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38th Amstel Gold Race - CDM
Netherlands, April 20, 2003
Main Page Results World Cup Standings
Nicole Cooke holds off charging peloton
By Jeff Jones in Valkenburg
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Multiple British Junior World Champion Nicole Cooke has won the third Amstel Gold Race for women, with a powerful ride to hold off the peloton by 40 metres on the Cauberg. Cooke, riding for the GS Ausra Groudis squad, attacked with around 10 km to go in the company of Dori Ruano (Prato Marathon Bike) to bridge up to Oenone Wood (Australian Institute of Sport). The three held a gap until the finishing climb, where Cooke rode away from her breakaway companions to take the victory. In second place was Australian national champion Olivia Gollan, with former World Champ Edita Pucinskaite (Michela Fanini) taking third.
"It the biggest win of my career," said Cooke afterwards. "I'd known for a couple of weeks that I had the form to win a race and it's been frustrating not getting the win, so this was fantastic. I've been the strongest rider and now I've got the reward."
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Nicole said that her legs "didn't feel that great" on the first climb of the Cauberg, but she had no such problems on the second climb. "Oenone Wood who beat me last week had already gone by then, and Brändli, Arndt, Zabirova, Bessette all tried to go too. It was me and Dori who made the chase though. We rode together at Deia-Pragma Colnago and so we knew what we could do. Neither of us was a threat to the World Cup overall either which helped."
"When we got to the final climb I could see the bunch coming up fast so I decided I had to go. So I jumped the other two and got the gap. With 250 metres to go I knew I'd won which is always nice because you can enjoy the last few metres."
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Cooke added that "The World Cup overall isn't an objective for me, but obviously I will be trying to win again in Belgium on Wednesday [La Flèche Wallonne]. Clearly though I'm going to be marked now so I'll have to be clever and race efficiently."
Second placed Olivia Gollan was also forthcoming, and was delighted with her second place. "It's the biggest result I've had," she told Cyclingnews. "To come a place in a big classic like this is pretty exciting."
Gollan said that the team planned to attack on the Keutenberg, with 13 km to go. "We had Oenone Wood with us, who's just so powerful up hills, so the plan was for one of us or one of the other teammates like Emma or Hayley to drive Oenone to the bottom of the climb and she would attack over the top of them."
Oenone did just that and powered away over the top of the steep climb, riding solo for eight kilometres while the peloton decided what to do. Eventually Cooke attacked with Ruano and bridged up, and the three hovered just in front of the peloton.
"When we hit the Cauberg we were flying," said Gollan. "About halfway up we caught Oenone, and Nicole was still 50 metres in front of the group. I was fighting and fighting and trying to get round dead wheels and eventually got out and gave everything I had. I got in front and Nicole Cooke was still off the front. We had 150m to go and Pucinskaite came up beside me and I thought I could feel other people coming up beside me. I had it in such a big gear then threw it in another big gear and just got over Pucinskaite. Nicole probably won by 30-40 metres."
That was more than enough for the talented young rider from South Wales, who now rocketed up the World Cup standings to the top five. With another tough finish in La Flèche Wallonne next week, Cooke could find herself in the leader's jersey if she wins again. However Australian Sara Carrigan (Powerplate-Bik) will be hard to dislodge, finishing seventh today and therefore keeping the jersey. Carrigan is a strong climber, and probably won't be that far away from Cooke on the Mur de Huy on Wednesday.
