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Rotterdam Tour - CDM
Netherlands, September 5, 2004
Rossner makes history, Wood closer to World Cup Victory
By Kristy Scrymgeour
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Petra Rossner of the Nurnberger team took out the bunch sprint today, to win the seventh annual Rotterdam Tour World Cup for the second time in the race's history, putting herself in with a chance to win another overall world cup. Rossner also won this race in a bunch sprint in 2002 in a similar fashion with Judith Arndt leading her out through the final tight corners. Series leader Oenone Wood (Australian National Team) finished in fifth place to maintain her leaders jersey going into the final race of the series next weekend. In a strange set of circumstances, the final World Cup in Germany is said to have double points, meaning that Wood doesn't yet have things wrapped up, however according to one report, this could change.
With the sun shining in Rotterdam and no wind to be found, as hoped, the race got off to an aggressive start with a break getting away almost immediately. At the eight kilometer mark nine riders took off, which included Tina Leibig (Nurnberger), Cathy Marsal (Nobili Guerciotti), Kristy Miggels (Ondernemers Van Nature), Marion Brauen (Team Next 125), Kate Bates (Team Ton Van Bemmelen), Gessica Turato (Safi Pasta Zara) and three others. The break stayed away for 40 kilometres until finally getting caught, primarily through the efforts of the French National Team.
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Not long after another break went, which included Daniela Fusar Poli (Nobili Guerciotti), Turato and Sarah Duster (German National Team). Their lead increased to 1'40" and stayed out there for almost the remainder of the race. With no threats to the world cup series in the break, the Australian team were happy to leave it out there, but many attacks from Chantal Beltman and her Ondernermers Van Nature team, led to the gap coming down.
With three kilometers to go, Arndt went to the front and strung out the field. If you weren't in position at this point, it was hard to move, as the final kilometers were very technical. The break was caught within the final kilometer and Rossner came off the Nurnberger train to take the win from fellow Germans Angela Brodtka (German National Team) and Tanja Hennes (Team Next 125).
Rossner was thrilled with her win because she made history for her team today. "This is the first World Cup victory for Nurnberger," she told Cyclingnews after the race. "Personally I have won world cups before, but that was with Saturn. Finally we broke the band and we won one." As for the race, Rossner said. "It was all my team. You know me, I do nothing until the last 200 meters. My team stayed around me the whole race, keeping me out of the wind and chasing breaks and Judith did the lead out at the and held a pace that not many other people can hold. I was yelling at her from behind," Rossner laughed, " saying 'go, go, go, this is good', and I caught the last girl who was away solo with 200 meters to go. I went then and got a big gap. I could stop pedalling with 30 meters to go."
Rossner also said that today was her victory over the German Federation's decision to take Brodtka to the Olympics, rather than her last month. "I've always been fater than Brotka," she said, "she only beat me in one race and that was out of a break."
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Despite being upset at the time, Rossner said that she is over the ordeal. "I am happy with the way Judith raced. She was strong and she sent the message around the world that the decision was the wrong one."
On a winning note Rossner announced her retirement to Cyclingnews today and will finish racing at the end of the year after a 20 year career and move into a directors role for Nurnberger next year. "I'm quitting my career, that's for sure," said Rossner. "Jens and I will work together next year to direct the Nurnberger team. I have a lot to learn from him as I'm not assuming I will do everything perfect in the first year. We get along well and we can learn a lot from each other.
"In my career, I have won over 300 races," added Rossner, "nine world cup races, one Olympic Gold and a world Championship. I think I have a lot to bring to the girls, but most importantly my goal is to keep them happy. We will have a great team and we will put it together with input from the riders so that the chemistry is perfect."
Rossner added that she owes alot to the sport of cycling after competing for 20 years. "I appreciate everything I have learned and all the friends I have made all around the world. I have not only learned things about Cycling, but it has also formed my character and helped me to be a better person. When you can suffer in cycling and still give more, you gain a lot."
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Cyclingnews also caught up with series leader Oenone wood and her team after the race, who was happy with the way things went and anxious to finish it off next week. Finishing in fifth, Wood extended her lead on Mirjam Melchers (Farm Frites/Hartol), who finished 40th today and goes into the final race smelling victory "It was a pretty quiet day for us," she said. "We just had to mark riders who could take points on the jersey, so we were happy for breaks to go up the road. I felt pretty good going into the final sprint but I was nearly brought down with 300m to go. Petra finished the race perfectly today so I think I should be looking for her wheel in Nurnberger next week."
