Portugal Colonial - Vollering powers to European women's road race title

Vollering broke away with 38km to go, finishing 1min 18sec ahead of Poland's Kasia Niewiadoma, who dominated a sprint for second with another Dutch rider Anna van der Breggen.

Vollering said she was very proud to win the jersey for the team: "I can't wait to wear it in a race," Vollering said of the white jersey with blue stars that she will wear for a year.

Dutch riders have won the women's European road race title in nine of the 10 editions.

A week after rank outsider Magdeleine Vallieres of Canada pulled off a surprise win in the world championships in Kigali, Vollering, seventh in Rwanda, closed the door to any surprises.

A trio of Dutch riders set a hard uphill pace before Vollering produced a surge which only Niewiadoma, Van der Breggen and Italy's Elisa Longo Borghini could even attempt to match.

But after breaking away solo, the 28-year-old Vollering never faltered over the final two hills and picked up her 11th win of the season.

Results:

1. Demi Vollering (NED) 2hr 57min 53sec, 2. Kasia Niewiadoma (POL) at 1:18, 3. Anna van der Breggen (NED) 1:24., 4. Elise Chabbey (SUI) 2:31., 5. Franziska Koch (GER) same time, 6. Juliette Labous (FRA) s.t., 7. Mavi Garcia (ESP) s.t., 8. Antonia Niedermaier (GER) 3:08., 9. Cédrine Kerbaol (FRA) 4:38., 10. Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA) 4:42.

A.Aguiar--PC