Newly crowned European champion Vollering beaten by Longo Borghini, who triumphs in Tre Valli Varesine

Last year, the Tre Valli Varesine was held in extremely challenging weather conditions. While the men did not have to start, the women were stuck in the pouring rain. Master descender Cédrine Kerbaol managed to control her fear the best and won the iconic edition. This year, Italy experienced beautiful sunshine, although the morning was chilly for the women.

The fall race was the first competition in which Demi Vollering was able to appear at the start in her brand-new European champion's jersey. The Dutch rider from FDJ-SUEZ won the road race in France, claiming her first international title. But with top riders such as Kimberley Le Court, Elisa Longo Borghini, and world champion Magdeleine Vallieres at the start, there was plenty of competition.

The race was initially dominated by four women who broke away, but that group thinned out to three in the first lap on the local circuit. There were no Dutch or Belgian riders in the group, and the trio was given very little space by the peloton, which caught up with them after just 70 kilometers. Would the top riders wait much longer? The answer was no!

The very young Ava Holmgren (Lidl-Trek) was the first to make a move, but Elisa Longo Borghini provided the first real big moment. The Italian champion from UAE Team ADQ opened up a gap, but with Amber Kraak (working for Vollering) and Marthe Goossens (working for Le Court) on her tail, she didn't get very far.

A group of outsiders managed to break away. They included Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck), Cat Ferguson (Movistar), Elise Chabbey (FDJ-SUEZ), Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek), and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (CANYON//SRAM). This meant a truce among the favorites until a new attack by Longo Borghini. Vollering jumped along, but a big gap opened up behind them.

The Italian champion pushed hard and closed the gap with the leaders in one go. She had Uttrup Ludwig as her domestique; Vollering had Chabbey. Later, Juliette Labous also joined, together with world champion Vallieres. Chabbey took the lead and kept the pace high, making the chasers' chances increasingly slim.

The peloton gave up with 30 kilometers to go, although a group with defending champion Kerbaol, Riejanne Markus (Lidl-Trek), and Urska Zigart (AG Insurance - Soudal) remained between them. Chabbey had exhausted herself, after which Longo Borghini took off again. Vollering was right on her wheel, as was Fisher-Black. However, the cooperation was not ideal: led by Vallieres, the group gathered again.

Vollering still looked good. Would she have the legs to accelerate again? The Montello climb would have to be conquered once more, although the finish line was also approaching. But it was not the European champion who attacked, but the world champion. Vallieres jumped with Swinkels, and behind them, there was a moment of silence.

Labous then took the lead, but the gap quickly grew to 30 seconds. However, Vallieres received no help from Swinkels, who had Longo Borghini in the chasing group. As a result, the Canadian saw her chances dwindle. But who would close the gap? The answer came quickly: Vollering attacked just as Swinkels had to let go in the leading group.

Vallieres was alone, but Vollering closed the gap with a new burst of speed. Once again, only Longo Borghini and Fisher-Black were able to keep up—four leaders, then, who seemed to be riding together to the finish. Cooperation was hard to find, especially between Vollering and Longo Borghini: they kept looking at each other, leaving gaps and bluffing like poker experts. As a result, the chasing group caught up again.

With about 15 women, we started the final uphill stretch. That's where the battle began, with an attack by Kastelijn. Vollering closed the gap with Longo Borghini and Fisher-Black, then accelerated herself. This time, only the Italian champion was able to follow, who didn't budge an inch. Vollering accelerated several times, but it came down to a sprint, in which the Italian surprised everyone with an early sprint.