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3rd Women's Women's Ronde van Vlaanderen - CDM
Belgium, April 2, 2006
Main Page Results World Cup standings
Melchers does it again
By Jeff Jones and Brecht Decaluwé in Ninove
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Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel (Buitenpoort-Flexpoint) scored the first of two Ronde van Vlaanderen doubles today when she beat Austrian Christiane Soeder (Univega) in a two woman sprint. Melchers won this race in the same way last year, but was with her teammate Susanne Ljungskog. This year, up until 2 km to go, it looked as though she would finish alone, but when Soeder finally caught her, victory wasn't assured.
"It was a short sprint, so I could win it," Melchers told Cyclingnews after the race. "Winning today was harder than winning last year, because now, you start as a favourite. The wind and the rain made it really hard. I experienced the race like a war, but I succeeded in winning it."
Melchers attacked a lead group containing Soeder, Edwige Pitel (Bianchi-Aliverti) and Kimberly Anderson (T-Mobile) on the Valkenberg with around 30 km to go, and built up what looked like an unbeatable lead of nearly a minute. "When I got away, it was still so far away to the finish. On the Muur van Geraardsbergen, I got cramps. I chose to take it easier and also allow people to come back to me. The sprint was to be as short as possible, because I knew the cramps could come back."
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Soeder didn't have the easiest of races, explaining to Cyclingnews, "There was a big crash on the Eikenberg, so I had to walk up it. I lost a lot of energy trying to reach the front of the race again. With the finish coming closer I felt stronger and stronger though. We escaped in the hill section but Mirjam Melchers was able to ride away from us. In the pursuit of Melchers, I worked together with Pitel. I could catch her with just two kilometres to go. Unfortunately, I used all my energy in my effort to catch her, so I didn't have any more power to win the sprint. "
Third was for Melchers' teammate Loes Gunnewijk, who beat Zoulfia Zabirova (Bigla) and Edwige Pitel for the final podium spot.
The World Cup lead remained with Ina Teutenberg (T-Mobile), who finished 11th today and has a healthy 45 point lead over Melchers and Sarah Ulmer, with Miho Oki (Nobili) just behind them in fourth place.
How it unfolded
There were 159 starters in Oudenaarde at 11:30, with most of the women looking anxiously at the skies for any more signs of rain. The sun was almost shining, though, and the roads had started to dry up as the women's peloton began its 112 km journey through the Vlaamse Ardennen. On the Paddestraat (km 24), the bunch was decimated, with only 50 riders left in front after the 2400m of wet, slippery cobbles.
The Haaghoek cobbles (km 69) saw the beginnings of the final selection, with Melchers attacking with Soeder, Anderson and Pitel. But the American Anderson didn't last long in the group, and was dropped on the Berendries. The three increased their advantage to over a minute on the peloton as they dropped into Brakel and tackled the Valkenberg. Melchers, just like Hoste and Boonen would later, put in a powerful attack there and dropped the other two, but now had to ride the last 30 km alone.
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The peloton was falling further behind, as were Pitel and Soeder. Melchers' gap stayed at 40 seconds, then went up to a minute on the Muur. But the steep cobbles above Geraardsbergen took their toll on the Dutch rider, and she began to lose speed. Over the next 15 km, she struggled over the Bosberg and still kept a 40 second advantage over Soeder, who left Pitel behind. The Austrian didn't give up, and managed to catch Melchers with just 2 km left. Unfortunately for her, the effort had cost too much, and even though Melchers was also in difficulty, she clearly won the sprint. Her second Ronde was in the bag, and the team capped off a great performance when Loes Gunnewijk finished third.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Jeff Jones/Cyclingnews.com
- Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel (Buitenpoort-Flexpoint) after her victory
- Arndt, Ljungskog and Cooke finish