If the rule stands that double points will be awarded next week, the Australian team cannot relax yet, although it would take either Melchers or Rossner to win the race without Wood taking any points for the scoreboard to change. Australian director Warren McDonald is confident in the team's ability to pull it off. "We still believe the course suits us," he told Cyclingnews. "The team rode strongly today and Oenone is feeling better after having a head cold for the past couple of weeks, so we think we can get through.
"Today she said she started feeling better for the first time," McDonald added, "and she had a good finish despite getting hooked off the wheel in the last couple of kilometres. Next week Nurnberger will want the same thing as we want - to keep it together. It will be a good race."
Although Rossner may now have the slim but possible chance to win the World Cup overall, she says that she is not interested and does not think this would be fair. "If there is double points, it is a decision I would not agree with," said Rossner. "After all the work the Australian team has done for Wood this year, they deserve the win.
"We placed in a few cups and have been aiming to win one, but we are not thinking about the overall. Next week is important for our sponsors, but today we are very happy to win this. Nobody can take this one away from us."
Olivia Gollan, who has been instrumental along with the rest of the Australian team this year, says that she is excited about next week and the rest of the year. "It's just exciting," she said. "We are on the verge of winning a World Cup series and we have the world championships coming up. I've really enjoyed this."
Photography
Images by Dick Soepenberg/www.wielerfoto.nl
- A relaxed Oenone Wood (Australian National Team) before the start.
- Nicole Cooke (Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan) and Oenone Wood (Australian National Team).
- Oenone Wood (Australian National Team) positions herself well up front.
- The second break of the day containing Daniela Fusar Poli (Nobili Guerciotti), Turato and Sarah Duster (German National Team).
- Petra Rossner (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung) take her third victory in Rotterdam.
- Almost there - with just one race to go, World Cup leader Oenone Wood (Australian National Team) has the series just about wrapped up.
- The podium - Angela Brodtka (German National Team, 2nd), Petra Rossner (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung, 1st) and Tanja Hennes (Team Next 125, 3rd).
Results
1 Petra Rossner (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 3.24.34 2 Angela Brotka (Ger) German National Team 3 Tanja Hennes (Ger) Team Next 125 4 Sissy Van Alebeek (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol 5 Oenone Wood (Aus) Australian National Team 6 Isabella Wieser (Aut) Mixed Team 2 7 Daniela Fusar Poli (Ita) Nobili Rubinetterie-Guerciotti 8 Chantal Beltman (Ned) Ondernemers Van Nature-Vrienden Van Het Platteland 9 Marina Jaunatre (Fra) French National Team 10 Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 11 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 12 Debby Mansveld (Ned) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Univega Ladies Team 13 Katia Longhin (Ita) Mixed Team 2 14 Kirsten Wild (Ned) Mixed Team 1 15 Mirella Van Melis (Ned) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Univega Ladies Team 16 Jane Knietzsch (Ger) German National Team 17 Ghita Beltman (Ned) Bizkaia-Panda Software-Durango 18 Arenda Grimberg (Ned) Therme Skin Care 19 Lorna Webb (GBr) British National Team 20 Olivia Gollan (Aus) Australian National Team 21 Alison Wright (Aus) Nobili Rubinetterie-Guerciotti 22 Esther Van Der Helm (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol 23 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Mixed Team 2 24 Ludivine Henrion (Bel) Belgian National Team 25 Anna Gusmini (Ita) Nobili Rubinetterie-Guerciotti 26 Arantzazu Azpiroz Azpiroz (Spa) Bizkaia-Panda