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Rotterdam Tour - CDM
Rotterdam, Netherlands, September 15, 2002
Rossner takes Rotterdam Tour and World Cup title
Report courtesy of Giana Roberge, Team Saturn
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The 2002 Women's World Cup Title was determined in Rotterdam today with Petra Rossner being crowned the champion. The nine race series had been fiercely contested throughout the year, with the lead oscillating between Saturn's Rossner, well known as the top sprinter in the women's peloton, and Dutch all rounder Mirjam Melchers (Farm Frites Hartol). With only 13 points separating the two coming into the final round, Melchers had to finish in front of Rossner, or not too far behind her. Rossner had to finish in at least 9th place to gain the requisite 13 points with Melchers not taking any points, however, if Rossner won or finished second (and in front of Melchers), then the World Cup was hers.
With 25 teams on the start line, the wind and narrow roads forced any riders who wanted a shot at top honors to fight for position for the total 141 kilometres. Unlike last year, the course did not feature the final finishing circuits around Rotterdam, but instead brought the riders in for a straight gallop into finish.
Farm Frites-Hartol sent its strongest team to help Melchers in her quest, with Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel, Anouska van der Zee, Madeleine Lindberg, Sissy van Alebeek and Arenda Grimberg. Saturn had only four their roster, with six of their athletes on the start line in San Rafael, CA to defend their Pro Tour Lead.
The race began as expected, from the gun, with the battle for position beginning in the first few kilometres. There was absolutely nothing left in reserve as attack after attack was launched, and it seemed as if the whole of Holland was racing for a Dutch World Cup Title.
Within the first thirty kilometres a split of ten occurred, containing four Farm Frites riders and three Saturn riders. The gap grew to thirty seconds before a motivated group from behind brought the ten back. The attacks began again with Saturn's Ina Teutenberg, Catherine Marsal and Judith Arndt manning the front to bring back split after split.
Things looked particularly grim for the Saturn Team when at one point Rossner was caught behind a crash. Isolated from her team, Rossner began to chase alone. However, the Farm Frites Team gained steam and Teutenberg, Arndt and Marsal sat up to assist Rossner back. Not an easy task with five Farm Frites riders pushing the pace into a cross wind. As the gap grew to thirty seconds, Teutenberg dropped off the pace and a flicker of hope must have passed through Melchers' mind. Would the Saturn Team be able to bring Rossner back?
Finally, Arndt and Marsal made contact with Rossner tucked safely in their draft. Ten kilometres later, nearly 25 kilometres from the finish, Teutenberg's group joined the front, just in time for Teutenberg to cover several more attacks.
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With the finish line only ten kilometres away, the Saturn Team was relentless in their pursuit to bring Rossner to the line for the win. Eager to shake them was Farm Frites' Van Moorsel, who continued her strong attacks to set up her teammate Melchers.
But with five kilometres left, it was the nearly unbeatable duo of Rossner and Arndt bearing down on the finish line. Melchers tried one more solo attack, and Rossner brought her back only to have another rider give it a try. This time is was Arndt bringing the field of 70 remaining riders to within a kilometre and a half to go. And then it was Rossner, with her teammates now completely spent, having to depend only on her guts and determination for the win.
In the last 500 meters, Rossner was alone in front, and had to hesitate to save some for the sprint. It was Regina Schleicher making a run for the win, but Rossner had just enough gas to cross the line victorious, with a satisfied grin. Debbie Mansveld was third.
With her win today, Rossner completed the series having won three of the nine races. She was crowned the World Cup Champion, following in her Saturn teammate Anna Millward's footsteps last year, and proving she is no longer solely a sprinter, but has now graduated into an all around rider.
Photography
Images by Rudie Ottens
- The sprint for the line saw Petra Rossner (Ger) from Saturn win ahead of Regina Schleicher and Debby Mansveld (Ned).