- Nicole Cooke (Univega) was sixth at 1'20
- Christiane Soeder (Univega) caught Melchers in the final 2km to finish second
- Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel (Buitenpoort-Flexpoint) explains how it happened
- Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel (Buitenpoort-Flexpoint) found it tough going
- Susanne Ljungskog (L) with her teammates Melchers (hidden) and Hennes
- Chantal Beltman (Vrienden Van Het Platteland) looking tired
Images by Brecht Decaluwé/Cyclingnews.com
- Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel (Buitenpoort-Flexpoint) wins the sprint
- Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel (Buitenpoort-Flexpoint) can't believe what she has done
- Loes Gunnewijk (Buitenpoort-Flexpoint) after winning the sprint for third
- Loes Gunnewijk (Buitenpoort-Flexpoint) was happy with third
- winner Melchers-Van Poppel (Buitenpoort-Flexpoint)
Images by CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net
- The race started under threatening skies
- Fans walk up the Eikenberg, ready to cheer on the women
- Emma Rickards (Univega Pro Team) leads Linda Serup (Buitenpoort-Flexpoint), the pair were just a few metres ahead of the bunch
- Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (T-Mobile) leads Trixi Worrack (Équipe Nürnberger) and the bunch on the Eikenberg
- Natalie Bates (AA-Drink) in the new team kit for 2006
- Mirjam Melchers van Poppel (Buitenpoort-Flexpoint) during her solo escape
- Australia's Kathy Watt is riding for Belgian women's team, Lotto, in 2006
- Christiane Soeder (Univega Pro Team) - determined in the conditions
- The race podium (l-r): Christiane Soeder (Univega), Mirjam Melchers van Poppel (Buitenpoort-Flexpoint), Loes Gunnewijk (Buitenpoort-Flexpoint)
- World Cup leader Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (T-Mobile)
Images by Ben Atkins/Cyclingnews.com
- The Pruneaux d'Agen team are wrapped up pretty warm - good regular kind of girls... (sorry)
- Koga Miyatas belonging to Natalie Bates' AA-Drink team
- The Lady herself - Commonwealth Champion Natalie Bates braves the drizzle for a warm up.
- The Michaela Fanini girls get layered up - there's no knowing what the weather's going to do today...
- Former world champ Judith Arndt (T-Mobile) looks up for it today
- Current world champion Regina Schleicher (Nurnberger) doesn't look too fussed about the rainy greeting in Brugge
- A nice line up of Nurnberger Fujis - as modelled by Claudia Hausler.
- Terrible weather! says Commonwealth TT Champion and road race silver medallist Oenone Wood (Nurnberger)
- Really popular in these parts... and with more than a smattering of Brits in the crowd, Nicole Cooke (Univega-Raleigh) gets a long interview.
- The Univega-Raleigh team in close formation
- Eventual second place finisher, Christiane Soeder (Univega-Raleigh) has something to smile about this morning...
- It's time to rug up again after the sign on presentation for Nicole Cooke
- Swedish national champion Suzanne Ljungskog (Buitenpoort-Flexpoint) looks a bit tentative for some reason.
- Oenone rolls over the wet cobbles of Oudenaarde's Markt to take the start.
- The starters are ready - but none of the riders look like they are...
- Kettje Manfrin (AS team-FRW) doesn't seem to be in much of a hurry to join the rest at the start line...
- A Bigla Team rider leads the peloton across the long Mater-Kerkgate cobbles
- The Buitenpoort Flexpoint team put pressure on on the cobbles as world cup leader Ina Teutenberg (T-Mobile) picks her way through the gutter.
- Under a brightening sky an AA-Drink rider tries to stay in contact
- Judith Arndt doesn't look quite so happy about things as she did an hour or so ago
- As the bunch disintegrates on the cobbles, a Bianchi and an @Work rider try vainly to regain contact
- Even the locals find it tough - a Vlaanderen-Caprisonne rider struggles to keep up.
- The peloton has long since split, but one of the girls from Pruneaux d'Agen keeps a regular tempo
- A rider from Lotto-Belisol grits her teeth and gets on with it.
- It's not every World Champion's day - mind you, Regina Schleicher's white shorts seem to have survived so far!
- When you're dropped in this race, you're really on your own...one of the Top Girls-Fassa Bortolo riders has a very lonely ride.
