June 2, 2007 (Montreal, QC) — The 2007 Montreal Women’s Road World Cup will soon be underway as 140 riders will complete 11 laps of a 10km circuit. It’s overcast and muggy today after a week of rain – welcome weather and it looks like the rain will hold off today.

The new start/finish at the bottom of the climb on Park Ave. vs the top of the climb as in previous years, seems to be an important wild card in today’s race. Riders will come down the hill and hit a 180 degree turn leading into a 250m false flat as they head to the finish. Most riders were hesitant to speculate on the outcome and the prevalent strategy was to try and hit the finish on the final lap in a small group.

Top contenders today are 2006 winner Judith Arndt (Ger) T-Mobile, World Cup leader Nicole Cooke (GBr) Raleigh Lifeforce Creation, and Marianne Vos (Ned) Team DSB Bank.

We spoke to 2006 Canadian champ Alex Wrubleski (Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light) who said she “feels good” and the team is planning to support Tina Pic (USA). Other top Canadians include Team expresscopy.com’s Anne Samplonius and Gina Grain and Cheerwine’s Leigh Hobson and Betina Hold.

Lap 1
The race is underway and as the riders hit the climb Canada’s Erinne Willock (Team expresscopy.com) is at the front with Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung. Alex Wrubleski (Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light) is also near the front. Some riders at the back were already struggling on the climb.

The pace has been aggressive on the first lap and two riders have jumped out front now Meshy Holt (Team expresscopy.com) and a Russian rider have a 10-sec lead.

Lap 2
The riders have had their first look at coming thru the final stretch to the start/finish. Holt and Ekaterina Molitcheva (Rus) now have a 25-sec. lead on the peloton at the top of the climb and there’s no reaction yet. Canada’s Anne Samplonius (Team expresscopy.com) is near the front of the main pack.

The leaders have extended their lead to 43 sec. as Holt is riding smooth and taking all corners with speed. It looks like a good strategic start for Team expresscopy.com.

Lap 3
The speed continues to be high with lots of attacks as the group has finally caught Holt but Molitcheva is still away on her own.

At the top of the climb on lap 3 Molitcheva has a 46 sec lead on the chasing group. Despite lots of attacking no one elso has gotten away.

Jeannie-Longo Ciprelli (Team Uniqua) has been at the front leading the charge while many riders have already abandoned.

Lap 4
The group is closing the gap on Molitcheva fast and the gap is down to 15 sec. USA’s Amber Neben (Flexpoint) and Christine Thorburn (Webcor) are at the front leading the chase now.

Canada’s Emily Roy (Specialized-Menikini) is in a cast today after crashing in a training ride yesterday.

At the base of the downhill on lap 4 the peloton has caught Molitcheva.

Lap 5
The pace continues to be high as Longo and another Russian rider escaped but were quickly reeled in.

At the top of the climb the group is together as every attack is quickly brought back in. Many riders have already abandoned and we estimate that 50 riders remain.

Lap 6
Past the 1/2 way mark Canada’s Anne Samplonius lead the group into lap 6. Austrailia’s Olivia Gollan (Menikini-Selle Italia) lead the peloton up the climb at a steady pace with no attacks.

Judith Arndt (T-Mobile) is looking comfortable near the front along with Amber Neben. There are three Nurnberger Versicherung riders in the mix at the font as well as the riders size each other up.

The riders were together for most of lap 6 with a few short-lived attacks by Raleigh Lifeforce Creation riders – Nicole Cooke’s team.

Lap 7
Through the start of lap seven the group is together with a steady pace up the climb. All top riders are there and look comfortable – Italy’s Fabian Luperini (Menikini-Selle Italia), Arndt (Ger), Cooke (Gbr), Vos (Ned), Neben (USA), Thorburn (USA).

Canada’s Wrubleski is sitting in 10th with Leigh Hobson (Cheerwine) nearby and both look strong.

The group finished Lap 7 together and Ann Samplonius and Betina Hold are also in the mix for Canada.

Lap 8
Webcor lead a strong tough pace up the climb on lap 8 as Raleigh’s Tanja Slater then attacked followed by more Webcor attacks..

Luperini jumped in as well and at the top of the climb three riders got a lead including Webcor’s Abbot and Team Uniqua’s Edwige Pitel. Canada’s Wrubleski was riding strong in 5th.

The three leaders – Luperini, Abbot and Pitel – are now moving well and have 20 sec lead on the chase group.

Lap 9
At the base of the climb on lap nine the leaders have a strong 52 sec. lead. Webcor’s Mara Abbot lead a blistering pace up the climb as Pitel suffered Luperini, a veteran rider, kept pace.

Abbot is the 2006 USA Cycling National U23 Champ and has only been racing pro for 2 years while Luperini and Pitel have much more experience.

Lap 10
Coming through on lap 10 it’s Abbot and Luperini with 1:35 now on the chase group – Pitel has been dropped. Again Abbot is driving the pace up the climb.

A group of 12 is now giving chase including Cooke, Vos, Arndt, Beltman, Wood, Worrack, Neben, Armstrong, Longo, Wrubleski, Thorburn and Graus.

A second chase group of 7 riders has formed.

As we come to the finish on lap 10 the two leaders are working well. Longo is leading the 19 chasers.

Now Longo and Beltman have attacked – Armstrong and Thorburn are jumping as well to catch them.

Lap 11 Final
On the final climb it’s Abbot and Luperini over the top being chased by 7 riders including Cooke, Arndt, Vos, Worrack, Wood, Longo and Neben – the leaders have a 1:20 gap…

Arndt has attacked and has a 7-sec gap on the chasers lead by Vos – now Longo has attacked and is trying to bridge to Arndt.

Abbot lead all the way to the finish but Luperini took her in the final sprint to the line. Alex Wrubleski was with three other riders and crashed in one of the final turns and we believe she finished in 15th.

Unofficial

1. Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Menikini-Selle Italia-Gysko
2. Mara Abbott (USA) Webcor Builders
3. Judith Arndt (Ger) T-Mobile
4. Marianne Vos (Ned) Team DSB Bank
5. Nicole Cooke (GBr) Raleigh Lifeforce Creation
6. Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli (Fra) Team Uniqua
7. Trixi Worrack (Ger) Équipe Nürnberger Versicherung

16. Alex Wrubleski (Can) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light
44. Ann Samplonius (Can) Team expresscopy.com