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GP Ouest France-Plouay - CDM & ProT
France, August 24-25, 2008
Main Page Results Overall standings Next Stage
Stage 1 - August 24: Women's World Cup GP de Plouay, 114.6 km
Luperini the Wolf strikes again
Arndt secures World Cup title
By Ben Atkins
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Fabiana Luperini (Menikini-Selle Italia-Master Colors) won the Grand Prix Plouay World Cup in a two-up sprint with Luise Keller (Columbia). The Italian and German champions broke away from the peloton mid-way through the fourth of six laps and stayed clear to finish 31 seconds clear of Suzanne De Goede (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung).
"I am very happy because it is a very important race and I am without races for a month," said Luperini.
After winning the Giro d'Italia in July, Luperini has only raced in the previous World Cup round in Sweden, while others were at the Olympic Games in Beijing and the recent Route de France.
"I am very happy because I didn't think [I could win the sprint], I think it's very beautiful, the victory today," she said. "It is a very important race for this year. I am very happy to [get to the finish], to win because I am very tired."
Luperini's breakaway companion Keller adds this result to her victory in the Route de France last week. Despite having won the recent stage race though, the German champion was still feeling fresh.
"Yeah, I feel pretty good," she said. "Our tactic was in general to ride really aggressive today because always when we are doing this we are successful, so the whole team tried to escape today."
Despite having the build of a lightweight climbing specialist, Keller has shown in the past that she can produce a fast finish. Despite being unable to drop the Italian champion in the final half lap, she felt confident of victory. However, when Luperini decided to sit on in the closing stages and Keller found herself stuck on the front.
"I thought I could beat her in the sprint," she said. "But in the last three kilometres she wouldn't work any more."
Luperini therefore managed to keep fresher than the German and won by more than a bike length.
Team Columbia had ridden a seemingly perfect team race until the closing stages. The second lap saw attacks first from Dutchwoman Chantal Beltman and then American Kim Anderson, forcing the other strong teams - most prominently the Bigla team of defending champion Noemi Cantele - to chase. Once Keller and Luperini had broken away, any attempt to chase would be instantly marked by either Beltman or World Cup leader Judith Arndt.
"It was a comfortable situation," said Keller. "I knew that even if they would catch us there were two of our team that could go as well, so it was a really good situation for us."
Third placed Suzanne De Goede (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung) was chasing a double objective in today's race: the victory itself and the overall World Cup competition. Unfortunately for the former Dutch champion the victory eluded her, but more importantly she only managed to finish one place - and five points - ahead of leader Judith Arndt (Columbia) and needed at least 12 points to keep the competition alive heading into the final round.
"Judith also has had a really good season this season, and of course I will do my best in [the final round in] Nürnberg again, but for now I am also happy with second place," she said. "First is of course nicer, but second is also good.
"I tried to get extra points today because I was a little bit in front of her [Arndt] - one place - I have to do my best in this race also but I'm happy with third," she added.
As more of a sprinter than a climber, De Goede needed an even pace coming into the finish in order to stay fresh for the finish, which her team - moving to the front in the final of six laps - was able to set. "It was tough," she said. "The last lap the team did really good: one speed on the last climb and that's perfect for me, and that's why I managed to get third. So the team did a good job also today."
Despite Columbia being by far the most dominant team in the race, De Goede actually found that this worked to her advantage. Its marking of every move ensured that no further riders escaped, and meant that there was still a chance for the Dutchwoman to take a victory if the duo up front were caught. "If they close the gap every time that's good for me," she said. "It worked out well for us today."
Defending the race that it has won for the last three years through Cantele and Nicole Brändli, the Bigla team was particularly active in trying to bring back the two breakaway riders. In the latter stages multiple attempts were made by Cantele and Brändli to escape, but most of the early work was done by Andrea Thürig and Jennifer Hohl.
"Yes, it was very hard," Hohl said. "In the finish I couldn't go. We did a lot of work, but in the last [lap] I had cramp and Andrea was at the front for the work and the finish was s**t for our team. Not like last year.
"It was a very hard race," added the Swiss champion. "We do a lot of work, but the finish was not good for our team. It was s**t."