- Christy Miggels (Therme Skin Care) is not giving up yet
Results - 112 km
1 Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel (Ned) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint Team 3.16.57 (34.12 km/h) 2 Christiane Soeder (Aut) Univega Pro Cycling Team 0.01 3 Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint Team 0.53 4 Zoulfia Zabirova (Kaz) Bigla Cycling Team 0.58 5 Edwige Pitel (Fra) Bianchi Aliverti Kookai 6 Nicole Cooke (GBr) Univega Pro Cycling Team 1.20 7 Theresa Senff (Ger) Aa-Drink Cycling Team 8 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint Team 9 Judith Arndt (Ger) T-Mobile Professional Cycling 10 Sharon Van Dromme (Bel) Vlaanderen-Caprisonne-T Interim 1.31 11 Ina Teutenberg (Ger) T-Mobile Professional Cycling 2.38 12 Suzanne De Goede (Ned) Aa-Drink Cycling Team 13 Miho Oki (Jpn) Nobili Rubinetterie Menikini Cogeas 14 Annette Beutler (Swi) Elk Haus Nö 15 Luisa Tamanini (Ita) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 16 Volha Hayeva (Blr) Bianchi Aliverti Kookai 17 Tanja Hennes (Ger) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint Team 18 Dorte Lohse Rasmussen (Den) Bianchi Aliverti Kookai 19 Andrea Graus (Aut) Bigla Cycling Team 20 Olga Zabelinskaya (Rus) Fenixs-Colnago 21 Sarah Düster (Ger) Univega Pro Cycling Team 22 Laure Werner (Bel) Vlaanderen-Caprisonne-T Interim 23 Modesta Vzesniauskaite (Ltu) A.S. Team F.R.W 24 Trine Hansen (Den) Bianchi Aliverti Kookai 25 Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) Univega Pro Cycling Team 26 Josephine Groenveld (Ned) Aa-Drink Cycling Team 27 Chantal Beltman (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland 28 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Nobili Rubinetterie Menikini Cogeas 29 Magali Mocquery (Fra) French National Team 30 Evy Van Damme (Bel) Vlaanderen-Caprisonne-T Interim 31 Veronica Andreasson (Swe) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 32 Cindy Pieters (Bel) Vlaanderen-Caprisonne-T Interim 33 Evelyn Garcia (ESa) Nobili Rubinetterie Menikini Cogeas 34 An Van Rie (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam 35 Sofie Goor (Bel) Vlaanderen-Caprisonne-T Interim 36 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 37 Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 38 Amber Neben (USA) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint Team 39 Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line 40 Noemi Cantele (Ita) Bigla Cycling Team 41 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Univega Pro Cycling Team 42 Oenone Wood (Aus) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 7.33 43 Karen Steurs (Bel) K.S.V.-Deerlijk-Gaverzicht 8.48 44 Kathryn Watt (Aus) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam 45 Loes Sels (Bel) Vlaanderen-Caprisonne-T Interim 9.06 46 Karin Aune (Swe) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 10.47 47 Emma Rickards (Aus) Univega Pro Cycling Team 48 Silvia Parietti (Ita) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 49 Bertine Spijkerman (Ned) Therme Skin Care 50 Adrie Visser (Ned) Aa-Drink Cycling Team 51 Irene Van Den Broek (Ned) Therme Skin Care 52 Loes Markerink (Ned) @Work Cycling Team 53 Svetlana Bubnenkova (Rus) Fenixs-Colnago 54 Kirsten Wild (Ned) Aa-Drink Cycling Team 55 Lise Christensen (Den) Bianchi Aliverti Kookai 56 Linda Villumsen (Den) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint Team 57 Alexandra Le Henaff (Fra) Les Pruneaux D'agen 10.59 58 Pascale Jeuland (Fra) French National Team 59 Sabine Fischer (Ger) German National Team 11.31 60 Anna Zugno (Ita) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 61 Eva Lechner (Ita) Fenixs-Colnago 62 Ludivine Henrion (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam 63 Monica Holler (Swe) Bigla Cycling Team 64 Eva Lutz (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 65 Bärbel Jungmeier (Aut) Elk Haus Nö 66 Rosane Kirch (Bra) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 67 Nina Ovcharenko (Ukr) A.S. Team F.R.W 68 Elisabeth Chevanne Brunel (Fra) Les Pruneaux D'agen 69 Christina Becker (Ger) T-Mobile