Software-Durango 27 Jacolien Wallaard (Ned) Mixed Team 3 28 Catherine Marsal (Fra) Nobili Rubinetterie-Guerciotti 29 Judith Arndt (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 30 Nicole Cooke (GBr) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 31 Modesta Vzesniauskaite (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 32 Andrea Bosman (Ned) Ondernemers Van Nature-Vrienden Van Het Platteland 33 Bertine Spijkerman (Ned) Mixed Team 1 34 Jolanda Van Dongen (Ned) Mixed Team 3 35 Artina Corazza (Ita) Mixed Team 1 36 Veronique Belleter (Bel) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Univega Ladies Team 37 Gessica Turato (Ita) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 38 Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Ondernemers Van Nature-Vrienden Van Het Platteland 39 Lorian Graham (Aus) Australian National Team 40 Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol 41 Eneritz Iturriaga (Spa) Mixed Team 1 42 Charlotte Goldsmith (GBr) British National Team 43 Melissa Sanborn (USA) Mixed Team 2 44 Marion Brauen (Swi) Team Next 125 45 Corine Hierckens (Bel) Belgian National Team 46 Susanne De Goede (Ned) Mixed Team 3 47 Veerle Ingels (Bel) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Univega Ladies Team 48 Rachel Heal (GBr) Team Farm Frites-Hartol 49 Leda Cox (GBr) British National Team 50 Liesbet De Vocht (Bel) Belgian National Team 51 Irene Vd Broek (Ned) Therme Skin Care 52 Christina Mos (Ned) Therme Skin Care 53 Meredith Miller (USA) Mixed Team 2 54 Charlotte Becker (Ger) German National Team 55 Nathalie Tirard Collet (Fra) French National Team 56 Sigrid Corneo (Ita) Nobili Rubinetterie-Guerciotti 57 Ine Wannijn (Bel) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Univega Ladies Team 58 Sarah Duster (Ger) German National Team 59 Josephine Groenveld (Ned) Mixed Team 3 60 Angela Hillenga (Ned) Therme Skin Care 61 Loes Markerink (Ned) Mixed Team 1 62 Emma James (Aus) Mixed Team 3 63 Laure Werner (Bel) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Univega Ladies Team 64 Alexandrine Petitpierre (Swi) Team Next 125 65 Irene Hostettler (Swi) Team Next 125 66 Iosune Murillo Elkano (Spa) Bizkaia-Panda Software-Durango 67 Margaret Hemsley (Aus) Australian National Team 68 Helen Saunders (GBr) British National Team 69 Agne Bagdonaviciute (Ltu) Ausra-Gruodis 70 Sandra Missbach (Ger) Team Farm Frites-Hartol 71 Monika Furrer (Swi) Team Next 125 72 Francis Linthorst (Ned) Therme Skin Care 73 Agurtzane Elorriaga Derteano (Spa) Bizkaia-Panda Software-Durango 74 Catherina Hare (GBr) British National Team 75 Sandra Rombouts (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol 76 Ombretta Ugolini (Ita) Nobili Rubinetterie-Guerciotti 77 Theresa Senff (Ger) German National Team 78 Kristy Miggels (Ned) Ondernemers Van Nature-Vrienden Van Het Platteland 79 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 80 Amy Safe (Aus) Australian National Team 81 Madeleine Lindberg (Swe) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 82 Sophie Goor (Bel) Belgian National Team 83 Nathalie Bates (Aus) Australian National Team 84 Delphine Guille (Fra) French National Team 85 Tina Liebig (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 86 Evy Van Damme (Bel) Belgian National Team 87 Sharon Van Essen (Ned) Ondernemers Van Nature-Vrienden Van Het Platteland 88 Luise Keller (Ger) German National Team 89 Helen Gutteridge (GBr) British National Team 90 Ramune Lipinskaite (Ltu) Ausra-Gruodis 91 Monique Verstraten (Ned) Mixed Team 3 92 Kettj Manfrin (Ita) Mixed Team 1 93 Zlatica Bazola Minori (Fra) French National Team 94 Cornelia Cyrus (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 95 Minke Van Dongen (Ned) Ondernemers Van Nature-Vrienden Van Het Platteland 96 Magali Le Floch (Fra) French National Team DNF Julita Papinigyte (Ltu) Ausra-Gruodis DNF Svetlana Pauliskaite (Ltu) Ausra-Gruodis DNF Alexandra Vetter (Swi) Team Next 125 DNF Claudia Meyer (Ger) Mixed Team 2 DNF Caroline Payot Podevin (Fra) French National Team