Photography
Images by Jeff Jones/Cyclingnews.com
- Svetlana Bubnenkova (Prato-Marathon Bike) goes on the attack after 65 km, in Berg en Terblijt
- Yvonne Brunen (Powerplate-Bik) leads the peloton through Berg en Terblijt after 65 km
- Madeleine Lindberg (Nurnberger) leads a group chasing onto the back of the peloton
- Emma Davies (Great Britain) through Berg en Terblijt
- An Acca Due O rider chasing the peloton
- A T-Mobile rider leads a three woman group in pursuit of the peloton
Images by James Victor
- Oenone Wood (AIS Australia) on her solo attack, 15 seconds in front with 10km to go
- The women's podium - Olivia Gollan (AIS), Nicole Cooke (Ausrra Gradis), Edita Pucinskaite (Michela Fanini)
- Sara Carrigan (Bik Powerplate-Bik) still leads the world cup after a strong seventh
Results
1 Nicole Cooke (GBr) Ausra Gruodis-Safi 2.45.18 (38.26 km/h) 2 Olivia Gollan (Aus) Australian National Team 0.02 3 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 4 Regina Schleicher (Ger) German National Team 0.04 5 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Team Catalunya-Aliverti-Kookai 0.05 6 Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Farm Frites-Hartol Cycling Team 0.06 7 Sara Carrigan (Aus) Bik-Powerplate 0.07 8 Judith Arndt (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 9 Zoulfia Zabirova (Rus) Prato Marathon Bike 0.08 10 Lyne Bessette (Can) Canadian National Team 0.09 11 Oenone Wood (Aus) Australian National Team 0.12 12 Nicole Braendli (Swi) Prato Marathon Bike 0.13 13 Theresa Senff (Ger) German National Team 0.14 14 Ghita Beltman (Ned) Acca Due O Pasta Zara Lorena Camicie 15 Aline Camboulives (Fra) G.S. Mazza 0.15 16 Anita Valen (Nor) Bik-Powerplate 0.17 17 Nataliya Kachalka (Ukr) Team 2002 Aurora RSM 0.18 18 Adrie Visser (Ned) Dutch National Team 0.19 19 Miho Oki (Jpn) Farm Frites-Hartol Cycling Team 20 Amber Neben (USA) Team T-Mobile USA 0.21 21 Liane Bahler (Ger) German National Team 0.25 22 Barbara Heer (Swi) Swiss National Team 23 Chantal Beltman (Ned) Acca Due O Pasta Zara Lorena Camicie 0.26 24 Teodora Ruano Sanchon (Spa) Prato Marathon Bike 0.30 25 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 0.31 26 Ioulia Martissova (Rus) Prato Marathon Bike 27 Sue Palmer-Komar (Can) Canadian National Team 0.33 28 Sandy Espeseth (Can) Canadian National Team 29 Frances Newstead (GBr) British National Team 0.35 30 Gunn-Rita Dahle (Nor) Ausra Gruodis-Safi 0.36 31 Svetlana Boubnenkova (Rus) Prato Marathon Bike 0.37 32 Margaret Hemsley (Aus) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 33 Yvonne Brunen (Ned) Bik-Powerplate 34 Kristin Armstrong (USA) Team T-Mobile USA 0.39 35 Kimberley Bruckner (USA) Team T-Mobile USA 36 Heidi Van De Vijver (Bel) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Ladies Team 0.40 37 Evy Van Damme (Bel) Lowik De Zwaluwen 38 Caroline Payot-Podevin (Fra) G.S. Mazza 0.41 39 Tina Liebig (Ger) German National Team 40 Jolania Polikeviciute (Ltu) Team 2002 Aurora RSM 41 Giovanna Troldi (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 42 Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) Team 2002 Aurora RSM 43 Sharron Vandromme (Bel) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Ladies Team 44 Kim Anderson (USA) Team T-Mobile USA 45 Suzanne De Goede (Ned) Farm Frites-Hartol Cycling Team 46 Lisbeth Simper (Den) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 47 Debby Mansveld (Ned) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Ladies Team 48 Cindy Pieters (Bel) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Ladies Team 49 Sandrine Marcuz (Fra) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 50 Katia Longhin (Ita) Acca Due O Pasta Zara Lorena