Lizzie Deignan left frustrated after getting stuck behind motorbike in Strade Bianche finale
The former world champion wasn't able to get around a television motorbike in enough time to contest the finish in Siena
Defending champion Lizzie Deignan (Boels-Dolmans) says that a television motorbike ruined the final of the Strade Bianche on Saturday in Siena, Italy.
She placed third behind winner Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle High5), but on rain-soaked climb into the Piazza del Campo, she found "traffic."
"It was a bit frustrating because there was a motorbike in the way," she told Cycling Weekly in a brief moment when the rain let up.
"It was my own fault though, it was a positional problem that cost me the race."
Shara Gillow (FDJ) and then Lucinda Brand (Sunweb) attacked. In the final kilometre, they had a gap. With around three kilometres left, a television motorbike came close to the front cyclists and quickly turned off the course to avoid them. Then Deignan found "traffic" on the final climb into town.
"It was OK [on the climb], we didn't go that hard at that point, so it was just the final sprint," she added. "Like I say, it was frustrating that there was traffic."
The chase group found themselves directly behind a motorbike in the narrow city roads leading to the famous horse racing square.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
A television motorbike caused problems for Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing) in the Clásica San Sebastián in 2015. Today again, it appeared too close.
The UCI recently released updated safety guidelines for the race caravan following several incidents last year, including the death of Antoine Demoitié (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) in Ghent-Wevelgem.
Motorbike aside, Deignan felt pleased with her first race of the 2017 season.
"To be honest, my form was a bit of a surprise, I didn't expect to feel so good, so I'm pretty happy with third place," the 28-year-old added.
"I'm delighted, I couldn't expect a podium. I was coming here to work for the team. But we had so much bad luck that it ended up being me that had to do the job.
"I feel confident and happy. I think I'll enjoy training more now knowing that... You spend a lot of months in the winter telling yourself that you are not good enough, so I guess I still have it."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
6 ways riders are making their bikes lighter at the Tour of the Alps
From ultralight wheels to carbon bottle cages, there are precious grams to be saved in the mountains
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Is it time we all just bought gravel bikes rather than road bikes and be done with it?
If we're going to have to ride through potholes, we might as well do it in comfort
By James Shrubsall Published
-
'I've missed races I was peaking for, but there's plenty of time to be ready': Lizzie Deignan says broken arm won't derail Olympic goals
Deignan set to lead GB team at Tour of Britain Women and target the overall win as she builds for Paris games
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I'll take time to recover then change direction': Lizzie Deignan looks to bounce back after suffering first fracture at Tour of Flanders
Deignan broke her arm during early crash in Sunday's race
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I don’t know': Not even Tadej Pogačar could explain his incredible Strade Bianche attack
The Slovenian was so dominant on Saturday that everything seems hyperbolic
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tadej Pogačar cruises to Strade Bianche victory after 81km solo attack
Slovenian wins by almost three minutes in Siena after dominant display in Tuscany
By Adam Becket Published
-
Lotte Kopecky storms to Strade Bianche victory with stinging attack
Belgian beats Elisa Longo Borghini to take her first WorldTour win in the rainbow jersey
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tough new Strade Bianche course 'tips the scales' in favour of climbers, Matej Mohorič says
Slovenian says adjustments to the route will make race a 'journey into the unknown’
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Demi Vollering: Revamped Strade Bianche course could play into SD Worx's hands
Defending champion predicts ‘spicy’ race on Saturday
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘It doesn’t change anything’ - Tom Pidcock’s coach on Tadej Pogačar at Strade Bianche
Kurt Bogaerts says the pressure is off for Pidcock as he looks to defend the title he emphatically won last year
By Tom Thewlis Published