Elisa Longo Borghini won the Tour of Flanders in a thrilling three-up sprint, beating out Shirin van Anrooij and Kasia Niewiadoma. Lotte Kopecky and Demi Vollering of SD Worx finished off the podium. Kopecky, aiming to win Flanders for the third time in a row, encountered issues on the Koppenberg when she had to run up the climb after getting caught up in some chaos on the cobbles. Longo Borghini, van Anrooij, and Niewiadoma formed a leading trio and sprinted for the finish, with Longo Borghini emerging as the victor. This was her second win at the prestigious race, with her first being in 2015.
The race began under grey skies with the threat of rain looming over the riders. A crash occurred early on, taking out riders such as Lizzie Deignan, Marlen Reusser, and Monica Greenwood. Deignan suffered a broken arm in the crash, further complicating matters for the Lidl-Trek team. The race continued with intermittent rain, with an original breakaway of five riders managing to stay ahead until the Kapelleberg. Crashes due to slippery conditions became more frequent, but the main contenders all remained upright. Longo Borghini suffered a puncture but managed to catch back up with the peloton.
The race intensified on the Koppenberg, a brutal and slick climb covered in cobbles. While some riders managed the climb successfully, Kopecky was forced to dismount and run up the slope, losing valuable time. Vollering also missed out on joining the elite break, and the two had to work together to try and close the gap. Kopecky was later dropped on the next climb, conceding that she didn’t have the legs to keep up with the leaders. Longo Borghini made a bold move to try and drop Marianne Vos, with Niewiadoma also joining the fray. Van Anrooij surprised everyone by catching the leaders and forging ahead, with Longo Borghini and Niewiadoma eventually bridging the gap.
The final sprint saw Longo Borghini outwitting her competitors in a display of experience and strength. Despite the challenging conditions and fierce competition, she emerged victorious for the second time in the Tour of Flanders. Her Lidl-Trek team showed strength in depth with two riders in the top three. Longo Borghini credited her team for their support and strategic guidance throughout the race. Her win solidified her status as a favorite for the upcoming Paris Roubaix race, while Kopecky, nursing injuries from the crash, may seek redemption in future races. The thrilling finish and challenging conditions made the 2022 Tour of Flanders a memorable and exciting event for riders and fans alike.