Camicie 51 Marta Vilatosaha (Spa) Team Catalunya-Aliverti-Kookai 52 Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Acca Due O Pasta Zara Lorena Camicie 53 Vera Koedooder (Ned) Bik-Powerplate 54 Esther V/D Helm (Ned) Farm Frites-Hartol Cycling Team 55 Hayley Rutherford (Aus) Australian National Team 56 Emma James (Aus) Australian National Team 0.52 57 Sharon Van Essen (Ned) Bik-Powerplate 0.55 58 Marta Evangelisti (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 59 Josephine Groenveld (Ned) Dutch National Team 60 Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Team 2002 Aurora RSM 61 Tanja Hennes (Ger) Team Next 125 62 Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Ondernemers Van Nature 1.16 63 Baukje Doedee (Ned) Team Catalunya-Aliverti-Kookai 1.21 64 Luisa Tamanini (Ita) Team 2002 Aurora RSM 1.25 65 Isabella Wieser (Aut) Charly Lietzsport 1.34 66 Areke Hassink (Ned) Dutch National Team 1.40 67 Silvia Parietti (Ita) Prato Bike-Aki 2.01 68 Serena Cavicchi (Ita) Prato Bike-Aki 2.08 69 Dorte Lohse (Den) Danish National Team 70 Katrin Leumann (Swi) Team Next 125 71 Saskia Elemans (Ned) @Home Cycling Team 72 Marianna Lorenzoni (Ita) Team Catalunya-Aliverti-Kookai 73 Irene Hostettler (Swi) Team Next 125 74 Eneritz Iturriaga (Spa) Team 2002 Aurora RSM 75 Sarah Grab (Swi) Swiss National Team 76 Annette Beutler (Swi) Swiss National Team 77 Katy St. Laurent (Can) Canadian National Team 2.16 78 Erika Vilunaitte (Ltu) Ausra Gruodis-Safi 2.17 79 Emma Davies (GBr) British National Team 2.19 80 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Ausra Gruodis-Safi 2.20 81 Katherine Bates (Aus) Bik-Powerplate 82 Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Ausra Gruodis-Safi 83 Arenda Grimberg (Ned) Farm Frites-Hartol Cycling Team 84 Ine Wannijn (Bel) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Ladies Team 85 Anna Ramirez Bauxell (Spa) Team Catalunya-Aliverti-Kookai 2.27 86 Trine Hansen (Den) Danish National Team 2.30 87 Diana Elmentaite (Ltu) Ausra Gruodis-Safi 88 Mirjam Senn (Swi) Team Next 125 89 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Swiss National Team 2.34 90 Stacey Peters (USA) Team T-Mobile USA 91 Sandra Rombouts (Ned) @Home Cycling Team 92 Bertine Spijkerman (Ned) Dutch National Team 2.37 93 Mari Holden (USA) Team T-Mobile USA 2.40 94 Beatrice Thomas (Fra) G.S. Mazza 2.46 95 Janildes Silva (Bra) Prato Marathon Bike 2.47 96 Elsbeth Vink (Ned) Farm Frites-Hartol Cycling Team 2.50 97 Zita Urbonaite (Ltu) Acca Due O Pasta Zara Lorena Camicie 98 Madeleine Lindberg (Swe) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 3.11 99 Chatarina Mulders (Ned) Team Ton Van Bemmelen Sports 4.15 100 Natalie Bates (Aus) Australian National Team 5.47 101 Sara Symington (GBr) British National Team 5.55 102 Charlotte Goldsmith (GBr) British National Team 103 Alexandra Bahler (Swi) G.S. Mazza 7.04 104 Sabine Betz (Ger) Charly Lietzsport 8.19 105 Anneleen Van Beek (Ned) Westland Wil Vooruit Mixed 8.24 106 Christina Peick (Den) Danish National Team 8.30 107 Frederieke Van Der Wiel (Ned) Dutch National Team 108 Anna Farina (Ita) Prato Bike-Aki 109 Inge Klep (Ned) Ondernemers Van Nature 110 Nadine Bruhn (Den) Danish National Team 111 Francesca Castrucci (Ita) Prato Bike-Aki 8.33 112 Caroline Slikker (Ned) Team Ton Van Bemmelen Sports 113 Mirella Van Melis (Ned) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Ladies Team 8.37 114 Olga Van Velzen (Ned) Team Ton Van Bemmelen Sports 115 Mieke V/D Burg (Ned) Lowik De Zwaluwen 116 Jacolien Wallaard (Ned) Dutch National Team 8.46 117 Corrien Van Haastert (Ned) Ondernemers Van Nature 118 Kirsty Miggels (Ned) Westland Wil Vooruit Mixed 8.50 119 Bettina Kuhn (Swi) Swiss