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Geelong Women's Tour - 2.2
Australia, February 22-24, 2005
Main Page Results Stage Details Previous Stage Next Stage
Stage 2 - Tuesday, February 22: Criterium Portarlington, 30km
Wood Takes Stage 2 Fair and Square By a Hair
By Mikkeli Godfree
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Defending tour champion Oenone Wood put in a stunning ride in her debut appearance for her new team Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung taking the stage, the sprint jersey and leader’s yellow jersey. In the afternoon’s stage, Wood made it a clean sweep by edging out Joanne Kiesanowski (New Zealand National Team) after taking both intermediate sprints and the maximum amount of time bonuses.
Fired up from her second place and the protest against Kathy Watt’s bike, Natalie Bates put in an inspired ride to lead her sister out for the intermediate sprints. However, despite their efforts, the Bates sisters couldn’t hold Wood down. Wood was over the moon with her win, especially given that it was within the first hour of her wearing the team Nurnberger colours, “I’m really happy, it’s great to be able to perform for the new team.”
The stage still tested race officials though as the finish between Wood and Kiesanowski was extremely close. This put pressure on the race organisation as they simultaneously attempted to make a judgement on the Watt protest from the morning’s time trial.
How it unfolded
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A top ten separated by a mere 10 seconds and a maximum of 16 seconds up for grabs meant that the two intermediate sprints and the final sprint would be hotly contested. With 3, 2, and 1 seconds up for first, second and third in the intermediate sprints and 10, 6 and 2 seconds up for the top three positions over the line at the finish, the GC was likely to change.
As the first sprint loomed at lap 10 of the 30-lap race, the four-woman Ton van Bemmelen team showed their colours at the front and their desire to get Kate Bates over the line for the sprint bonuses seemed clear. Their plans were upset, however, by a fast-finishing Wood who showed great speed to take the first sprint of the tour and the three second bonus as Kate and Natalie Bates took 2 and 1 seconds respectively in 2nd and 3rd places.
The front bunch of 50 or so riders was oblivious to the hurt out the back as they set themselves up for the second sprint. As the pace ramped up, more riders were shelled out the back but, this didn’t change the running order up front as Oenone Wood again managed to outfox the Bates sisters who took second and third again.
Despite receiving orders to concentrate on the race win, only contesting the intermediate sprints if they weren’t going to take the edge of her finish, Wood was showing devastating form taking both sprints with relative ease over an in-form Kate Bates. Now within striking distance of the overall race lead with a 10-second time bonus for the win, Wood looked unbeatable as the World Champion Judith Arndt drove the bunch through for the bell-lap.
As they rounded the bottom corner and lined up for the finish it was actually New Zealander Joanne Kiesanowski who came charging down on the finish line, having infiltrated the lead-out trains of Nurnberger and Ton van Bemmelen . With Kate Bates and Oenone Wood at her sides, Kiesanowski looked to have it in the bag. However, as they bore down on the line, the 2004 World Cup Champion, Wood, executed a perfect bike throw. A 15-min photo-examination later and Wood was declared the winner.
The stage win also gave Wood the overall lead by a mere 0.4 of a second over Kate Bates with sister Natalie a further 2 seconds behind on GC. The Bates’ sister-act rode awesomely to secure this result, with Natalie totally sacrificing herself for her younger sister. Despite losing to a super-quick Wood, Kate had nothing but positive things to say about the day, “I have to thank my sis, she had a great TT this morning and she put it on the line for me this afternoon. This is more her third place than mine. Between Arndt and Wood, we are racing the two best women in the world, but we are a trusting and loyal team and we’ll do all we can.”
Before the finish-photo had been examined, Wood exclaimed, “it felt like I got it. They don’t get any closer than that.” After being told of the result, Wood was visibly relieved, “It all happens so quick and you can never be sure…Kate [Bates] let a gap form and I really had to push to close the gap to Joanne [Kiesanowski].” Regarding having a World Champion and Olympic Games Silver medallist at her disposal, Wood said, “She’s like a human motorbike! She’s amazing…but it will still be a tough couple of days against Kate Bates in the sprints.”
