August 18, 2013 (Vårgårda, Sweden) – Marianne Vos (Rabo Women) took a sprint victory in 132.5km Vargarda from Swedish Champion (and local favourite), Emma Johansson (Orica-AIS) and Amy Pieters (Argos Shimano). The win seals the World Cup title overall for the Dutchwoman, she now has an unassailable lead with one round remaining.
On a day when the racing was highly competitive throughout, there was no clear indication of who might take the win until the sprint. There were several significant attacks earlier in the race, firstly from Specialized-lululemon’s Trixi Worrack, who made a solo attack which lasted about 15 kilometres. Later, notably, Loes Gunnewijk (Orica-AIS) and Roxanne Knetemann (Rabo Women) worked together to gain almost 1 minute 30 seconds on a chasing group. Their attack was undone by an attempt by Cecile Johnsen (Hitec Products UCK) to chase. She got to within 18 seconds of the pair in a desperate attempt to bridge the gap. More importantly, the chasers were able to catch her and then counterattack to bring back the two leaders.
The efforts at the front of the race put the main bunch back at over 3 minutes deficit with 35 kilometres left to race. In the closing 25 kilometres, a group of would-be contenders for victory formed, with some of their team-mates dropping back and out of the group, “job done”. The wind had been increasing steadily during the afternoon and the final five kilometres of the eleven kilometre lap were particularly exposed to a cross-headwind. That made any final attacks from the group likely to be unsuccessful. A group sprint seemed on the cards.
There was a scare for Marianne Vos entering the final lap, however, when she punctured. With no team-car behind, only neutral service, she decided to ride on the softening tyre and wait for her team support. The World Cup leader chased back into the group very quickly and rejoined in time for an unsuccessful attack by Evelyn Stevens (Specialized-lululemon) on the final climb. The group went into the finale together and tactician, Vos, led through the final corner, ahead of Johansson and Pieters. There was no doubt about her sprint and the reigning World, Olympic and now 2013 World Cup Champion had time to raise her arms to celebrate her victory.
“I was pretty scared about Emma – she’s fast to the line too, so that’s why I wanted to take a fast last corner and sprint as hard as I could”, explained Vos about the finish of the race, but not before she acknowledged the sportsmanship of her competitors; “I was quite lucky and happy that the others didn’t attack me, I have to say thanks for that.”
The final round of the World Cup 2013 is the GP de Plouay in Bretagne, France on 31st August.
UCI Women World Cup 2013 in Vargarda: World Champions retain TTT World Cup title
Specialized-lululemon scored a psychological vicory over their nearest rivals on Friday night. In cool, windy, but dry conditions, the 2012 winners in both this World Cup event and the World Championships rode steadily and to their own strategy to win the 42.5km TTT again in Vargarda in 2013.
Reversing the result of the other podium positions in 2012, Rabo Women took second place. They beat Orica-AIS into third place. The Rabo Women squad included Marianne Vos, who is also the leader of the individual World Cup competition. She consequently extended her advantage over Swedish time trial Champion, Emma Johansson (Orica-AIS), by 5 points, she leads with a total 77 points more than Johansson’s total.
Speclialized-lululmeon directeur sportif, Ronny Lauke, explained that the team rode exactly to plan and “without worrying what the others were doing. We did not know one hundred percent how good we are, but we knew that we have done good training and so we were confident about our own abilities. It was difficult to judge the others. We knew that Rabobank have done a lot of work, they were ahead of us at the first time check but we had our strategy and we rode to it. We are really happy about the outcome.”
In fact, the Specialized-lululemon team made their gains on the section of the course after the turn, the return from Herrljunga, where they gained nearly 30 seconds. They then rode steadily and maintained their lead through Vargarda and around the final part of the course, the road race circuit which will be used on Sunday.
Marianne Vos will wear the World Cup leader jersey on Sunday in the road race. The 132 kilometre course covers 12 laps of an 11kilometre circuit. Her total of 284 points gives her a 77 point advantage over Emma Johansson (Orica-AIS) (207 points) which is only 23 points better than Ellen van Dijk (who was in the victorious Specialized-lululemon squad) who is in third place on 184 points.
