South Africa’s Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio finished eighth in the rain-soaked Strade Bianche Donne in Siena, Italy, today.

South Africa’s Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio finished eighth in the women’s race at the Strade Bianche in Siena, Italy, today. Photo: Sean Rowe
Olympic champion Anna van der Breggen escaped late in the race over 136km to ride to an impressive solo victory on roads that took in several stretches of “sterrati”, or white gravel roads.
Katarzyna Niewiadoma of Poland took her third straight second place in the classic, 49 seconds adrift of the Dutch winner, after distancing Elisa Longo Borghini from Italy in the run-in to the finish.
Borghini emerged from the final paved climb – which includes gradients of 16 per cent – 10 seconds later to complete the podium.
Chantal Blaak, the Dutch world champion, placed fourth in the Tuscan race, just ahead of Lucy Kennedy of Australia.
The top 10 results are:
136km
Women
1. Anna van der Breggen (Netherlands) 4:10:48
2. Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Poland) +49″
3. Eliisa Longo Borghini (Italy) +59″
4. Chantal Blaak (Netherlands) +1’32”
5. Lucy Kennedy (Australia)
6. Janneke Ensing (Netherlands) +1’37”
7. Amanda Spratt (Australia) +1’41”
8. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (South Africa) +2’25”
9. Ellen van Dijk (Netherlands) +2’36”
10. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Denmark) +2’50”