rest of the classics, starting with La Flèche Wallonne, broadcast LIVE on SBS VICELAND and streaming to SBS On Demand on the 21st of April.
Fleche Wallonne on VICELAND
Wednesday April 21
LIVE to Eastern States (delayed to other time zones on SBS HD), live streaming to all SBS On Demand
Live on SBS VICELAND: Fleche Wallonne Women's
Wednesday April 21
1905 - 2100
Live on SBS VICELAND: Fleche Wallonne Men's
Wednesday April 21
2100 - 0100 (earlier live streaming also available via SBS On Demand from 1855 - 2115
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