Women's Elite World Cup, Round 8
Ladies Tour Benedon-Maas

Report:

In a race with an average speed of 42 km/h Petra Rossner (Ger) out ran Leontien Zijlaard (Ned) and Anna Wilson (Aus) in a group sprint to win the Ladies Tour Beneden-Maas, stage 8 of the Elite World Cup. The 120 kilometre route is flat and the major part of the race is below sea level, the only significant height differences are the Heinenoord tunnel and two bridges across the Haringvliet.

The race started at Spijkenisse, and did not really get going until after the first three kilometres and the crossing of the Spijkenisser Bridge. Throughout the pace stayed high as the riders sped past dykes, through polders and across the occasional bridge.

The group remained intact for some time, but as the riders crossed Haringvliet river the wind started blowing, and the inevitable attacks came from the bunch. At the 60km mark a few groups joined together and formed a strong group of 15 containing all the favourites.

Throughout the race an increasingly noticeable split developed and with about 20 kilometres left, a group of 13 was out in front, about 15 seconds ahead of a group of 11.

With 10 kms remaining the participants rejoined setting up a sprint for the group of 38. Van Moorsel set a high tempo for the sprint, and Kupfernagel wasn't letting Anna Wilson out of her sight. In the end Petra Rossner proved too fast, with Van Moorsel just scraping 2nd over Anna Wilson and Kupfernagel right behind for 4th.

1	Petra Rossner (Ger) German National Team	2.50.49
2	Leontien Zijlaard (Ned) Farm Frites Hartol
3	Anna Wilson (Aus) Saturn
4	Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) Greenery-Hawk-Berlin
5	Monica Valen (Nor)
6	Tanja Schimtt (Ger) SC Michela Fanini Record
7	Elsbeth Vink (Ned) Netherlands
8	Rikke Sandhoj-Olsen (Den) Greenery-Hawk-Berlin
9	Sally Boyden (GB) Great Britain
10	Susanne Ljungskog (Swe)
11	Arenda Grimberg (Ned) Almelo
12	Vanja Vonckx (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002
13	Sanna Lehtimaki (Fin) Greenery-Hawk-Berlin
14	Madeleine Lindberg (Swe)
15	Susan Carter (GB) Great Britain
16	Birgit Sollner (Ger) Nurnberger-Emmi
17	Allison Wright (Aus)
18	Elizabeth Tadich (Aus) GS Mazza-Tege
19	Debby Mansveld (Ned) Farm Frites Hartol
20	Chantal Beltman (Ned) Dutch National Team
21	Katie Compton (USA)
22	Sandra Wampfler (Swi)
23	Jorunn Kvalo (Nor)
24	Kerry Hellmuth (USA)
25	Veronique Belleter (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002
26	Nicole Brandli (Swi) Swiss National Team
27	Solrun Flataas (Nor)
28	Marci Eicher-Vouls (Swi)
29	Tracey Gaudry (Aus) Ebly
30	Ita Kryjanovskaia (Rus)
31	Kim Smith (USA)
32	Sara Carrigan (Aus)
33	Ingunn Bollerud (Nor)
34	Mari Holden (USA) Ghia Dream Team
35	Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Netherlands
36	Sissy van Alebeek (Ned) Farm Frites Hartol
37	Viola Müller-Paulitz (Ger) Nürnberger-Emmi	0.39
38	Jenny Algelid (Swe)	0.54
39	Judith Arndt (Ger) Germany	1.52
40	Emma Davies (GB) Great Britain	3.46
41	Mirjam van Melis (Ned)
42	Susy Pryde (NZ) New Zealand National Team
43	Ruth Demeyer (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002
44	Angela Hunter (GB) Great Britain
45	Bogumila Matusiak (Pol)
46	Linne Lykke-Meyer (Den)
47	Elizabeth Emery (USA)
48	Janet Harder (Ned)
49	Aud kari Berg (Nor)
50	Susanne Lange (Ger)
51	Sandra Misbach (Ger)
52	Ghita Beltman (Ned)
53	Marion Brauen (Swi)
54	Wenche Stensvold (Nor)	3.52
55	Cindy Pieters (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002
56	Cecilia Backstedt (Swe)
57	Meike De Bruijn (Ned) The Greenery Hawk Team
58	Anouska van de Zee (Ned) Farm Frites Hartol
59	Christina Becker (Ger)
60	Tina Liebig (Ger) German National Team
61	Astrid van Tol (Ned) Farm Frites Hartol