- The World Cup podium featuring the three highest point scorers at the end of round 9.ins the 7th stage of La Grande Boucle
- Petra Rossner with the World Cup winner's grin.
- The World Cup trophy a close-up of the winner's prize.
Results - 140 km
1 Petra Rossner (Ger) Saturn 3.24.42 (41.036 km/h) 2 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Michaela Fanini-Nürnberger Mix 3 Debby Mansveld (Ned) Vlaanderen T Interim 4 Yvonne Brunen (Ned) Power-Plate-Bik 5 Virginie Moinard (Fra) French National Team 6 Katia Longhin (Ita) Acca Due O 7 Tania Belvederesi (Ita) Power-Plate-Bik 8 Ghita Beltman (Ned) Acca Due O 9 Christina Mos (Ned) Power-Plate-Bik 10 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Rest of the World 11 Alesandra Cappelotto (Ita) Power-Plate-Bik 12 Sylvie Riedle (Fra) C.A. Mantes La Ville 78 13 Heidi Van De Vijver (Bel) Vlaanderen T Interim 14 Esther Van Der Helm (Ned) Netherlands National Team 15 Marcia Eicher Vouets (Swi) C.A. Mantes La Ville 78 16 Tanja Hennes (Ger) Michaela Fanini-Nürnberger Mix 17 Annette Beutler (Swi) Swiss National Team 18 Vera Koedooder (Ned) Netherlands National Team 19 Miho Oki (Jpn) C.A. Mantes La Ville 78 20 Sara Waller (GBr) British National Team 21 Vanja Vonckx (Bel) Vlaanderen T Interim 22 Susan Carter (GBr) British National Team 23 Erica Vilunaite (Ltu) Acca Due O 24 Elisabeth Chevanne Brunel (Fra) C.A. Mantes La Ville 78 25 Ine Wannijn (Bel) Belgian National Team 26 Brigit Sollner (Ger) Michaela Fanini-Nürnberger Mix 27 Wenche Stensvold (Nor) Team Sponsor Service 28 Caroline Slikker (Ned) RWC Ahoy 29 Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol 30 Baukje Doedee (Ned) Neckermann Beneluxteam 31 Andrea Bosman (Ned) Power-Plate-Bik 32 Melanie Szubrycht (GBr) British National Team 33 Areke Hassink (Ned) Netherlands National Team 34 Lucille Hunkeler (Swi) Swiss National Team 35 Jacolien Wallaard (Ned) Netherlands National Team 36 Josephine Groenveld (Ned) District Noord 37 Solrun Flataas (Nor) Team Sponsor Service 38 Cindy Pieters (Bel) Vlaanderen T Interim 39 Denise Baumann (Swi) Swiss National Team 40 Aline Camboulives (Fra) French National Team 41 Sarah Grab (Swi) Swiss National Team 42 Monica Valen (Nor) Team Sponsor Service 43 Lotte Schmidt (Den) Danish National Team 44 Tina Mayolo-Pic (USA) Rest of the World 45 Mari Holden (USA) T-Mobile 46 Maryline Salvetat (Fra) French National Team 47 Janildes Silva Fernandes (Bra) Acca Due O 48 Laure Werner (Bel) Vlaanderen T Interim 49 Francis Linthorst (Ned) Ondernemers Van Nature 50 Delphine Guille (Fra) French National Team 51 Vibe Kolding (Den) Danish National Team 52 Sandra Rombouts (Ned) Michaela Fanini-Nürnberger Mix 53 Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Ondernemers Van Nature 54 Stacey Peters (USA) T-Mobile 0.07 55 Evy Van Damme (Bel) Belgian National Team 56 Kimberley Anderson (USA) T-Mobile 0.09 57 Judith Arndt (Ger) Saturn 0.13 58 Kelli Emmett (USA) T-Mobile 0.16 59 Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel (Ned) Team Farm Frites 0.18 60 Arenda Grimberg (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol 61 Minke Van Dongen (Ned) District Zuidwest 62 Sharon Van Essen (Ned) Netherlands National Team 63 Anouska Van Zee (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol 0.43 64 Sissy Van Alebeek (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol 65 Katrina Berger (USA) T-Mobile 0.46 66 Daphny van den Brand (Ned) RWC Ahoy 0.51 67 Martine Bras (Ned) Ondernemers Van Nature 1.10 68 Sandra Missbach (Ger) RWC Ahoy 2.45 69 Catherine Marsal (Fra) Saturn 3.55 70 Ina Teutenberg (Ger) Saturn 7.47 71 Monique Verstraten (Ned) District Zuidoost 13.43 72 Vera Hohlfeld (Ger) Michaela Fanini-Nürnberger Mix 73 Mirella Van Melis (Ned) Vlaanderen T Interim 74 Corien Van Haastert (Ned) Ondernemers Van Nature 75 Jannie Kleinjan (Ned) District Oost 16.45 76 Inge Klep (Ned) District Zuidoost 16.57 77 Afke Sijm (Ned) Ondernemers Van Nature 78 Lise Christensen (Den) Danish National Team 79 Kerstin Forstner (Ger) Michaela Fanini-Nürnberger Mix 80 Julie Hutsebout (Can) Rest of the World 81 Lensy Debboudt (Bel) Belgian National Team 82 Charlotte Goldsmith (GBr) British National Team 83 Aukje De Koning (Ned) District Zuid Holland 84 Regina Van Zuijlen (Ned) District Zuid Holland 85 Frederieke Van Der Wiel (Ned) District Noord 86 Eefje Ottenvanger (Ned) District Zuidoost 87 Marit Kamp (Ned) District Noord 88 Kirsten Wild (Ned) District Oost 89 Kirsten Miggels (Ned) District Zuid Holland 90 Mischa Cooler (Ned) District Oost 91 Brigit Mulder (Ned) District Oost 92 Sandra Oosterbosch (Ned) District Zuidoost 93 Fonny Wekema (Ned) District Noord 94 Magali Le Floc'h (Fra) French National Team 95 Mieke Van Den Burg (Ned) District Zuid Holland 96 Lenie Dijkstra (Ned) Power-Plate-Bik 97 Catharina Mulders (Ned) RWC Ahoy 98 Jorunn Kvalo (Nor) Team Sponsor Service 99 Jose Laan (Ned) District Zuid Holland 100 Evelien Bekkering (Ned) District Noord 101 Melanie Mansveld (Ned) Neckermann Beneluxteam 102 Marieke Verhoeven (Ned) Neckermann Beneluxteam Starters: 124 Classified: 102 Final World Cup standings 1 Petra Rossner (Ger) Saturn Cycling Team 345 2 Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol 283 3 Regina Schleicher (Ger) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 225 4 Priska Doppmann (Swi) 155 5 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) 111 6 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Ladies Team 99 7 Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Edilsavino 98 8 Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 92 9 Svetlana Boubnenkova (Rus) Edilsavino 86 10 Simona Parente (Ita) Edilsavino 84 11 Lyne Bessette (Can) Saturn Cycling Team 82 12 Deirdre Demet-Barry (USA) 75 13 Debby Mansveld (Ned) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Ladies Team 59 14 Nicole Brändli (Swi) Acca Due O Pasta Zara Lorena Camicie 57 15 Virginie Moinard (Fra) 57 16 Anna Millward (Aus) Saturn Cycling Team 50 17 Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Acca Due O Pasta Zara Lorena Camicie 50 18 Judith Arndt (Ger) Saturn Cycling Team 45 19 Hayley