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@peter_v
I don't know about the course, don't think it's to blame. And there's a lot on the line so riders, male and female will want to use every inch of it to extend any possible advantage. One chance in four years, they might overestimate their own abilities in the heat of the moment. And the surface is not what they are used to I read, add a little rain and things become tricky very fast. But you'd expect them to have done a proper reconnaissance to minimise the risks.
What a team though! Van Dijk controlling the first half of the race, Vos carrying water bottles and Van Vleuten riding the race of a lifetime, looking set to keep ahead of Abbott, until her cornering mistake and then Van der Breggen finishing it which was brilliant. A real rollercoaster; I wasn't really able to enjoy the medal until I heard Van Vleuten was OK. Relatively speaking, that is. Hope she'll be fit to race again.