Arndt conceded just five points in the Women's World Cup standings to De Goede by finishing fourth and so secures the overall World Cup competition for the first time in her career with one round remaining. The former World Champion mused at how successful the race had been for Team Columbia, despite Keller not managing to seal her performance with a win. "I think we were the strongest team, and maybe Nürnberger," said Arndt.
Coming into the race with an unassailable lead over all but De Goede, it was clear what the tactic should be to make sure of victory in the season-long competition. This plan though had to be altered due to the closing of the time gap to the breakaway of team-mate Keller.
"My plan was to attack De Goede on the last climb and get rid of her so that I can make it clear," she explained. "But then we were too close [to her breakaway team-mate], so I couldn't really go. Too bad she didn't win."
Immediately after the race though, Arndt was not sure if losing only one place to her Dutch rival would be enough to guarantee final victory. "I don't know how many points you get for third, yeah, I don't know," she said. "But I mean it's difficult when you want to race for both - for the win for the day, and for the whole [World Cup competition] - sometimes you don't get anything."
Despite her concerns though, the German former World champion takes the World Cup title with one round remaining and can look forward to racing the Rund un die Nürnberger Altstadt for the race itself with no worries about the overall competition.
"That would be perfect," she smiled.
The final round of the World Cup will be the Rund un die Nürnberger Altstadt on September 14.
How it unfolded
Some 89 riders from 16 teams took the start under cloudy yet sunny skies, but with a stiff westerly breeze at their backs on the finishing straight. Preset at the start were last year's winner Noemi Cantele (Bigla), as well as the leading two in this year's overall World Cup: Judith Arndt (Columbia) and Suzanne De Goede (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung).
The first of the six 19.1km circuits was completed in 34:52, in an average speed of 32.9kph, with the peloton groupé, led by the Vienne Futuroscope, AA-Drink and Flexpoint teams. On the second lap the action began with attacks from first Chantal Beltman and then Columbia team-mate Kim Anderson escaping the peloton, forcing the rest of the peloton to chase.
Part way through the third lap Edwise Pitel (Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz) set off in pursuit of the lone American, but both riders were pulled back and the peloton was groupé at the halfway point.
Anke Wichmann (Columbia) and Miho Oki (Menikini-Selle Italia-Master Colors) broke free in the first half of lap four. The pair were caught but the catch caused a group of eight riders to break clear.
The breakaway group consisted of: defending champion Noemi Cantele (Bigla), Judith Arndt and Luise Keller (Columbia), Edita Pucinskaite (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung), Fabiana Luperini (Menikini-Selle Italia-Master Colors), Karine Gautard (Vienne Futuroscope), Edwige Pitel (Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz) and Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel.
From this group Keller and Luperini managed to escape as the others were reeled in by a Cervelo-Lifeforce led peloton. Keller and Luperini continued to build their lead, up to 1:35 with less than two laps to go, despite strong work at the front of the peloton by the Bigla team.
Several attacks in the closing stages, notably from Cantele, Pitel, Beatrice Thomas (ESGL 93-GSD Gestion) and Olympic silver medallist Emma Johansson (AA-Drink) were all neutralised by Arndt and Beltman.
Keller attacked Luperini with around eight kilometres to go and managed to open a small gap, but the Italian champion managed to reel in the German and the two headed towards the finish together. Despite their fast diminishing lead, Keller and Luperini arrived inside the final few hundred metres together, with Luperini tucked on Keller's wheel.
Keller led out the sprint first, but as the finish line neared Luperini came around the young German to take the victory. Some 31 seconds later, the entire remains of the peloton arrived together with the sprint being taken by De Goede over Arndt and Martine Bras (Vrienden Van Het Platteland).
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Régis Garnier/www.velofotopro.com
- Team Bigla on the start line.
- Emmanuelle Merlot and Karine Gautard (Vienne Futuroscope) happy to rides in France.
- World cup leader, Judith Arndt (Team Columbia)
- Noemi Cantele (Team Bilga)
- French youngster Julie Krasniak on the start in Plouay.
- Amy Gillett lives on in spirit three years after the Australian's death.