Rutherford (Aus) 44 20 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Figurella Dream Team 39 21 Aline Camboulives (Fra) 37 22 Eneritz Iturriaga (Spa) Deia-Pragma-Colnago 36 23 Chantal Beltman (Ned) Acca Due O Pasta Zara Lorena Camicie 35 24 Geneviève Jeanson (Can) Equipe Cycliste Rona 35 25 Heidi Van De Vijver (Bel) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Ladies Team 35 26 Sandrine Marcuz (Fra) 34 27 Luisa Tamanini (Ita) 33 28 Andrea Bosman (Ned) Power-Plate-Bik 32 29 Angela Brodtka (Ger) 30 30 Yvonne Brunen (Ned) 30 31 Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr) Usci Chirio 30 32 Alison Wright (Aus) 30 33 Melissa Holt (NZl) Equipe Cycliste Rona 29 34 Naomi Williams (Aus) 29 35 Caroline Alexander (GBr) 28 36 Nicole Cooke (GBr) Deia-Pragma-Colnago 28 37 Miho Oki (Jpn) C.A. Mantes La Ville 78 28 38 Joane Somarriba Arrola (Spa) Deia-Pragma-Colnago 26 39 Katia Longhin (Ita) Acca Due O Pasta Zara Lorena Camicie 24 40 Alessandra Cappellotto (Ita) Power-Plate-Bik 23 41 Sylvie Riedle (Fra) C.A. Mantes La Ville 78 23 42 Tanja Schmidt-Hennes (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 23 43 Vera Carrara (Ita) Itera Team 21 44 Rosalind Reekie-May (NZl) 21 45 Monica Valen (Nor) Team Sponsor Service 21 46 Tania Belvederesi (Ita) Power-Plate-Bik 21 47 Margaret Hemsley (Aus) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 19 48 Susan Palmer (Can) 19 49 Mari Holden (USA) 18 50 Tatiana Stiajkina (Ukr) Deia-Pragma-Colnago 18 51 Sara Symington (GBr) 18 52 Ghita Beltman (Ned) Acca Due O Pasta Zara Lorena Camicie 18 53 Rosa Maria Bravo Soba (Spa) 16 54 Amber Neben (USA) 16 55 Arenda Grimberg (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol 15 56 Zoulfia Zabirova (Rus) Usci Chirio 15 57 Christina Mos (Ned) Power-Plate-Bik 15 58 Kym Shirley (Aus) Itera Team 13 59 Cindy Pieters (Bel) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Ladies Team 12 60 Pia Sundstedt (Fin) Team Sponsor Service 12 61 Kimberly Bruckner (USA) Saturn Cycling Team 9 62 Trixi Worrack (Ger) 9 63 Sophie Creux (Fra) 8 64 Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) Acca Due O Pasta Zara Lorena Camicie 8 65 Kimberly Anderson (USA) 7 66 Emma James (Aus) 7 67 Madeleine Lindberg (Swe) Team Farm Frites-Hartol 7 68 Lisbeth Simper (Den) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 7 69 Olga Slioussareva (Rus) Itera Team 7 70 Elisabeth Tadich (Aus) 7 71 Esther Van Der Helm (Ned) 7 72 Magali Le Floch (Fra) 6 73 Theresa Senf (Ger) 6 74 Anita Valen (Nor) 6 75 Daniela Veronesi (Smr) Edilsavino 6 76 Marcia Eicher Vouets (Swi) C.A. Mantes La Ville 78 6 77 Olga Zabelinskaia (Rus) Itera Team 5 78 Sara Felloni (Ita) Edilsavino 4 79 Catherine Marsal (Fra) Saturn Cycling Team 4 80 Anette Beutler (Swi) 4 81 Jessica Phillips (USA) Saturn Cycling Team 3 82 Vera Koedooder (Ned) 3 83 Elisabeth Chevanne-Brunel (Fra) C.A. Mantes La Ville 78 2 84 Olivia Gollan (Aus) 2 85 Valentyna Karpenko (Ukr) Deia-Pragma-Colnago 2 86 Valentina Polkhanova (Rus) 2 87 Susy Pryde (NZl) 2 88 Sarah Waller (GBr) 1 Courtesy of Henrik Voogt/UCI