Wood leads after two stages
Official report
Canberra's Oenone Wood has signalled she is on track to defend her 2004 World Cup Series crown after a strong opening day in the three day Geelong Tour, the lead up event to the first round of the 2005 World Cup on Sunday.
But Sydney's Kate Bates is also in hot form and will challenge Wood in both this and the World Cup event with the pair tied on time at the end of two stages.
The day began with an eight kilometre time trial along the Esplanade at Portarlington on Victoria's Port Phillip Bay in overcast conditions with a light onshore breeze which created a headwind for the riders on the outbound four kilometres and a tailwind on the return.
The fastest time of the day was that of Barcelona Olympic Champion Kathy Watt, 40, who covered the distance in 11min31sec. However she was later relegated to last place when officials ruled her handlebars were lower than allowed under the regulations.
The stage win was then awarded to Sydney's Natalie Bates, 24, of the Tom Van Bemmelen professional team who rode a time of 11:35. South Australian Alexis Rhodes, 20, riding for the Australian National Team impressed with an 11:36 to claim second and the lead in the Best Young Rider Under 23 classification with fellow South Australian and national team member, Amy Gillett, 29, third in 22:39.
"I'm very happy because I wasn't sure what my legs would be like as the last race for me was road nationals," said Bates who was fourth in the time trial at the Australian Championships in Adelaide in January. "I've only been training with Kate (sister and team mate) so hard to know how good the legs would be and it was good to have a hit out.
"I felt good out there and it's always great to get on the podium."
Wood, the reigning Australian time trial champion, was twelve seconds slower than Bates in 11th place on the time trial stage.
Two hours later the riders were back on their bikes for stage two, a 30 kilometre criterium around a one kilometre circuit in Portarlington. The stage featured two intermediate sprints with bonus seconds on offer plus time bonuses on the finish so as expected Wood and the Bates sisters were aggressive throughout.
On both intermediate sprints Wood crossed first ahead of Kate and Natalie for the three, two and one second bonuses with the final sprint across the line set to decide the race lead.
New Zealand's Joanne Kiesanowski of the Nobili team surprised the favourites to sprint clear in the final metres but Wood accelerated and in a final lunge got her on the line in a photo-finish which separated the pair by milimetres.
"They don't get any closer than that and I felt I had it but it all happened so quickly and you can never be sure," said Wood. "Kate (Bates) let a gap form so I really had to push to get to Joanne and close the gap."
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Kate Bates crossed close behind in third to put her and Wood in front on the same time forcing officials to go to the time trial times and the hundredths of seconds to split them. Wood also holds the lead in the points classification.
"My director (past World and Olympic Champion and recently retired from competition, Petra Rossner) told me before the second stage not to worry about the intermediate sprints if it was going to take it out of me just focus on the win but I felt good," said Wood who had the benefit of the reigning World Champion, Germany's Judith Arndt as her support for the stage.
"She's like a human motorbike she's amazing as are all our other team mates," said Wood who along with Newcastle's Olivia Gollan moved from the Australian Institute of Sport progra into the preofessional ranks this year. "It's first race with the new team so I'm really happy to be able to perform for them"
But Wood admits holding the race lead will be tough.
"It will be like last year, a race of internmediate sprints," said Wood after being awarded the yellow leader's jersey. "It will be a tough couple of days to beat Kate Bates and I expect a really strategic race."
Kate Bates, on the same time, and Natalie Bates (two seconds off the overall lead) also have Athens Olympic road race gold medallist Sara Carrigan in the team and she is sitting only nine seconds off the lead time which provides three chances to attack.
"We're in a good position but we'll have to play it smart and cover the moves," said Natalie. "Oenone is sprinting really well so not sure we'll get over her in the sprints but we'll look at what else we can do."
Tomorrow's stage three will see the 86 riders from 16 countries contest a 77.4km (five laps of the circuit) in and around the coastal town of Barwon Heads on Bass Strait.
Kathy Watt will start the race 2min35seconds behind the leader after her relegation on stage one.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by John Veage
- UCI Commissaire Jin Shan Zhao explains to Kerry Hall the problems with Kathy Watt’s bike.
- Judith Arndt resplendent in her first road appearance in the rainbow colours.
- The peloton climbs the hill around the back side of the Portarlington circuit.