- Noemi Cantele (Team Bigla) is the defending champion.
- Aussie Tiffany Cromwell (Australie National Team) during the race.
- A big smile from this New Zealand rider.
- World cup leader Judith Arndt leads a group.
- A hard day for security!
- Fabiana Luperini (Menikini - Selle Italia) wins Grand Prix de Plouay followed by Luise Keller.
- Judith Ardnt (Columbia) finished fourth.
- Fabiana Luperini congratulated by organizer Jean-Yves Tranvaux.
- Fabiana Luperini and Luise Keller during the last kilometer.
- The podium with Luise Keller, Fabiana Luperini and Suzanne De Goede.
- Judith Arndt stays leader of the UCI Women's World Cup.
Images by CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net
- Luise Keller (Team Columbia) looked calm as she waited for the start.
- Fabiana Luperini (Menikini Selle Italia) on her way to the start line.
- Joanne Kiesanowski (New Zealand) had been racing in the USA since June prior to the Olympic Games.
- World Cup leader Judith Arndt (Team Columbia) rolls out with 2007 race winner Noemi Cantele (Team Bigla) on her wheel.
- An early breakaway was appreciated by the large crowds on the circuit.
- Anke Wichmann (Team Columbia) leads the chase of the breakaway.
- The bunch all together early in the race.
- Judith Arndt (Team Columbia) sits in the bunch as her team-mates cover attacks by other teams.
- Kim Anderson (Team Columbia) is followed by the bunch after a solo attack.
- Kim Anderson (Team Columbia) on her own, on a day where Team Columbia were aggressive almost from the gun.
- The bunch look at other as no one seems interested in chasing Kim Anderson (Team Columbia).
- Fabiana Luperini (Menikini Selle Italia) sat at the back of the bunch early in the race.
- Anke Wichmann (Team Columbia) and Miho Oki (Menikini Selle Italia) broke away after about 35 kilometres.
- Andrea Thurig (Team Bigla) takes a drink.
- Judith Arndt (Team Columbia) was marked pretty closely by Noemi Cantele (Team Bigla) throughout the race.
- Luise Keller (Team Columbia) and Fabiana Luperini (Menikini Selle Italia) are surrounded by race vehicles as their break away margin increases.
- It was left to the Swiss teams to chase the leaders. Nicole Brandli and Andrea Thurig (Team Bigla) with Carla Ryan (Cervelo Lifeforce).
- Beatrice Thomas (ASGL-GSD 93) tried to bridge between the bunch and the leaders with 23 kilometres to go.
- The sprint: Fabiana Luperini (Menikini Selle Italia) seems to have the legs over Luise Keller (Team Columbia) with 25 metres to go.
- Fabiana Luperini (Menikini Selle Italia) sprints to the line as Luise Keller (Team Columbia) realises she's defeated.
- Bunch sprint: Suzanne De Goede (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung) beats Judith Arndt (Team Columbia) for third.
- Fabiana Luperini (Menikini Selle Italia) salutes from the podium.
- Podium (L-R): Luise Keller (Team Columbia), Fabiana Luperini (Menikini Selle Italia) and Suzanne De Goede (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung).
- On top of the world: World Cup leader Judith Arndt (Team Columbia) on the podium. She now knows she's won the 2008 competition.
