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Preview, Start List, & History
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Canberra World Cup
Canberra, Australia, March 12, 2000
1999 results Preview Start List Past Winners
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Canberra, the national capital of Australia, is the location of Round 1 of the Elite Women's World Cup for 2000. Being a world cup event, it is the highest UCI ranked one day race in Australia. The field includes some of the best riders in women's cycling, nearly all of whom have used the recent Tour de Snowy as preparation for this important event.
This point was reiterated at the media launch today in Canberra by race organiser Phill Bates, who pointed out last years results. Of the top 10 placings in 1999, nine were taken by riders who had ridden the Tour de Snowy. The remaining spot was taken by former German number one, Hanka Kupfernagel who flew to Australia especially for it.
There was more good news at the launch for Phill Bates, as he announced that the World Cup event had the support of the UCI for the next three years, with Canberra being the most likely venue for it. This is good news for Australia as well as women's cycling, as all the cyclists who were present agreed. Since its inception in 1998, the women's World Cup has given the sport a huge, and probably much needed credibility boost. The result is that several fully fledged professional women's trade teams have formed, to complement the well established team structure in the men's divisions. A professional team is good for cycling, as the public certainly appreciate watching top athletes compete. On Sunday, March 12 they won't be disappointed.
Hot favourite for the event will be Australia's Anna Wilson (Saturn), who won the reace last year from Hanka Kupfernagel. The latter will not be contesting the event this year, as she could not find the funds to come out, however there is certainly plenty of other competition for Wilson. The 28 year old is under pressure, being in the "win or fail" situation that is placed upon so many top athletes by their fans. However, she comes off three stage wins in the Tour de Snowy, and will have very strong support from teammates Susy Pryde (NZ), Dede Demet (USA) and Sophie Freshwater (Aus). Demet was the winner of the first World Cup event in Sydney in 1998, and has been riding into some form in the TdS, finishing 10th overall. Pryde is in similar condition finishing 11th, and will play an important role on Sunday.
The teams with the most depth are the AIS and Timex teams, who were prominent on the podium in the TdS. Timex has Tracey Gaudry and Mari Holden who were second and fourth overall, and should be in a position to outnumber the others, as they have good support riders. By their own admissions, Gaudry and Holden have been riding better and better during the week, and will certainly make the final selection.
James Victor's AIS squad have a good sprinter in Alison Wright, provided she recovers from her coccyx injury, as well as several other strong riders in Feldhahn, Carrigan, Scrymgeour, Shirley and Rutherford. A well balanced team, but they will have to use each member to their fullest if one of them is to win.
New Zealand have also entered their strongest team for the event, as it is important for them for Olympic selection. The Kiwis have world number 6, Jacinta Coleman as well as Rosalind Reekie-May, and Sarah Ulmer, all of whom were prominent in the attacks in the TdS.
The Dutch team will rely most likely on Mirjam Melchers, who won two stages of the TdS, but is also quite handy on the hills. They have a solid squad of six riders (they had to leave out Angela Hillenga), and Melchers will receive all the support she needs.
Finally, and certainly not least, there is the Canadian composite team, headed by the experienced Karen Kurreck (USA) and TdS winner, Geneviève Jeanson. Both of these riders are capable of making solo attacks although the course may not favour them. If it comes to a sprint containing Anna Wilson or Mari Holden, then these two will find the top spot hard to snare.
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Complete Start List - Riders and Teams
Timex 1 Tracey Gaudry (Aus) 2 Odessa Gunn (Can) 3 Mari Holden (USA) 4 Sanna Lehtimaki (Fin) 5 Erin Veenstra-Mirabella (USA) 6 Kim Smith (USA) Saturn/Edilsavano 7 Anna Wilson (Aus) 8 Dede Demet (USA) 9 Susy Pryde (NZl) 10 Sophie Freshwater (Aus) 66 Karen Kurreck (USA) New Zealand 11 Jacinta Coleman (NZl) 12 Vanessa Cheatley (NZl) 14 Rosalind Reekie-May (NZl) 15 Annalisa Farrell (NZl) 16 Sarah Ulmer (NZl) 17 Kirsty Robb (NZl) Federation New Zealand 18 Benita Douglas (NZl) 19 Natalie Beetson (NZl) 20 Fanny Lavierrie (NZl) 21 Karen Dekryger (Ned) 74 Bianca Netzler (Sam) Pays Bas-Holland 22 Chantal Beltman (Ned) 23 Ghita Beltman (Ned) 24 Arenda Grimberg (Ned) 26 Mirjam Melchers (Ned) 27 Mirella Van Melis (Ned) 28 Marielle Van Scheppingen (Ned) Jayco-VIS 29 Elizabeth Tadich (Aus) 30 Geraldine Denham (Aus) 32 Naomi Williams (Aus) 33 Katie Mactier (Aus) 35 Karen Barrow (Aus) Sydney Water 36 Emma James (Aus) 37 Nadia Frischknecht (Aus) 38 Avril Swan (Aus) 39 Lucy Vignes (Aus) 40 Simone Jacobs (Aus) 86 Linda Bastian (Aus) Bicisport-NSWIS 41 Margaret Hemsley (Aus) 42 Natalie Bates (Aus) 43 Belinda Probert (Aus) 45 Fjelda Lee (Aus) AIS 46 Sara Carrigan (Aus) 47 Juanita Feldhahn (Aus) 48 Kristy Scrymgeour (Aus) 49 Kym Shirley (Aus) 50 Alison Wright (Aus) 51 Hayley Rutherford (Aus) Japan 52 Ayumi Ootsuka (Jpn) 53 Kaori Iida (Jpn) 54 Miho Oki (Jpn) 55 Akemi Morimoto (Jpn) 72 Mika Ogishima (Jpn) 73 Kanako Nishi (Jpn) Master Team/Carpe Diem 56 Sigrid Corneo (Ita) 57 Priska Doppman (Swi) 58 Bridget Evans (Aus) 59 Kerry Ellen Hellmuth (USA) 60 Marcia Eicher Vouets (Swi) 61 Katia Longhin (Ita) Canada 62 Geneviève Jeanson (Can) 63 Anne Samplonius (Can) 64 Sandy Espeseth (Can) 65 Erin Carter (Can) 67 Susan Hefler (USA) 44 Alexandra Ka Wah Yeung (HKg) Velobelles 68 Annabelle Vowels (Aus) 69 Tracey Bowyer (Aus) 70 Jodie Vaassen (Aus) 71 Fiona Scarff (Aus) Southern Regional Team 78 Julie Hooper (Aus) 79 Karen Sumpton (Aus) 81 Rebecca Cleveland (Aus) 82 Anna Bayliss (Aus) 84 Sally Smalley (Aus) 85 Debbie Chambers (Aus)
Sydney 1998 Dede Demet (USA) 100 kms in 2.35.53 (38.49 km/h) Canberra 1999 Anna Wilson (Aus) 102 kms in 2.46.37 (36.73 km/h)