- Riders pop off the back as the pressure is applied at the front.
- Kate Bates leads Sara Carrigan with sister Natalie tucked in behind.
- Wood comes around Joanne Kiesanowski metres from the line...
- ...and edges out Kiesanowski for the win
- Oenone Wood awaits the photo finish examination which would show her as the winner.
- Grinning Winners - U23 leader Alexis Rhodes, 2nd place getter Joanne Kiesanowski (NZL), winner Oenone Wood and 3rd place-getter Kate Bates .
Images by Mark Gunter/Cyclingnews.com
- Vickie Burr (Bike NZ) has a stack in stage 2
- Judith Arndt (Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung) leads team mate Oenone Wood with 1 lap to go in the crit.
- Oenone Wood (Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung) just wins
- Oenone Wood (Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung) in yellow after stage 2
Images by Mikkeli Godfree
- Eventual stage winner, Oenone Wood prepares herself for the race.
- Kathy Watt in her borrowed yellow jersey lines up for the start of Stage 2.
- Stewart Doyle on the 1s and 2s.
- Kate Bates put faith in her team today but couldn’t hold off Oenone Wood.
- Kiesanowski (left) gets pipped at the line by Wood.
- Natalie Bates leads sister Kate with two laps to go.
- Arndt does the job for Wood at the bell, with Ljungskog, Kate Bates (obscured), Carrigan and Kiesanowski following.
- Petra Rossner has swapped bike for camera and earpiece this year as manager of Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung.
- Jin Shan Zhao talks to Kerry Hall about Kathy Watt’s bike.
- Zhao taking some happy snaps.
Results
1 Oenone Wood (Aus) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung 59.29 2 Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) SC Nobili Rubinetterie - Menikini Cogeas 3 Katherine Bates (Aus) Ton Van Bemmelen AA Drink 4 Sara Carrigan (Aus) Ton Van Bemmelen AA Drink 5 Tanja Hennes-Smidt (Ger) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint 6 Kate Nichols (Aus) NSWIS 7 Natalie Bates (Aus) Ton Van Bemmelen AA Drink 8 Melissa Holt (NZl) New Zealand National Team 9 Katie Mactier (Aus) Jayco VIS 10 Jenny Macpherson (Aus) Jayco VIS 11 Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel (Ned) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint 12 Michelle Hyland (NZl) New Zealand National Team 13 Miho Oki (Jpn) Japanese National Team 14 Amanda Spratt (Aus) Australian National Team 15 Helen Kelly (Aus) Jayco VIS 16 Michelle Kiesanowski (NZl) New Zealand National Team 17 Judith Arndt (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung 18 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint 19 Sigrid Corneo (Ita) SC Nobili Rubinetterie - Menikini Cogeas 20 Emma Rickards (Aus) Jayco VIS 21 Suzanne De Goede (Ned) Ton Van Bemmelen AA Drink 22 Tina Mayolo Pic (USA) Lloyd Morgan Recruitment 23 Christine Riakos (Aus) NSWIS 24 Emma Colson (Aus) Western Global 25 Susie Wood (NZl) New Zealand National Team 26 Robyn Wong (NZl) Bike New Zealand 27 Katie Brown (Aus) Australian National Team 28 Kathryn Watt (Aus) Inexa/Melbourne University Sport 29 Emma James (Aus) NSWIS 30 Toni Bradshaw (NZl) New Zealand National Team 31 Belinda Goss (Aus) Jayco VIS 32 Lynn Gaggioli (USA) Lloyd Morgan Recruitment 33 Briget Evans (Aus) Lloyd Morgan Recruitment 0.12 34 Linda Melanie Serup (Den) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint 0.17 35 Madeleine Sandig (Ger) German National Team 0.18 36 Alexis Rhodes (Aus) Australian