Results
1 Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Menikini - Selle Italia 3.16.49 (34.936 km/h) 2 Luise Keller (Ger) Team Columbia Women 3 Suzanne De Goede (Ned) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 0.31 4 Judith Arndt (Ger) Team Columbia Women 5 Martine Bras (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland 6 Julie Krasniak (Fra) France 7 Oxana Kozonchuk (Rus) Menikini - Selle Italia 8 Modesta Vzesniauskaite (Ltu) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 9 Grace Verbeke (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam 10 Emma Johansson (Swe) AA-Drink Cycling Team 11 Noemi Cantele (Ita) Bigla Cycling Team 12 Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel (Ned) Team Flexpoint 13 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 14 Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Team Flexpoint 15 Vicki Whitelaw (Aus) Australia 16 Andrea Thürig (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team 17 Irene Van Den Broek (Ned) AA-Drink Cycling Team 18 Béatrice Thomas (Fra) ESGL 93 - GSD Gestion 19 Lieselot Decroix (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam 20 Edwige Pitel (Fra) Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz 21 Karine Gautard (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope 22 Kimberly Anderson (USA) Team Columbia Women 23 Carla Ryan (Aus) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team 24 Nicole Brändli (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team 25 Chantal Beltman (Ned) Team Columbia Women 26 Miho Oki (Jpn) Menikini - Selle Italia 0.51 27 Elisabeth Braam (Ned) Team Flexpoint 0.53 28 Elodie Touffet (Fra) Gauss RDZ Ormu 29 An Van Rie (Bel) Vrienden Van Het Platteland 1.17 30 Carlee Taylor (Aus) Australia 1.34 31 Laure Werner (Bel) AA-Drink Cycling Team 32 Jennifer Hohl (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team 33 Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team 4.28 34 Sarah Düster (Ger) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team 35 Karen Steurs (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen Thompson Ladies Team 36 Sigrid Corneo (Ita) Menikini - Selle Italia 37 Christine Majerus (Lux) ESGL 93 - GSD Gestion 5.53 HD Jaccolien Wallaard (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland 23.02 HD Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Australia 18.48 HD Leda Cox (GBr) ESGL 93 - GSD Gestion 23.02 HD Kathryn Watt (Aus) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam 18.48 HD Maja Adamsen (Den) Team Cmax Dila 23.02 HD Pascale Shnider (Swi) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team DNF Monica Holler (Swe) Bigla Cycling Team DNF Linda Villumsen (Den) Team Columbia Women DNF Anke Wichmann (Ger) Team Columbia Women DNF Claudia Häusler (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung DNF Eva Lutz (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung DNF Nathalie Bates (Aus) Menikini - Selle Italia DNF Giada Borgato (Ita) Menikini - Selle Italia DNF Iise Geldhof (Bel) Belgium DNF Hannah Verhaege (Bel) Belgium DNF Maaike Polspoel (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen Thompson Ladies Team DNF Ludivine Henrion (Bel) AA-Drink Cycling Team DNF Latoya Bruleé (Bel) AA-Drink Cycling Team DNF Inge Van Den Broeck (Bel) AA-Drink Cycling Team DNF Liesbeth De Vocht (Bel) Vrienden Van Het Platteland DNF Marit Huisman (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland DNF Liesbeth Bakker (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland DNF Kaytee Boyd (NZl) New Zealand DNF Laura Thompson (NZl) New Zealand DNF Sarah Murdoch (NZl) New Zealand DNF Kerrianne Torkler (NZl) New Zealand DNF Yvette Hill-Willis (NZl) New Zealand DNF Sonia Bazire (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope DNF Fiona Dutriaux (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope DNF Nathalie Jeuland (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope DNF Moriah Mac Gregor (Can) Vienne Futuroscope DNF Emmanuelle Merlot (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope DNF Peta Mullens (Aus) Australia DNF Leonie Burford (Aus) Australia DNF Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Menikini - Selle Italia DNF Fabienne Gautier (Fra) ESGL 93 - GSD Gestion DNF Joelle Numainville (Can) ESGL 93 - GSD Gestion DNF Audrey Lemieux (Can) ESGL 93 - GSD Gestion DNF Mélanie Bravard (Fra) Team Lot-et-Garonne DNF Aurore Jeudy (Fra) Team Lot-et-Garonne DNF Emilie Lebrun (Fra) Team Lot-et-Garonne DNF Honorine Martin (Fra) Team Lot-et-Garonne DNF Fanny Riberot (Fra) Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz DNF Eugenie Mermillod (Fra) Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz DNF Brei Gudsell (NZl) Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz DNF Magali Le Floch (Fra) France DNF Magali Mocquery (Fra) France DNF Aodez Le Fourn (Fra) France DNF Jacobien Kanis (Ned) Team Flexpoint DNF Saskia Elemans (Ned) Team Flexpoint DNF Adriene Snijder (Ned) Team Flexpoint DNF Emma Rickards (Aus) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team World Cup standings 1 Judith Arndt (Ger) Columbia