Professional Cycling 70 Kimberly Bruckner Baldwin (USA) T-Mobile Professional Cycling 71 Claudia Häusler (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 72 Magali Le Floch (Fra) T-Mobile Professional Cycling 73 Rasa Leleivyte (Ltu) Lithuanian National Team 74 Daiva Tuslaite (Ltu) Lithuanian National Team 75 Liesbeth De Vocht (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam 76 Janne Brok (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland 77 Sophie Creux (Fra) French National Team 78 Katia Longhin (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line 79 Debby Van De Berg (Ned) @Work Cycling Team 80 Patricia Schwager (Swi) Elk Haus Nö 81 Emma Johansson (Swe) Bizkaia-Panda Software-Durango 82 Olivia Gollan (Aus) Nobili Rubinetterie Menikini Cogeas 83 Iris Slappendel (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland 84 Iosune Murillo Elkano (Spa) Bizkaia-Panda Software-Durango 85 Edita Unguryte (Ltu) Lithuanian National Team 86 Ombretta Ugolini (Ita) A.S. Team F.R.W 87 Kathleen Sterckx (Bel) Belgian National Team 88 Ilse Geldhof (Bel) K.S.V.-Deerlijk-Gaverzicht 89 Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line 90 Magali Finot Laivier (Fra) French National Team 12.41 91 Nathalie Jeuland (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope 92 Moniek Rotmensen (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland 13.06 93 Janneke Vos (Ned) Therme Skin Care 94 Agne Bagdonaviciute (Ltu) Lithuanian National Team 95 Marije Profijt (Ned) Therme Skin Care 96 Sigrid Corneo (Ita) Nobili Rubinetterie Menikini Cogeas 97 Emmanuelle Merlot (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope 98 Daniela Fusar Poli (Ita) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 99 Veronique Belleter (Bel) Belgian National Team 100 Monique Verstraten (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland 101 Tania Belvederesi (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line 13.16 102 Grace Verbeke (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam 103 Naiara Telletxea Lopez (Spa) Bizkaia-Panda Software-Durango 104 Francesca Castrucci (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 105 Kristy Miggels (Ned) Therme Skin Care DNF Regina Schleicher (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung DNF Anke Wichmann (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung DNF Kimberly Anderson (USA) T-Mobile Professional Cycling DNF Nicole Brändli (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team DNF Andrea Knecht (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team DNF Marta Vilajosana Andreu (Spa) Nobili Rubinetterie Menikini Cogeas DNF Nathalie Bates (Aus) Aa-Drink Cycling Team DNF Maja Adamsen (Den) Fenixs-Colnago DNF Johanna Buick (NZl) Fenixs-Colnago DNF Elena Stramoysova (Rus) Fenixs-Colnago DNF Martina Corazza (Ita) A.S. Team F.R.W DNF Tetayna Palchynska (Ukr) A.S. Team F.R.W DNF Kettj Manfrin (Ita) A.S. Team F.R.W DNF Erika Vilunaite (Ltu) Bianchi Aliverti Kookai DNF Leticia Gil Parra (Spa) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line DNF Andrea Bosman (Ned) @Work Cycling Team DNF Liesbeth Bakker (Ned) @Work Cycling Team DNF Linda Ringlever (Ned) @Work Cycling Team DNF Judith Helmink (Ned) @Work Cycling Team DNF Cristina Alcalde Huertanos (Spa) Bizkaia-Panda Software-Durango DNF Maitane Telletxea Lopez (Spa) Bizkaia-Panda Software-Durango DNF Katharina Blum (Ger) Elk Haus Nö DNF Isabella Wieser (Aut) Elk Haus Nö DNF Eleonora Van Dijk (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland DNF Christa Pirard (Ned) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam DNF Emilie Jeannot (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope DNF Tiina Nieminen (Fin) Vienne Futuroscope DNF Aurore Jeudy (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope DNF Karine Gautard (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope DNF Liane Bahler (Ger) Therme Skin Care DNF Sylvie Riedle (Fra) Les Pruneaux D'agen DNF Vicky Fournial (Fra) Les Pruneaux D'agen DNF Sylvie Fragniere (Fra) Les Pruneaux D'agen DNF Corinne Overney (Swi) Les