National Team 0.22 37 Meredith Miller (USA) Lloyd Morgan Recruitment 0.24 38 Sarah Duster (Ger) German National Team 0.38 39 Kerry Cohen (Aus) Western Global 0.41 40 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) NSWIS 1.29 41 Sally Cowman (Aus) QAS 42 Tamara Boyd (NZl) Bike New Zealand 1.34 43 Claire Baxter (Aus) Inexa/Melbourne University Sport 1.35 44 Nadene Boyle (NZl) Bike New Zealand 1.50 45 Akemi Morimoto (Jpn) Japanese National Team 46 Caitlin Fraser (Aus) Inexa/Melbourne University Sport 1.57 47 Miyoko Karami (Jpn) Japanese National Team 1.58 48 Kristy Bortolin (Aus) Lloyd Morgan Recruitment 2.00 49 Silvia Valsecchi (Ita) SC Nobili Rubinetterie - Menikini Cogeas 50 Emma Lovelock (Aus) Peloton Sports / Turramurra Cyclery 51 Johanna Buick (NZl) New Zealand National Team 52 Olivia Gollan (Aus) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung 53 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung 54 Caroline Jackson (GBr) Western Global 55 Rachel O'connell (Aus) Peloton Sports / Turramurra Cyclery 56 Bianca Knopfle (Ger) German National Team 57 Verena Joos (Ger) German National Team 58 Santia Tri Kusuma (Ina) Indonesian National Team 59 Nicole Freedman (Isr) Western Global 60 Kerryn Charman (Aus) Inexa/Melbourne University Sport 61 Jessica Maclean (Aus) QAS 62 Louise Yaxley (Aus) Australian National Team 63 Amy Gillett (Aus) Australian National Team 64 Hannah Banks (Aus) QAS 65 Daniela Fusar Poli (Ita) SC Nobili Rubinetterie - Menikini Cogeas 66 Carly Hibberd (Aus) QAS 67 Kate Charge (Aus) Peloton Sports / Turramurra Cyclery 68 Anke Wichmann (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung 69 Amy Mosen (NZl) Bike New Zealand 4.00 70 Vickie Burr (NZl) Bike New Zealand 71 Madeleine Lindberg (Swe) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung 72 Joanna Von Berky (Aus) QAS 73 Claudia Hecht (Ger) German National Team 74 Anna Miyazaki (Jpn) Japanese National Team 75 Apryl Eppinger (Aus) Jayco VIS 76 Tanya Moss (Aus) Peloton Sports / Turramurra Cyclery 6.00 77 Germma Goyne (Aus) Lloyd Morgan Recruitment 78 Kelly Hulser (USA) Western Global 79 Laura Bortolozzi (Aus) Peloton Sports / Turramurra Cyclery 80 Jemma O'brien (Aus) Peloton Sports / Turramurra Cyclery 81 Melissa Pilla (NZl) Bike New Zealand DNF Uyun Muzizah (Ina) Indonesian National Team DNF Dahlina Rosyida (Ina) Indonesian National Team DNF Sri Suyamti (Ina) Indonesian National Team DNF Vonika Kriesa Rosita (Ina) Indonesian National Team DNF Candice Sullivan (Aus) QAS General classification after stage 2 1 Oenone Wood (Aus) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung 1.10.59 2 Katherine Bates (Aus) Ton Van Bemmelen AA Drink 0.01 3 Natalie Bates (Aus) Ton Van Bemmelen AA Drink 0.03 4 Judith Arndt (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung 0.09 5 Katie Mactier (Aus) Jayco VIS 0.10 6 Melissa Holt (NZl) New Zealand National Team 0.13 7 Sara Carrigan (Aus) Ton Van Bemmelen AA Drink 0.14 8 Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel (Ned) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint 0.15 9 Lynn Gaggioli (USA) Lloyd Morgan Recruitment 0.22 10 Tina Mayolo Pic (USA) Lloyd Morgan Recruitment 0.25 11 Alexis Rhodes (Aus) Australian National Team 0.28 12 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint 13 Jenny Macpherson (Aus) Jayco VIS 0.31 14 Michelle Hyland (NZl) New Zealand National Team 15 Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) SC Nobili Rubinetterie - Menikini