Elisa Longo Borghini conquers cobbles at Flanders

Lidl-Trek takes the fight to SD Worx-Protime to beat them on the bergs

When the favourites charged onto the Oude Kwaremont with 20km to go last Sunday, the heavens opened and the rain that had been present all day fell harder still.

Alone out front, Shirin van Anrooij (Lidl-Trek) had made the race-defining move, forcing race favourite Lotte Kopecky to chase, and setting up teammate Longo Borghini whose attack on the Paterberg capitalised on the momentum.

Heavy rain defined this edition. It made the Koppenberg climb so slippery that world champion Lotte Kopecky and Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime) were forced to dismount and run up the fearsome cobbles.

Only riders who managed to stay on their bikes ended up contesting the finish in Oudenaarde 50km later - perhaps evidence of energy and momentum saved.