Another strong performance from UAE Team L’IMAD at the Pointe du Raz Ladies Classic in France, with Paula Blasi finishing second and Elisa Longo Borghini eighth after a race in which the entire team played a leading role.
The 129.5-kilometre race started at Pointe du Raz and finished in Plouhinec, with a demanding circuit that also included several gravel sections, adding further difficulty and selectivity to the course.
UAE Team L’IMAD worked throughout the opening part of the race to keep its key riders protected and well positioned. American rider Megan Jastrab then made the decisive move into the breakaway, joining two other riders in an escape that remained at the head of the race for much of the middle section.
The breakaway group was later joined by further riders, with Paula Blasi, Elisa Longo Borghini and Maeva Squiban ensuring a strong UAE Team L’IMAD presence at the front.
On a climb, Elisa Longo Borghini launched the first attack, immediately followed by a reaction from French champion Célia Gery. After the front group came back together, Gery attacked again, this time taking Paula Blasi and Sarah Van Dam with her to form a new leading trio.
As the race entered its final stages, the gap between the three leaders and the chasing group gradually decreased. The trio was caught just before the finishing straight, setting up a sprint for the victory. Nina Berton (EF Education-Oatly) produced a strong late surge to come past Paula Blasi, who had won on the same finish one year ago, and Célia Gery (FDJ United-SUEZ) in the final metres.
Elisa Longo Borghini finished eighth.
Megan Jastrab also stepped onto the podium during the awards ceremony after being named the most combative rider of the day, recognising her attacking performance and important contribution to the race.
After the race, Paula Blasi said: “The race was very chaotic, but just like last year, I really enjoyed it. We had some bad luck, such as Maeva Squiban’s puncture, but as a team we worked really well, with great cooperation and communication. Megan Jastrab did an incredible job. We were always in control and had the numerical advantage, so I think we did a great job again today. Whenever one of us attacked, the others were always there to cover perfectly. There were many attacks throughout the race and we were always present. In the finale, I tried to get into that trio to see if we could make something happen, but the riders behind came back very strongly. In the end, I still managed to sprint and I’m happy with the result.”
(ph. @nicolas.vaucouleur)