World Cup rankings after round 8
1 Oenone Wood (Aus) 264 2 Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol 165 3 Zoulfia Zabirova (Rus) Team Let's Go Finland 154 4 Petra Rossner (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 143 5 Angela Brodtka (Ger) 129 6 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 115 7 Olivia Gollan (Aus) 94 8 Alison Wright (Aus) Nobili Rubinetterie-Guerciotti 86 9 Judith Arndt (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 77 10 Geneviève Jeanson (Can) Equipe Cycliste Rona 75 11 Sonia Huguet (Fra) 75 12 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 71 13 Priska Doppmann (Swi) 65 14 Barbara Heeb (Swi) Lietzsport Cycling 62 15 Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) 58 16 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Team S.A.T.S. 57 17 Anita Valen (Nor) Team S.A.T.S. 51 18 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 51 19 Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Univega Ladies 50 20 Olga Slyusareva (Rus) Nobili Rubinetterie-Guerciotti 48 21 Tanja Schmidt-Hennes (Ger) Team Next 125 46 22 Katia Longhin (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 43 23 Annette Beutler (Swi) Lietzsport Cycling 41 24 Miho Oki (Jpn) Team Farm Frites-Hartol 38 25 Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 38 26 Leontien Zijlaard Van Moorsel (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol 35 27 Susan Palmer (Can) 33 28 Sara Carrigan (Aus) 33 29 Arenda Grimberg (Ned) Therme Skin Care 32 30 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Team S.A.T.S. 30 31 Elisabeth Chevanne Brunel (Fra) 30 32 Sissy Van Alebeek (Ned) 30 33 Rachel Heal (GBr) Team Farm Frites-Hartol 30 34 Amber Neben (USA) T-Mobile Professional Cycling Team 27 35 Fabiana Luperini (Ita) 27 36 Sharon Van Dromme (Bel) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Univega Ladies 26 37 Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Ondernemers Van Nature-Vrienden Van Het 26 38 Hayley Rutherford (Aus) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 25 39 Andrea Graus (Aut) RC Elk-Haus Tirol 24 40 Edwige Pitel (Fra) 24 41 Isabella Wieser (Aut) 24 42 Trine Hansen (Den) Team S.A.T.S. 21 43 Daniela Fusar Poli (Ita) 21 44 Nicole Brändli (Swi) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 18 45 Chantal Beltman (Ned) 18 46 Debby Mansveld (Ned) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Univega Ladies Tea 18 47 Marina Jaunatre (Fra) 15 48 Lyne Bessette (Can) 13 49 Modesta Vzesniauskaite (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 13 51 Liane Bahler (Ger) 11 52 Evy Van Damme (Bel) 11 53 Christine Thorburn (USA) 10 55 Marion Clignet (Fra) Basis Aude 9 56 Sara Symington (GBr) Team S.A.T.S. 9 57 Karine Dalmais (Fra) 9 58 Theresa Senf (Ger) 9 59 Nicole Freedman (Isr) Basis Aude 8 61 Eneritz Iturriaga (Spa) Team Let's Go Finland 8 63 Kimberly Anderson (USA) T-Mobile Professional Cycling Team 7 64 Noemi Cantele (Ita) 7 65 Svetlana Boubnenkova (Rus) 7 66 Kirsten Wild (Ned) 7 67 Catherine Marsal (Fra) Nobili Rubinetterie-Guerciotti 7 68 Erinne Willock (Can) Equipe Cycliste Rona 6 69 Tina Mayolo (USA) 6 70 Mirella Van Melis (Ned) 6 71 Andrea Bosman (Ned) 6 72 Anna Zugno (Ita) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 5 73 Katie Mactier (Aus) 5 74 Jane Knietzsch (Ger) 5 75 Johanna Buick (NZl) Victory Brewing Cycling Team 4 76 Deirdre Demet-Barry (USA) T-Mobile Professional Cycling Team 4 77 Karine Wieser (Aut) 4 78 Ghita Beltman (Ned) 4 79 Tatiana Stiajkina (Ukr) 3 80 Jaccolien Wallaard (Ned) Team Ton Van Bemmelen Sports 3 81 Corine Hierckens (Bel) 3 82 Kori Kelley (USA) 2 83 Rosa Maria Bravo Soba (Spa) 2 84 Frances Newstead (GBr) 2 85 Lorna Webb (GBr) 2 86 Margaret Hemsley (Aus) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 2 87 Bertine Spijkerman (Ned) @Home Cycling Team 2 88 Magalie Le Floch (Fra) 2 89 Teodora Ruano Sanchon (Spa) 1 90 Gunn-Rita Dahle (Nor) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 1