Cogeas 0.38 16 Miho Oki (Jpn) Japanese National Team 0.39 17 Emma James (Aus) NSWIS 0.43 18 Susie Wood (NZl) New Zealand National Team 19 Helen Kelly (Aus) Jayco VIS 0.45 20 Kate Nichols (Aus) NSWIS 21 Amanda Spratt (Aus) Australian National Team 22 Linda Melanie Serup (Den) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint 0.49 23 Emma Rickards (Aus) Jayco VIS 0.52 24 Madeleine Sandig (Ger) German National Team 0.53 25 Belinda Goss (Aus) Jayco VIS 26 Suzanne De Goede (Ned) Ton Van Bemmelen AA Drink 0.58 27 Meredith Miller (USA) Lloyd Morgan Recruitment 0.59 28 Katie Brown (Aus) Australian National Team 1.00 29 Michelle Kiesanowski (NZl) New Zealand National Team 1.03 30 Toni Bradshaw (NZl) New Zealand National Team 1.05 31 Robyn Wong (NZl) Bike New Zealand 1.09 32 Tanja Hennes-Smidt (Ger) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint 1.13 33 Sigrid Corneo (Ita) SC Nobili Rubinetterie - Menikini Cogeas 1.16 34 Christine Riakos (Aus) NSWIS 1.21 35 Emma Colson (Aus) Western Global 1.24 36 Sarah Duster (Ger) German National Team 1.37 37 Briget Evans (Aus) Lloyd Morgan Recruitment 1.47 38 Kerry Cohen (Aus) Western Global 1.57 39 Amy Gillett (Aus) Australian National Team 2.08 40 Tamara Boyd (NZl) Bike New Zealand 2.13 41 Claire Baxter (Aus) Inexa/Melbourne University Sport 2.16 42 Louise Yaxley (Aus) Australian National Team 2.18 43 Sally Cowman (Aus) QAS 2.29 44 Nadene Boyle (NZl) Bike New Zealand 2.33 45 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) NSWIS 2.34 46 Kathryn Watt (Aus) Inexa/Melbourne University Sport 2.35 47 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung 2.36 48 Hannah Banks (Aus) QAS 2.38 49 Johanna Buick (NZl) New Zealand National Team 2.41 50 Miyoko Karami (Jpn) Japanese National Team 2.44 51 Akemi Morimoto (Jpn) Japanese National Team 2.45 52 Olivia Gollan (Aus) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung 53 Silvia Valsecchi (Ita) SC Nobili Rubinetterie - Menikini Cogeas 2.48 54 Nicole Freedman (Isr) Western Global 2.49 55 Anke Wichmann (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung 2.52 56 Verena Joos (Ger) German National Team 2.54 57 Daniela Fusar Poli (Ita) SC Nobili Rubinetterie - Menikini Cogeas 2.56 58 Jessica Maclean (Aus) QAS 2.57 59 Caitlin Fraser (Aus) Inexa/Melbourne University Sport 3.05 60 Caroline Jackson (GBr) Western Global 3.07 61 Kate Charge (Aus) Peloton Sports / Turramurra Cyclery 3.18 62 Rachel O'connell (Aus) Peloton Sports / Turramurra Cyclery 3.20 63 Kristy Bortolin (Aus) Lloyd Morgan Recruitment 3.21 64 Carly Hibberd (Aus) QAS 65 Kerryn Charman (Aus) Inexa/Melbourne University Sport 3.27 66 Emma Lovelock (Aus) Peloton Sports / Turramurra Cyclery 3.46 67 Santia Tri Kusuma (Ina) Indonesian National Team 3.47 68 Bianca Knopfle (Ger) German National Team 3.48 69 Apryl Eppinger (Aus) Jayco VIS 5.01 70 Joanna Von Berky (Aus) QAS 5.09 71 Claudia Hecht (Ger) German National Team 5.13 72 Madeleine Lindberg (Swe) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung 5.20 73 Amy Mosen (NZl) Bike New Zealand 5.29 74 Vickie Burr (NZl) Bike New Zealand 5.32 75 Anna Miyazaki (Jpn) Japanese National Team 5.53 76 Kelly Hulser (USA) Western Global 6.26 77 Melissa Pilla (NZl) Bike New Zealand 6.50 78 Laura Bortolozzi (Aus) Peloton Sports / Turramurra Cyclery 7.00 79 Jemma O'brien (Aus) Peloton Sports / Turramurra Cyclery 7.45 80 Tanya Moss (Aus) Peloton Sports / Turramurra Cyclery 7.53 81 Germma Goyne (Aus) Lloyd Morgan Recruitment 8.02
