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Backward & Forward. PR24-5
Pfeiffer Georgi (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL) was coming back to the front of the race having tangled wheels with one of her teammates. Both managed to stay upright, but it left the British champion chasing back across the Carrefour de l’Arbre sector. Conversely, Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) was going through a bad patch and was dropping away from the leading group. Thus the title, backward for the actions of Balsamo, and forward for those of Georgi. With just sixteen kilometers to race, and this being the final truly tough section of cobbles, it was going to be tough for either of these women to see the leaders of the race again.