May 30, 2009 (Montreal, QC) – Following rain this morning the sun is out with partly cloudy skies for Saturday’s 12th annual Montreal Women’s Road World Cup, round #6 of the 10-leg series, with a 12 noon start and a good crowd on hand. Parts of the front section of the 10.06km circuit leading up the Mount Royal climb have been paved but there are some rough sections on the return to the start/finish – the women will complete 11 laps for a total distance of 110.66km.

Many of the world’s top women riders are on the start line including last year’s winner Judith Arndt (Ger) Team Columbia-Highroad Women along with her Canadian team mate Alex Wrubleski. A total of 30 Canucks are racing including Erinne Willock (Webcor), Joelle Numainville and Audrey Lemieux from ESGL93-GSD Gestion, Julie Beveridge (Tibco), Veronique Labonte (Equipe Cascades) and many more.

Official start list is here.
Current world cup individual rankings are here.

Lap 1
The riders are off with the bunch together. Emma Pooley (Gbr) Cervélo TestTeam has made a move on the first climb and has a 20-second gap on the peloton.

Lap 2
As the riders begin the second lap it’s Pooley in front with a chase group of three riders including Eva Lutz (Ger) Equipe Nuernberger Versicherung, Andrea Dvorak (USA) Colavita Sutter Homes p/b Cooking Light and Katheryn Mattis (USA) Webcor Builders at 20 seconds with the peloton at 44 seconds.

At the top of the second climb Pooley has extended her lead to 1:12 – Lutz has been dropped – the two chasers are at 30 seconds.

Lap 3
Pooley is digging in and is now 2:06 ahead of the peloton with the two chasers about 40 seconds in front to the main group which has reformed after some splintering but has not yet reacted to Pooley’s charge.

Lap 4
Pooley continues to gain on the peloton as she hits the top of the climb on lap 4 with the chasers at 1:15 and the main pack at 2:35. The top-ranked rider in the peloton is Kirsten Wild (Ned) Cervélo TestTeam in 6th as the leading five riders including overall leader Marianne Vos (Ned) DSB Bank are not racing today. Canada’s Wrubleski is the top Canuck in 32nd overall with Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam in 33rd.

Lap 5
Pooley’s lead is now at 3:30 and as the peloton is gaining on the chasers at 2:18 which could mean they’re getting ready to try and reel in Pooley as we approach the 1/2 way point of the race. Canada’s Erinne Willock (Webcor) is near the front of the peloton.

Lap 6
Pooley continues to lead. Nearing the end lap 6 the chasers are about to be caught as Pooley’s lead is down to 3:10. The chasers have been caught while Pooley looks comfortable and confident as she takes snack and a drink.

Lap 7
Pooley is forging ahead and extended her lead again to around 3:40 as the peloton is indecisive. The main chase group consists of about 35-40 riders now as about 60 riders have been shed. Pooley’s lead is down to 3:10 again as we near the end of lap 7.

Lap 8
At the top of the climb it’s Columbia-Highroad and Nuernberger Versicherung at the front pushing the pace with Willock and the entire Webcor team near the front at well. Canada’s Julie Beveridge (Tibco) is also at the front while Cervélo TestTeam is sitting on ready to protect Pooley who keeps motoring ahead with about 3.5 laps remaining.

Lap 9
Pooley drives ahead as the peloton comes thru with Kim Anderson (USA) Team Columbia-Highroad Women pushing for her team mates Arndt and Mara Abbott (USA) but they’d better get moving if they’re going to catch Pooley who only has two team mates remaining in the main group.

The main pack shatters on the climb as about 15 riders now form the main chase group that wants to catch Pooley who’s lead is now 2:40.

The main pack has regrouped with about 25 riders as Highroad and Nuernberger set the pace again to try and catch the leader.

Lap 10
Cervélo TestTeam’s Pooley continues to lead on the penultimate lap as the main group hits the climb and splinters again with Arndt, Mattis and several other riders dropping back.

A group of 10 including Cervélo TestTeam’s Regina Bruins (Ned) and Carla Ryan (Aus) has formed the lead chase group – Pooley has a 2 min lead. Also in this group are Canada’s Willock, Trixi Worrack (Ger) and Amber Neben (USA) Equipe Nuernberger Versicherung, Abbott, Ruth Corsett (Aus) Australian National Team, Emma Johansson (Swe) Swedish National Team, Catherine Cheatley (Nzl) and Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) from Colavita Sutter Homes p/b Cooking Light.

Arndt is working her way back to the chasers.

Lap 11 Final
Pooley is on the final lap and it looks like her early move will stick – her lead is under 2 minutes (at 1:40 we believe). Arndt caught on but was dropped again as the 10 chasers will be racing for 2nd and 3rd spots on the podium.

Unofficial

1. Emma Pooley (Gbr) Cervélo TestTeam
2. Emma Johansson (Swe) Swedish National Team
3. Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nuernberger Versicherung
4. Ruth Corsett (Aus) Australian National Team
5. Regina Bruins (Ned) Cervélo TestTeam
6. Catherine Cheatley (Nzl) Colavita Sutter Homes p/b Cooking Light
7. Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Colavita Sutter Homes p/b Cooking Light
8. Erinne Willock (Can) Webcor
9. Carla Ryan (Aus) Cervélo TestTeam
10. Amber Neben (USA) Equipe Nuernberger Versicherung

16. Joelle Numainville (Can) ESGL93-GSD Gestion
20. Heather Logan (Can) Colavita Sutter Homes p/b Cooking Light
27. Julie Beveridge (Can) Tibco
32. Véronique Fortin (Can) Équipe du Québec