National Team 8.52 120 Irene Puccioni (Ita) Prato Bike-Aki 121 Letizia Giardinelli (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 122 Godelieve Jansens (Bel) Lowik De Zwaluwen 9.05 123 Kerstin Scheitle (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 10.05 124 Petra Rossner (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 125 Emily Williams (Aus) Australian National Team 12.57 126 Indre Januleviciute (Ltu) Acca Due O Pasta Zara Lorena Camicie 127 Jolanda Dongen (Ned) Team Ton Van Bemmelen Sports 13.29 128 Abke Francissen (Ned) @Home Cycling Team 129 Minke Van Dongen (Ned) Ondernemers Van Nature 130 Blandine Camus (Fra) G.S. Mazza 13.44 131 Wendy Kramp (Ned) Team Ton Van Bemmelen Sports 13.47 132 Andrea Knecht (Swi) Swiss National Team 16.13 133 Petra Pilz (Aut) Charly Lietzsport 16.30 134 Julie Hutsebaut (Can) Canadian National Team 16.33 135 Janneke Rotman-Jager (Ned) Westland Wil Vooruit Mixed 16.34 136 Editha Bergkotte (Ned) Team Ton Van Bemmelen Sports 16.40 137 Eefje Ottevanger (Ned) Westland Wil Vooruit Mixed 16.42 138 Karin Wieser (Aut) Charly Lietzsport 17.02 139 Claudia Meyer (Ger) Charly Lietzsport 140 Eyelien Bekkering (Ned) @Home Cycling Team 17.05 141 Kirsten Wild (Ned) Lowik De Zwaluwen 17.08 World Cup Standings after four rounds (unofficial) 1 Sara Carrigan (Aus) Bik - Power Plate 139 pts 2 Regina Schleicher (Ger) USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo 112 3 Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Team Farm Frites - Hartol 109 4 Zoulfia Zabirova (Rus) Prato Marathon Bike 90 5 Nicole Cooke (GBr) Ausra Gruodis - Safi 82 6 Anita Valen (Nor) Bik - Power Plate 82 7 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Ausra Gruodis - Safi 74 8 Judith Arndt (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 70 9 Olivia Gollan (Aus) AIS Australia 62 10 Virginie Moinard (Fra) 57 11 Alison Wright (Aus) Road Runner - Guerciotti Cycling 55 12 Katie Mactier (Aus) Saturn Cycling Team 50 13 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 46 14 Oenone Wood (Aus) AIS Australia 40 15 Melissa Holt (NZl) Equipe Cycliste Rona - Esker 30 16 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Team Catalunya - Aliverti - Kookai 29 17 Kristin Armstrong (USA) Team T-Mobile 27 18 Nathalie Bates (Aus) AIS Australia 24 19 Nicole Brändli (Swi) Prato Marathon Bike 21 20 Katherine Bates (Aus) Bik - Power Plate 21 21 Magali Le Floch (Fra) Equipe Cycliste Rona - Esker 21 22 Sophie Creux (Fra) 20 23 Rachel Heal (GBr) 18 24 Petra Rossner (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 18 25 Theresa Senf (Ger) 16 26 Sharon Van Dromme (Bel) Vlaanderen - T Interim Ladies Team 15 27 Lyne Bessette (Can) Saturn Cycling Team 11 28 Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Acca Due O - Pasta Zara - Lorena Camicie 11 29 Miho Oki (Jpn) Team Farm Frites - Hartol 10 30 Andrea Bosman (Ned) Bik - Power Plate 10 31 Ioulia Martissova (Rus) Prato Marathon Bike 9 32 Alexis Rhodes (Aus) 9 33 Ghita Beltman (Ned) Acca Due O - Pasta Zara - Lorena Camicie 7 34 Aline Camboulives (Fra) GS Mazza 7 35 Vera Carrara (Ita) Road Runner - Guerciotti Cycling 6 36 Rosa Maria Bravo Soba (Spa) 5 37 Nataliya Kachalka (Ukr) Team 2002 Aurora RSM 4 38 Svetlana Boubnenkova (Rus) Prato Marathon Bike 4 39 Teodora Ruano Sanchon (Spa) Prato Marathon Bike 4 40 Amy Safe (Aus) 4 41 Adrie Visser (Ned) NED 3 42 Zinaida Stahurskaya (Blr) USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo 3 43 Elizabeth Williams (NZl) 3 44 Renée Fortunato (Aus) 2 45 Hayley Rutherford (Aus) Road Runner - Guerciotti Cycling 2 46 Amber Neben (USA) Team T-Mobile 1 47 Margaret Hemsley (Aus) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 1
