Excellent fifth place for Elisa Balsamo of Valcar-Travel & Service who confirms her excellent form by winning a good placement in a prestigious race such as Brugge-De Panne. The victory went to the Australian Grace Brown. The race was characterized by two moments: up to 45 km from the finish the pace was low with the athletes who did not attempt big attacks.
The chronicle of the last Km is completely different. Between Km 110 and Km 118 there were two crashes which, combined with the strong wind and the rhythm imposed by the Ceratizit, crumbled the group.
A small group of 13 athletes formed in front of them, consisted by Kopecky, D’Hoore, Wild, Pieters, Hosking, Jorgensen, Biannic, Brown, Barnes, Hanson, Leth, Brennauer (then detached for a puncture 18 km from the finish) and by Elisa Balsamo.
The decisive action is 10 km from the finish. Taking advantage of a stretch with several curves, Grace Brown manages to escape from the leading group and immediately gain 25 seconds. A margin that she will defend until the finish when she will arrive 7 seconds ahead of the group set in the sprint by Emma Norsgaard.