Results – 42.5km ITT
1. Specialized – Lululemon 0:53:59
– Lisa Brennauer (USA)
– Evelyn Stevens (USA)
– Eleonora Van Dijk (USA)
– Trixi Worrack (USA)
2. Rabo-Liv Giant 0:38
– Lucinda Brand (Ned)
– Thalita De Jong (Ned)
– Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned)
– Marianne Vos (Ned)
3. Orica – AIS 1:26
– Shara Gillow (Aus)
– Melissa Hoskins (Aus)
– Emma Johansson (Aus)
– Amanda Spratt (Aus)
4. Sengers Ladies Cycling Team 2:38
– Vera Koedooder (Bel)
– Christine Majerus (Bel)
– Maaike Polspoel (Bel)
– Anna Van Der Breggen (Bel)
5. Wiggle Honda 2:45
– Charlotte Becker (Gbr)
– Dani King (Gbr)
– Lauren Kitchen (Gbr)
– Linda Melanie Villumsen (Gbr)
6. Rusvelo 2:48
– Alexandra Burchenkova (Rus)
– Anastasiya Chulkova (Rus)
– Oxana Kozonchuk (Rus)
– Aizhan Zhaparova (Rus)
7. Australia 2:57
– Amy Cure (Aus)
– Taryn Heather (Aus)
– Emily Roper (Aus)
– Grace Sulzberger (Aus)
8. Boels Dolmans Cycling Team 3:06
– Elizabeth Armitstead (Ned)
– Jessie Daams (Ned)
– Romy Kasper (Ned)
– Adrie Visser (Ned)
9. Hitec Products UCK 3:26
– Emilia Fahlin (Nor)
– Cecilie Gotaas Johnsen (Nor)
– Julie Leth (Nor)
– Rossella Ratto (Nor)
10. Team Tibco – To The Top 3:36
– Chantal Blaak (USA)
– Jasmin Glaesser (Can)
– Claudia Hausler (USA)
– Shelley Olds (USA)
11. Team Argos – Shimano 4:22
– Elke Gebhardt (Ned)
– Janneke Kanis (Ned)
– Amy Pieters (Ned)
– Esra Tromp (Ned)
– Kirsten Wild (Ned)
12. Faren Kuota 5:18
– Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Ita)
– Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (Ita)
– Giuseppina Grassi Herrera (Ita)
– Fabiana Luperini (Ita)
– Patricia Schwager (Ita)
13. Cramo Go:Green 5:54
– Mirella Ehrin (Swe)
– Hanna Helamb (Swe)
– Alexandra Nessmar (Swe)
– Madelene Olsson (Swe)
– Linnea Sjöblom (Swe)
– Martina Thomasson (Swe)
14. Norway 7:07
– Tina Andreassen (Nor)
– Hildegunn Hovdenak (Nor)
– Thrude Karlsen (Nor)
– Ingrid Lorvik (Nor)
– Camilla Sørgjerd (Nor)
15. Servetto Footon 0:10:23
– Simona Bortolotti (Ita)
– Veronica Cornolti (Ita)
– Annalisa Cucinotta (Ita)
– Emma Marcelli (Ita)
Results – 132.5km
1. Marianne Vos (Ned) Rabobank Liv/Giant 3:26:41
2. Emma Johansson (Swe) Orica-AIS
3. Amy Pieters (Ned) Argos-Shimano
4. Eleonora Van Dijk (Ned) Specialized-lululemon
5. Anna Van Der Breggen (Ned) Sengers Ladies Cycling Team 0:25
6. Evelyn Stevens (USA) Specialized-lululemon 0:48
7. Roxane Knetemann (Ned) Rabobank Liv/Giant 1:22
8. Rossella Ratto (Ita) Hitec Products UCK
9. Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Orica-AIS
10. Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Wiggle Honda 2:03
11. Kirsten Wild (Ned) Argos-Shimano 9:00
12. Lauren Kitchen (Aus) Wiggle Honda
13. Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Fra) Rabobank Liv/Giant
14. Dani King (Gbr) Wiggle Honda
15. Lucinda Brand (Ned) Rabobank Liv/Giant
16. Oxana Kozonchuk (Rus) RusVelo
17. Emilia Fahlin (Swe) Hitec Products UCK
18. Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Orica-AIS 9:03
19. Elena Kuchinskaya (Rus) RusVelo
