Velocio-SRAM's Alena Amialiusik has won gold for Belarus at the 2015 European Games road race today in Baku, Azerbaijan. Amialiusik won in a three-rider sprint ahead of Poland's Katarzyna Niewiadoma who took silver, and Anna Van Der Breggen (The Netherlands) who settled for bronze.
The 125 kilometre race, made up of nine circuits through the city was in hot conditions and after several attacks and breakaways, it was only in the last half of the race that the winning move was made. Amialiusik was in a break with Van Der Breggen, Niewiadoma and Van Dijk. Ratto (Italy) had also been in the winning move until a reported puncture meant she was out of contention.
After Van Dijk had lost contact, it was three riders who turned into the long finish straight and while Van Der Breggen lead out the sprint, it was patience that allowed Amialiusik to power away for what she made look like an easy sprint victory.
"My Belarusian team mates helped me a lot and I have to thank them for their work to achieve this gold medal. I am so happy to win. I knew it would be a hard race, especially when the Dutch came with some of their strongest racers and it's almost their Olympic team. The most important thing for me was to be smart, remain calm and have confidence in myself."
Amialiusik will return to her professional team, Velocio-SRAM for the Italian ten-day stage race, Giro Rosa starting 3 July.