September 15, 2016 (Madrid, Spain) – Canada’s Leah Kirchmann (Team Liv-Plantur) claimed a superb second overall in the 2016 UCI Women’s WorldTour final rankings as she wrapped up her season on Sunday placing eleventh at La Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta, the final round of the series.
“I didn’t feel in the best of shape during the first part of the race. However in the finale I felt more comfortable as we prepared the bunch sprint. Unfortunately, I lost the wheel of Sara who did a great job with Riejanne in the lead-out. It would have been nice to end the season with a better result, but I am still very happy to be in second place overall in the WorldTour. This demonstrates my consistency throughout the season which has been my biggest strength,” said Kirchmann.
With three laps left on a 5.8km circuit, two leaders managed to have an advantage of 25 seconds over the bunch. However, everything came back together and the riders prepared for a bunch sprint.
Jolien d’Hoore (Wiggle High5) was the fastest in the streets of Madrid, as Leah Kirchmann sprinted to 11th place and seals the second spot in the UCI WorldTour ranking.
Liv Plantur Coach Hans Timmermans added, “Unfortunately one mistake is enough to loose a race and although at the last corner we were in a perfect position, we lost because of a miscommunication. Up until that moment we did what was necessary as we have done in most of the races this season. We are very satisfied overall due to the team effort and an amazing season for Leah. In fact this is an incredible result as we are fifth in the team ranking and second in the individual ranking with Leah.”
Results (brief)
1. Jolien D’Hoore (Bel) Wiggle High5 2:01:01
2. Chloe Hosking (Aus) Wiggle High5
3. Marta Bastianelli (Ita) Alé Cipollini
4. Chantal Blaak (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team
5. Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Ita) Lensworld-Zannata
6. Carmen Small (USA) Cylance Pro Cycling
7. Monique Van De Ree (Ned) Lares-Waowdeals Women Cycling Team
8. Eugenia Bujak (Pol) BTC City Ljubljana
9. Roxane Fournier (Fra) Poitou-Charentes.Futuroscope.86
10. Emilie Moberg (Nor) Hitec Products
11. Leah Kirchmann (Can) Team Liv-Plantur
47. Karol-Ann Canuel (Can) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team
Final UCI Women’s WorldTour Ranking
1. Megan Guarnier (USA) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team 946 pts
2. Leah Kirchmann (Can) Team Liv-Plantur 624
3. Elizabeth Armitstead (Gbr) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team 545
4. Chantal Blaak (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team 541
5. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Wiggle High5 523
6. Evelyn Stevens (USA) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team 519
7. Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Raboliv Women’s Cycling Team 492
8. Emma Johansson (Swe) Wiggle High5 463
9. Chloe Hosking (Aus) Wiggle High5 450
10. Marianne Vos (Ned) Raboliv Women’s Cycling Team 442
18. Joelle Numainville (Can) Cervelo Bigla Pro Cycling Team 241
54. Karol-Ann Canuel (Can) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam 77
97. Alison Jackson (Can) Twenty16-Ridebiker 25