20. Amy Cure (Aus) Australia
21. Linda Melanie Villumsen (Nzl) Wiggle Honda
22. Grace Sulzberger (Aus) Australia
23. Cecilie Johansen (Nor) Hitec Products UCK
24. Claudia Häusler (Ger) Team TIBCO-To The Top
25. Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (Fra) Faren-Let’s Go Finland Team
26. Sara Olsson (Swe) Sweden 9:07
27. Trixi Worrack (Ger) Specialized-lululemon
28. Vera Koedooder (Ned) Sengers Ladies Cycling Team 0:10:15
29. Shelley Olds (USA) Team TIBCO-To The Top 0:12:23
30. Alexandra Nessmar (Swe) Cramo Go:Green
31. Lauren Stephens (USA) Team TIBCO-To The Top
32. Ingrid Lorvik (Nor) Norway
33. Jasmin Glaesser (Can) Team TIBCO-To The Top
34. Ana Bianca Schnitzmeier (Ger) Wiggle Honda
35. Julie Leth (Den) Hitec Products UCK
36. Christine Majerus (Lux) Sengers Ladies Cycling Team
37. Emilie Moberg (Nor) Hitec Products UCK
38. Jessie Maclean (Aus) Orica-AIS
39. Madelene Olsson (Swe) Cramo Go:Green
40. Linnea Sjöblom (Swe) Cramo Go:Green
41. Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Ita) Faren-Let’s Go Finland Team
42. Esra Tromp (Ned) Argos-Shimano
43. Evelyn Arys (Bel) Sengers Ladies Cycling Team
44. Loren Rowney (Aus) Specialized-lululemon
45. Chantal Blaak (Ned) Team TIBCO-To The Top
46. Thalita De Jong (Ned) Rabobank Liv/Giant
47. Patricia Schwager (Sui) Faren-Let’s Go Finland Team
48. Chloe Mcconville (Aus) Australia
49. Lucy Garner (Gbr) Argos-Shimano
50. Giuseppina Grassi Herrera (Mex) Faren-Let’s Go Finland Team
51. Martina Thomasson (Swe) Cramo Go:Green
52. Carmen Small (USA) Specialized-lululemon
53. Annalisa Cucinotta (Ita) Servetto Footon
54. Janneke Kanis (Ned) Argos-Shimano
55. Anastasiya Chulkova (Rus) RusVelo
56. Alexandra Burchenkova (Rus) RusVelo
57. Aizhan Zhaparova (Rus) RusVelo
58. Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned) Rabobank Liv/Giant
59. Amanda Spratt (Aus) Orica-AIS 0:12:30
60. Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Faren-Let’s Go Finland Team
61. Camilla Sørgjerd (Nor) Norway 0:17:53
62. Lotta Lepistö (Fin) Finland 0:17:57
DNF Thea Thorsen (Nor) Hitec Products UCK
DNF Lisa Brennauer (Ger) Specialized-lululemon
DNF Adrie Visser (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team
DNF Elizabeth Armitstead (Gbr) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team
DNF Jessie Daams (Bel) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team
DNF Emma Trott (Gbr) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team
DNF Romy Kasper (Ger) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team
DNF Nina Kessler (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team
DNF Elke Gebhardt (Ger) Argos-Shimano
DNF Julia Soek (Ned) Sengers Ladies Cycling Team
DNF Maaike Polspoel (Bel) Sengers Ladies Cycling Team
DNF Beatrice Bartelloni (Ita) Wiggle Honda
DNF Carolin Rodriguez Guiterrez (Mex) Faren-Let’s Go Finland Team
DNF Melanie Späth (Irl) Team TIBCO-To The Top
DNF Evgeniya Romanyuta (Rus) RusVelo
DNF Jessica Kihlbom (Swe) Cramo Go:Green
DNF Hanna Nilsson (Swe) Cramo Go:Green
