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2003 World Cyclocross Championships - CM
Monopoli, Italy, February 1-2, 2003
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February 2 - Elite/Junior Women: 50 Minutes
A Golden Day For A Little Dutch Girl
By Tim Maloney / Cyclingnews European Editor
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With her blonde pigtails sticking out from under her helmet and her china blue eyes, petite Daphny van den Brand looks like she should be wearing wooden shoes on her 'cross bike. But make no mistake; the 24 year old van den Brand from Zeeland has won almost every 'cross race she has entered this year. Today's Elite Women World Cyclo-cross Championship was no exception.
Dutch Daphny dominated today, even after a strong challenge from former World Champion, German Hanka Kupfernagel. It was a ding-dong battle between the two riders all day. Although van den Brand managed to distance the German several times, hard ridin' Hanka hung tough and the race came down to a two-up sprint which the petite Dutch race won handily.
Daphny van den Brand of the Netherlands commented after the finish that, "'I had to make it tough for Kupfernagel today....and I couldn't miss her when she rode in the fence in front of me (referring to their late race tangle). But the most important thing is to win. Winning is winning. Today I had no problem in any way. It's great to be World Champion!"
Last year's women's champ Laurence Leboucher had a solid ride to take bronze. The Frenchwoman battled with Italian Annabella Stroparro for much of the race, but dumped her fellow mountain biker for good with a lap and a half to go for the final podium place.
For American riders Anne Grande and Gina Hall, Sunday was less than satisfying. Both riders were doing well in the main chase group that was riding for 7th place. But since no one could manage to ring the bell for the final lap for this group, both Grande and Hall didn't realize it was the last lap. "I'm disappointed... I have one more lap in me," exclaimed Grande after the finish to her teammate Hall. "They didn't ring the bell for us so I thought it was two to go!"
Grande seemed philosophical in her chagrin, shrugging her shoulders and saying "live and learn" as she realized she might have bettered her respectable 10th place in Monopoli.
Results
1 Daphny Van Den Brand (Ned) 38.24 2 Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) 0.02 3 Laurence Leboucher (Fra) 0.16 4 Annabella Stropparo (Ita) 0.31 5 Mette Andersen (Den) 1.05 6 Maria Paola Turcutto (Ita) 1.10 7 Marilyne Salvetat (Fra) 1.19 8 Nicolle De Bie-Leijten (Ned) 1.23 9 Corine Dorland (Ned) 1.24 10 Ann Grande (USA) 1.24 11 Gina Hall (USA) 1.38 12 Anja Nobus (Bel) 1.55 13 Rachel Lloyd (USA) 2.16 14 Hilde Quintens (Bel) 2.41 15 Isla Rowntree (GBr) 2.43 16 Vania Rossi (Ita) 2.46 17 Debby Mansveld (Ned) 2.47 18 Lyne Bessette (Can) 2.56 19 Isabella Wieser (Aut) 3.12 20 Victoria Wilkinson (GBr) 3.24 21 Alexandra Bahler (Swi) 3.27 22 Carmen D'aluisio (USA) 3.30 23 Loes Sels (Bel) 3.31 24 Birgit Hollmann (Ger) 3.35 25 Francesca Cucciniello (Ita) 3.37 26 Nadia Triquet (Fra) 3.54 27 Paola Bortolin (Ita) 3.58 28 Masami Mashimo (Jpn) 4.08 29 Christine Vardaros (USA) 30 Shauna Gillies-Smith (Can) 4.09 31 Nicole Kampeter (Ger) 4.26 32 Reza Hormes-Ravenstijn (Ned) 4.46 33 Miyoko Karami (Jpn) 5.01 34 Veerle Ingels (Bel) 5.29 35 Aida Nuņo Palacio (Spa) 6.52 36 Isabel Caetano (Por) 8.03 DNF Katleen Vermeiren (Bel) DNS Alla Epifanova (Rus)
