Cyclo-Cross World Cup #8 - CDM

Liévin, France, January 13, 2008

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Race 3 - January 13: Elite Women

Hanka beats strong French team on its home soil

By Brecht Decaluwé in Liévin

After a tumultuous start filled with crashes, Canadian Wendy Simms (Kona-Your Key Mortgage Team) led the Liévin World Cup race. But not for long; once the big guns of women's cyclo-cross gathered a head of steam, they took command in the race. Hanka Kupfernagel and world champion Maryline Salvetat dominated the race and eventually it was the German champion who took her first World Cup win of the season with a gap of 12" on world champion Salvetat.

The French team scored well on home soil by placing no less than five riders in the top-10. Canadian Simms stood tall and defended her good position throughout the race and eventually finished fifth. Helen Wyman is still struggling with her form and barely managed to stay in the top-10. Christine Vardaros and Lynn Bessette didn't start in France, with the latter standing as support for husband and US-champion Tim Johnson.

Hanka Kupfernagel was delighted with her first World Cup victory of the season. "I didn't feel so good because of all the travelling we did in the car," Kupfernagel said. Nevertheless she managed to keep the French team behind her, with world champion Salvetat as main rival. "The French girls received a lot of support, so I hope the crowds will not hate me for that," Kupfernagel wondered. "Too bad Daphny Van Den Brand wasn't here today, because it would've been an ever greater spectacle for the crowds. I really feel the level of women's cyclo-cross is picking up recently."

Laurence Leboucher was happy with her third place, just behind her compatriot Salvetat. "I never liked, and still don't like the start over here. There are too many turns and I got stuck. I had to get back to the front on my own. I was even further back than Kupfernagel," Leboucher claimed.

Wendy Simms was delighted with her performance. "I had a great start and even led a World Cup race for a while. Then I thought: hey, you shouldn't be leading a World Cup race," Simms smiled. "It's such a hard course and I didn't want to blow my engine." The Canadian arrived in Belgium a couple of weeks ago and she's happy about her choice to be in Europe a while before the world championships. "Now I'm rid of all the crap in my legs. And I'm getting used to be riding on the wheel of the world champion," Simms laughed," that's not something I did a lot before today."

Helen Wyman wasn't happy with her performance. She finished tenth at about two minutes from winner Kupfernagel. "My chain came off at the start and I just couldn't get going," Wyman said. "There's another race next week though, and another [important] one the week after that."

Results

1 Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) Focus                                  35.01
2 Maryline Salvetat (Fra) VSLL Castres                            0.12
3 Laurence Leboucher (Fra) Sarthe-Gasseau                         1.03
4 Christelle Ferrier-Bruneau (Fra) Les Pruneaux D'Agen            1.15
5 Wendy Simms (Can) Kona-Your Key Mortgage Team                   1.28
6 Stephanie Pohl (Ger) Team Getränke-Hoffmann                     1.36
7 Pavla Havlikova (Cze) KC Kooperativa SG Jablonec n.N            1.44
8 Nadia Triquet-Claude (Fra) UC Bassin Houiller                   1.46
9 Caroline Mani (Fra) CR Franche Comté                            1.49
10 Helen Wyman (GBr) Global Racing Team                           1.53
11 Saskia Elemans (Ned) WV de Meteoor                             2.05
12 Rachel Lloyd (USA) Proman/Paradigm                             2.21
13 Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel (Ned) Team Flexpoint                2.36
14 Loes Sels (Bel) Vlaanderen - Capri Sonne - T Interim           2.43
15 Sanne Van Paassen (Ned) Team DSB Bank                          2.45
16 Reza Hormes-Ravenstijn (Ned) ZZPR.nl                               
17 Susanne Juranek (Ger) RSC Oldenburg 1965                       2.58
18 Sue Butler (USA) River City Bicycles                           3.04
19 Veerle Ingels (Bel) AVB/USspa Cycling Team                     3.25
20 Elke Riedl (Ned) Restore Cycling                               3.32
21 Abke Francissen (Ned) Team Brabant 2000                        3.39
22 Wendy Williams (USA) River City Bicycles                       3.42
23 Arenda Grimberg (Ned) Team Ton van Bemmelen Sports - OdySis    4.00
24 Gabriella Day (GBr) Global Racing Team                         4.03
25 Katrien Pauwels (Bel) Empella Czech Team                       4.10
26 Sanne Cant (Bel) ASD Selle Italia Guerciotti                   4.20
27 Jasmin Achermann (Swi) VC Rain Toshiba                         4.29
28 Katrien Aerts (Bel) Benelux Team                               5.50
29 Mika Ogishima (Jpn) UWTC de Volharding                         6.12
30 Kelly Jones (Can) Sugoi/Cannondale/Bontrager                   6.19
31 Suzie Godart (Lux) Fenixs - HPB                                6.22
32 Veronica Alessio (Ita) Team Desenzanese Asd                    6.36
33 Lise Müller (Swi) Cyclophile Sédunois                          6.54
34 Céline Wittek (Fra) CV Liévinois                               7.20
35 Aline Parsy (Fra) Pédale Madeleinoise                          +1 lap
36 Joanie Caron (Can)                                                 
DNS Christine Vardaros (USA) Team Vanderkitten                        
DNS Daniela Bresciani (Ita) Team Colnago-Arrighini                    
DNS Lyne Bessette (Can) Team Cyclecrossworld.Com