Rider's Reports

Canberra, Australia, March 12, 2000

Anna Wilson's report

Today the first round of the World Cup for the year 2000 was staged in Canberra. I was racing with my Saturn team and hoping to defend my title from last year. We were most concerned about the Timex team and the Dutch team, both of which had 6 riders to our 4. We decided to be defensive and try to bring the race down to a bunch sprint, hoping that I would be able to win in that way.

Timex began the race aggressively and when Mari Holden (Timex), Mirjam Melchers (Dutch) and Jacinta Coleman (NZ) broke away only a quarter of the way through the race, my team-mates Dede Demet and Susy Pryde had to mount a big chase to bring them back. That certainly tired them out and I was worried about the counter attacks that would follow the move. Luckily for us, it was a solo rider who broke away next - Odessa Gunn of the Timex team. One rider out in front by herself was less of a threat than three, and because it was a Timex rider it prevented the other Timex riders from attacking us. So we let Odessa remain in front and the Dutch team took responsibility for setting a good tempo on the front of the bunch and not allowing Odessa's lead to grow too large. She led by a minute at one point but then the bunch began riding hard once again and Odessa was soon swallowed up.

The Dutch team were very aggressive after this but everyone was now a lot more vigilant since the race was drawing near its end. No other break was able to get more than about 50 metres off the front before being brought back. It soon became clear that we were destined for a bunch sprint and the bunch became more and more keyed up as the finish approached. I was hoping that our strategy of depending on my sprint was going to be a good one!

With about 3 kms to go, Chantal Beltman (Dutch) launched a huge attack. It was looking like a very dangerous move. My team-mate, Dede Demet, went to the front and drove it for a kilometre to bring her back. With 2 kms to go I was near the front and waiting for the next move. After a nervous kilometre Juanita Feldhahn (AIS) came through and gave me a great leadout into the final corner. Just before the corner, Erin Carter (Canada) took over the lead and I was able to follow her through the corner. From there it was only 200 metres to the finish and I gave it my all - delighted to cross the line first!!

So I couldn't be happier with my trip to the ACT. Now it's back to Melbourne to prepare for our National Time Trial title on Beach Road on March 18th. If anyone is interested in coming to watch, it starts and finishes at the Tea House at Rickett's Point, only a couple of kilometres south of Black Rock clock tower. The start time is 7:30am but I am not likely to start until about 8:30am. Hope to see you there!

Karen Kurreck 's report

Courtesy of racereport@vcnet.com

Round 1 of the women's World Cup was held today in Australia's capital, Canberra. The course was the same as last year: a 5.1 km rolling circuit that we raced 20 times. The field was pretty much the same as the Tour de Snowy There was talk of Hanka Kupfernagel and her team coming in for the race, but appearantly they were unable to afford the trip.

Last year, Hanka pretty much single handedly split the field into a lead group of 12 riders. This year it was a different race. The course itself is not hard - the main climb is short and big ring all the way. It takes really aggressive racing to make something happen and that just wasn't the case. Holland and Timex had the biggest and strongest teams, and it seemed everyone was waiting for them to make the race. Since I had no team here, I knew I had to pick my moves carefully and that I couldn't cover everything, especially early on.

After about 6-7 laps, a short lived break formed with Mirjam Melchers, Jacinta Coleman and Mari Holden. The never got out of sight though and Saturn brought them back to within striking distance and then Genevieve went hard up the hill and we were all together again. Genevieve actually spent a lot of time at the front on the uphill section, but it wasn't long enough or steep enough do anthing more than string the field out. Around lap 7 or 8, Odessa Gunn (Timex) attacked solo. Nobody really reacted and her lead slowly grew to a maximum of a little over a minute. A couple of the Dutch riders rode tempo at the front, but it wasn't a real sustained chase. Odessa wasn't caught until 4 laps to go and that seemed to be when the race started. At this point though, the field was still pretty fresh.

I tried attacking on the climb with 3 laps to go, but the field was too fresh and the hill was too short and I only succeeded in stringing things out. That is pretty much what happened with everyone else who tried to go. It was looking very much like a field sprint and that is exactly what happened. The best sprinter in the field, Anna Wilson began this World CUp season where she ended the last one - on top. She rode the perfect race, doing absolutely nothing until the final 200m. Holland took the remaining podium places with Mirella Van Melis in 2nd and Mirjam Melchers 3rd. Italian Sigrid Corneo was 4th.

World Cup field sprints are totally different that anything in a stage race. Points go 20 deep and nobody is willing to give an inch. There was no real leadout train, just a massive swarm for the last 2-3 km. I was in good position with 800m to go and lousy position with 500m to go. The last corner was about 250m from the finish. I was passing people all the way to the line, but came out of the corner way too far back for a decent placing and ended up 11th.

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