Anna van der Breggen of the Netherlands competes during the women's Elite Time Trial at the UCI Road World Championships in Imola, Italy, September 24, 2020. /VCG
Anna van der Breggen of the Netherlands claimed the road race gold medal at the UCI Road World Championships, prevailing after a long solo ride to add to her time-trial title for a rare double on Saturday.
She also becomes the first woman to achieve the double in the same year since French rider Jeannie Longo in 1995.
The Dutchwoman jumped away from a reduced pack on the climb to the Cima Gallisterna in the penultimate lap, 41.5 km from the finish, and never looked back.
"It was a really hard race right from the beginning. The climbs are really tough but in the third lap I felt strong. We made the race harder and I just went for it. Everybody was tired," said Van der Breggen.
Anna Van Der Breggen of The Netherlands celebrates with her gold medal at the women's Elite Time Trial in Imola, Italy, September 24, 2020. /VCG
The 30-year-old Olympic champion, who had geared up for the race by winning the Giro Rosa earlier this month, gave the Netherlands their fourth title in a row in the women's road race.
Van der Breggen won the women's time trial on Thursday. She claimed gold in the road race two years ago but finished second to Van Vleuten last year.
Another Dutchwoman, defending champion Annemiek van Vleuten, took silver and Italian Elisa Longo Borghini claimed the bronze medal after the duo broke clear in the final lap while Marianne Vos, the triple world champion also from the Netherlands, took fourth place.
The UCI Road World Championships were moved to Imola, Italy, after Swiss host Aigle-Martigny backed out because of a government ruling limiting mass gatherings amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The revised event features only elite categories, eliminating junior and under-23 races.
The men's road race is on Sunday — exactly a week after the Tour de France ended.
(With input from agencies)