The Netherlands Shirin van Anrooij cannot hide her disbelief as she wins the Trofeo Alfredo Binda, her first victory in a UCI Women's World Tour event ©Getty Images

Shirin van Anrooij claimed her first International Cycling Union (UCI) Women’s World Tour event when she won the Trofeo Alfredo Binda in Italian region Lombardy.

The 21-year-old Dutch rider, representing Trek-Segafredo, attacked on the descent from Orino with 25 kilometres remaining and then saw off repeated attacks from the peloton, even increasing her lead on the final climb as she completed the 15.5km circuit for the eighth and final time. 

Van Anrooij crossed the line of the 139km race in 3 hours 39min 32sec, finishing 23 seconds in front of team-mate Elisa Balsamo, who held off fellow Italian Vittoria Guazzini in the final sprint.

"I can’t believe it," van Anrooij, the silver medallist in the under-23-time trial at last year’s UCI World Championships in Wollongong, said.

"It’s my first-ever victory for the team, and this has always been one of my favourite races. 

"I never expected to stay away.

"I just expected them to come back and Balsi [Elisa Balsamo] to win the sprint.

"And somehow, I managed to win this race."

The Trofeo Alfredo Binda race takes place in the Italian region of Lombardy ©Getty Images
The Trofeo Alfredo Binda race takes place in the Italian region of Lombardy ©Getty Images

Van Anrooij’s win gave Trek-Segafredo a third victory in successive years, with Elisa Longo Borghini having won in 2021, followed by Balsamo last year.

She is the second Dutch rider to win the race after the legendary Marianne Vos, who lifted this title four times in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2019.

The next race of this season’s UCI Women’s World Tour is due to be the Classic Brugge-De Panne on Thursday (March 23).