DNF Emma Marcelli (Ita) Servetto Footon
DNF Veronica Cornolti (Ita) Servetto Footon
DNF Corinna Defile (Ita) Servetto Footon
DNF Simona Bortolotti (Ita) Servetto Footon
DNF Emily Roper (Aus) Australia
DNF Jessica Mundy (Aus) Australia
DNF Tina Andreassen (Nor) Norway
DNF Rakel Henriksen (Nor) Norway
DNF Hildegunn Hovdenak (Nor) Norway
DNF Thrude Karlsen Natholmen (Nor) Norway
DNF Laura Vainionpää (Fin) Finland
DNF Sini Savolainen (Fin) Finland
DNF Jaana Hyvärinen (Fin) Finland
DNF Rosa Törmänen (Fin) Finland
DNF Malin Rydlund (Swe) Sweden
DNF Malin Wallin (Swe) Sweden
DNF Emma Ahlstrand (Swe) Sweden
DNF Tilina Levin (Swe) Sweden
DNS Shara Gillow (Aus) Orica-AIS
DNS Beata Sandström (Swe) Sweden
Standings after Round 8
1. Marianne Vos (Ned) Rabobank Liv/Giant 354 pts
2. Emma Johansson (Swe) Orica-AIS 252
3. Eleonora Van Dijk (Ned) Specialized-lululemon 224
4. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Hitec Products UCK 156
5. Anna Van Der Breggen (Ned) Sengers Ladies Cycling Team 123
6. Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned) Rabobank Liv/Giant 86
7. Amy Pieters (Ned) Argos-Shimano 80
8. Tetyana Riabchenko (Ukr) Chirio Forno d’Asolo 75
9. Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Wiggle Honda 69
10. Evelyn Stevens (USA) Specialized-lululemon 59
11. Kirsten Wild (Ned) Argos-Shimano 58
12. Elizabeth Armitstead (Gbr) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team 58
13. Amanda Spratt (Aus) Orica-AIS 55
14. Rossella Ratto (Ita) Hitec Products UCK 48
15. Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Orica-AIS 45
16. Trixi Worrack (Ger) Specialized-lululemon 44
17. Lisa Brennauer (Ger) Specialized-lululemon 44
18. Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Orica-AIS 43
19. Adrie Visser (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team 40
20. Chantal Blaak (Ned) Team TIBCO-To The Top 38
21. Lucinda Brand (Ned) Rabobank Liv/Giant 36
22. Chloe Hosking (Aus) Hitec Products UCK 36
23. Ashleigh Moolman (RSA) Lotto Belisol Ladies 35
24. Oxana Kozonchuk (Rus) RusVelo 35
25. Shelley Olds (USA) Team TIBCO-To The Top 35
26. Lauren Kitchen (Aus) Wiggle Honda 33
27. Thalita De Jong (Ned) Rabobank Liv/Giant 30
28. Christine Majerus (Lux) Sengers Ladies Cycling Team 30
29. Sara Mustonen (Swe) Faren-Let’s Go Finland Team 27
30. Roxane Knetemann (Ned) Rabobank Liv/Giant 27
31. Jessie Daams (Bel) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team 27
32. Marijn De Vries (Ned) Lotto Belisol Ladies 27
33. Melissa Hoskins (Aus) Orica-AIS 25
33. Shara Gillow (Aus) Orica-AIS 25
35. Alena Amialiusik (Blr) BePink 25
36. Vera Koedooder (Ned) Sengers Ladies Cycling Team 24
37. Charlotte Becker (Ger) Wiggle Honda 24
38. Marta Tagliaferro (Ita) MCipollini Giordana 24
39. Dani King (Gbr) Wiggle Honda 23
40. Carmen Small (USA) Specialized-lululemon 22
41. Marta Bastianelli (Ita) Faren-Let’s Go Finland Team 21
42. Maaike Polspoel (Bel) Sengers Ladies Cycling Team 20
43. Janneke Kanis (Ned) Argos-Shimano 20