Pruneaux D'agen DNF Janildes Fernandes Silva (Bra) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox DNF Malgorzata Wysocka (Pol) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox DNF Ilaria Rinaldi (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox DNF Fabienne Sandig (Ger) German National Team DNF Elke Gebhardt (Ger) German National Team DNF Claudia Stumpf (Ger) German National Team DNF Marlen Johrend (Ger) German National Team DNF Bianca Knoepfle (Ger) German National Team DNF Urte Juodvalkyte (Ltu) Lithuanian National Team DNF Roberta Pilkauskaite (Ltu) Lithuanian National Team DNF Béatrice Thomas (Fra) French National Team DNF Fanny Riberot (Fra) French National Team DNF Lensy Debboudt (Bel) Belgian National Team DNF Katleen Vermeiren (Bel) Belgian National Team DNF Sjoukje Dufoer (Bel) Belgian National Team DNF Caroline Van Peteghem (Bel) Belgian National Team DNF Mieke De Clercq (Bel) K.S.V.-Deerlijk-Gaverzicht DNF Sofie Verdonck (Bel) K.S.V.-Deerlijk-Gaverzicht DNF Lien Beyen (Bel) K.S.V.-Deerlijk-Gaverzicht DNF Ine Beyen (Bel) K.S.V.-Deerlijk-Gaverzicht Starters: 159 Classified: 105
World Cup standings after round 3
1 Ina Teutenberg (Ger) T-Mobile Professional Cycling 120 pts 2 Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel (Ned) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint Team 75 3 Sarah Ulmer (NZl) 75 4 Miho Oki (Jpn) Nobili Rubinetterie Menikini Cogeas 73 5 Tina Mayolo Pic (USA) 57 6 Annette Beutler (Swi) Elk Haus Nö 52 7 Christiane Soeder (Aut) Univega Pro Cycling Team 50 8 Oenone Wood (Aus) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 50 9 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint Team 43 10 Nicole Cooke (GBr) Univega Pro Cycling Team 42 11 Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) Univega Pro Cycling Team 41 12 Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint Team 35 13 Katherine Bates (Aus) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 35 14 Edwige Pitel (Fra) Bianchi Aliverti Kookai 30 15 Zoulfia Zabirova (Kaz) Bigla Cycling Team 30 16 Svetlana Bubnenkova (Rus) Fenixs-Colnago 27 17 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 27 18 Tamara Boyd (NZl) Les Pruneaux d'Agen 26 19 Gina Grain (Can) Giant Pro Cycling 24 20 Theresa Senff (Ger) AA-Drink Cycling Team 21 21 Judith Arndt (Ger) T-Mobile Professional Cycling 15 22 Sharon Van Dromme (Bel) Vlaanderen-Caprisonne-T Interim 11 23 Lang Meng (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling 10 24 Monia Baccaille (Ita) Saccarelli Emu Marsciano 10 25 Olga Slyusareva (Rus) 9 26 Suzanne De Goede (Ned) AA-Drink Cycling Team 9 27 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Univega Pro Cycling Team 8 28 Hayley Brown (Aus) 8 29 Olivia Gollan (Aus) Nobili Rubinetterie Menikini Cogeas 7 30 Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) A.S. Team F.R.W 7 31 Emma Rickards (Aus) Univega Pro Cycling Team 6 32 Luisa Tamanini (Ita) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 6 33 Sarah Düster (Ger) Univega Pro Cycling Team 6 34 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 5 35 Volha Hayeva (Blr) Bianchi Aliverti Kookai 5 36 Tanja Hennes (Ger) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint Team 4 37 Toni Bradshaw (NZl) Les Pruneaux d'Agen 4 38 Dorte Lohse Rasmussen (Den) Bianchi Aliverti Kookai 3 39 Larissa Kleinmann (Ger) GER 3 40 Kate Nichols (Aus) 2 41 Melissa Holt (NZl) 2 42 Andrea Graus (Aut) Bigla Cycling Team 2 43 Olga Zabelinskaya (Rus) Fenixs-Colnago 1 44 Nikki Egyed (Aus) 1 45 Catherine Sell (NZl) 1 Teams 1 Univega Pro Cycling Team 153 pts 2 T-Mobile Professional Cycling 135 3 Buitenpoort-Flexpoint Team 132 4 New Zealand 107 5 Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 90 6 Nobili Rubinetterie Menikini Cogeas 85 7 Elk Haus Nö 52 8 Russian Federation 36 9 Bianchi Aliverti Kookai 35 10 Giant Pro Cycling 34 11 Bigla Cycling Team 32 12 Aa-Drink Cycling Team 30 13 United States Of America 30 14 Vlaanderen - Caprisonne - T Interim 11 15 Italy 10 16 A.S. Team F.R.W 7 17 Safi - Pasta Zara Manhattan 6 18 Germany 3 19 Fenixs - Colnago 1