44. Kim De Baat (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team 18
45. Amber Neben (USA) Pasta Zara-Cogeas 18
46. Linda Melanie Villumsen (Nzl) Wiggle Honda 16
47. Emilia Fahlin (Swe) Hitec Products UCK 16
48. Pascale Jeuland (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope 16
49. Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Fra) Rabobank Liv/Giant 16
50. Alexandra Burchenkova (Rus) RusVelo 15
50. Anastasiya Chulkova (Rus) RusVelo 15
50. Aizhan Zhaparova (Rus) RusVelo 15
53. Amy Cure (Aus) Australia 15
54. Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (Fra) Faren-Let’s Go Finland Team 15
55. Grace Sulzberger (Aus) Australia 14
55. Taryn Heather (Aus) Australia 14
55. Emily Roper (Aus) Australia 14
58. Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Faren-Let’s Go Finland Team 14
59. Romy Kasper (Ger) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team 13
60. Cecilie Gotaas Johnsen (Nor) Hitec Products UCK 12
60. Julie Leth (Den) Hitec Products UCK 12
62. Jasmin Glaesser (Can) Team TIBCO-To The Top 11
62. Claudia Häusler (Ger) Team TIBCO-To The Top 11
64. Julia Martisova (Rus) Chirio Forno d’Asolo 11
65. Elke Gebhardt (Ger) Argos-Shimano 10
65. Esra Tromp (Ned) Argos-Shimano 10
67. Katarzyna Pawlowska (Pol) GSD Gestion-Kallisto 10
68. Patricia Schwager (Sui) Faren-Let’s Go Finland Team 9
68. Giuseppina Grassi Herrera (Mex) Faren-Let’s Go Finland Team 9
68. Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Ita) Faren-Let’s Go Finland Team 9
71. Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Wiggle Honda 9
72. Elena Kuchinskaya (Rus) RusVelo 9
73. Martina Thomasson (Swe) Cramo Go:Green 8
73. Linnea Sjöblom (Swe) Cramo Go:Green 8
73. Mirella Ehrin (Swe) Cramo Go:Green 8
73. Madelene Olsson (Swe) Cramo Go:Green 8
73. Hanna Helamb (Swe) Cramo Go:Green 8
73. Alexandra Nessmar (Swe) Cramo Go:Green 8
79. Aurore Verhoeven (Fra) Team Polaris 8
80. Camilla Sørgjerd (Nor) Norway 7
80. Ingrid Lorvik (Nor) Norway 7
80. Thrude Karlsen (Nor) Norway 7
80. Tina Andreassen (Nor) Norway 7
80. Hildegunn Hovdenak (Nor) Norway 7
85. Carlee Taylor (Aus) Lotto Belisol Ladies 7
86. Simona Frapporti (Ita) BePink 7
87. Liesbet De Vocht (Bel) Rabobank Liv/Giant 7
88. Annalisa Cucinotta (Ita) Servetto Footon 6
88. Emma Marcelli (Ita) Servetto Footon 6
88. Simona Bortolotti (Ita) Servetto Footon 6
88. Veronica Cornolti (Ita) Servetto Footon 6
92. Edwige Pitel (Fra) S.C. Michela Fanini-Rox 6
93. Inga Cilvinaite (Ltu) Pasta Zara-Cogeas 6
94. Elena Cecchini (Ita) Faren-Let’s Go Finland Team 5
95. Roxane Fournier (Fra) France 4
96. Annelies Dom (Bel) Cyclelive Plus-Zannata 4
97. Amélie Rivat (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope 3
98. Megan Guarnier (USA) Rabobank Liv/Giant 3
99. Ashlynn Van Baarle (Ned) Faren-Let’s Go Finland Team 2
100. Lucie Pader (Fra) Bourgogne-Pro Dialog 2
101. Noemi Cantele (Ita) BePink 1
102. Jolien D’Hoore (Bel) Lotto Belisol Ladies 1
103. Mascha Pijnenborg (Ned) Team Polaris 1