October 1, 2010 (Geelong, Australia) – The Elite Women have begun their eight laps of the 15.9km course here in Geelong, Australia for a total of 127.2km. The circuit features two steep climbs early, then fast open sections as riders are exposed to the wind later in the lap. Skies are clear and the temperature is mild but expected to climb into the low 20s this afternoon.

After a bunch finish in the U23 men’s race yesterday it is anyone’s guess whether a break will be able to stay away or will it be another big group coming to the line. Canada has a strong team of six riders starting today led by climber Erinne Willock and sprinter Joëlle Numainville. Karol-Ann Canuel, Denise Ramsden, Anne Samplonius and Tara Whitten join them on the start line today.

The Italians are looking very strong led by reigning champion Tatiana Guderzo and last year’s bronze medalist Noemi Cantele. Guderzo has been afflicted by the rainbow jersey’s curse and does not have a win to her name this season, while Cantele won a stage at the Giro della Toscana only two weeks ago.

The Dutch team is led by last season’s runner up Marianne Vos who also won a stage at the Giro della Toscana. 2008 winner, Nicole Cooke leads a deep British team; she will be supported by 2010 Time Trial winner Emma Pooley.

Lap 1
The race is underway at an easy pace here in Geelong. On the first climb Canada’s Denise Ramsden has crashed into the barriers. She got up and looks ok but needs a front wheel as her bike was damaged. Coach Vincent Jourdain is trying to get a spare bike but it looks like Ramsden’s first world championships could be over.

Lap 2
Valentina Carretta (Italy) is leading as the riders start their second lap with a time of 26:18. The majority of the peloton is together with a few weak riders getting gapped off of the back. Canada’s Ramsden is chasing 3:30 down on her own – all of other Canadians are in main field.

Late in the second lap the pace is high as a combination of British, American, German and Australian riders are stringing things out.

Lap 3
The women begin their third lap with 95km to go and a time of in 54:02 lead by the USA’s Theresa Cliff-Ryan. The pace has backed off and Canada’s Whitten and Samplonius are sitting at the tail end of the field but looking comfortable.

Up the first climb there’s a lot of aggression at the front but any attacks are being chased down straight away. The Dutch and the Italians are keeping a close eye on the front and not letting anyone go.

It looks as though Denise Ramsden’s day may be over.

Late in the third lap Italian Eleonora Patzuzzo has attacked but the field is quick to chase. The pace is up again.

Lap 4
American Katheryn Curi Mattis attacks as the women start the fourth lap. She crosses the line with a time of 120:52. Mattis has already opened a gap of 30 seconds as the field is content to let her go.

On the second climb, Anne Samplonius has attacked as the peloton chases. After developing a five-second gap the Italians have brought her back at the top of the climb.

Late in the fourth lap Curi Mattis has a one and half minute lead on the main field.

We can confirm that Denise Ramsden has pulled out. A Spanish rider crashed in front of her and she went over the top. Ramsden had a front flat but also her rear derailleur was caught in her spokes. She did eventually receive a spare bike but it was too late. “That’s bike racing,” said Denise.

Lap 5
At beginning of lap 5 Curi Mattis crossed the line at 1:46:43 and has extended her gap to 2:09. Veteran 51-year-old Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli drives the chase for France. Erinne Willock looks comfortable at the front while Whitten and Numainville are towards the back. Karol-Ann Canuel is a minute off the back chasing in a group of five.

Lap 6
American Curi Mattis has a 2:45 lead on the chasing peloton lead by the Aussies – Longo-Ciprelli is also at the front. The peloton is down to about 90 riders with just under 48km to go as the field is being whittled down quickly as riders keep coming off of the back.

Canadian Karol-Ann Canuel came though at seven minutes down and has pulled out. On the first climb Curi Mattis is starting to strain as the British team is now leading the chase and has brought the gap down to two minutes.

Over the halfway mark it’s Curi Mattis still out front as Pooley attacked with other riders including Marianne Vos (Ned) and Johansson – the gap is dropping.

Lap 7
The race is starting to blow apart sa the riders are on the penultimate lap. The peloton now down to 35 riders has closed the gap to 1:22 on leader Curi Mattis who crossed in a time of 2:40:28.

Leading the chase are Chantal Blaak of The Netherlands, Emma Pooley of Great Britain and Olga Zabelinskaya. Samplonius and Whitten are in the main field. Numainville is in a second chase group at 1:30 down on the main field – Erinne Willock was not spotted.

The field has split into several small groups who look like they are trying to survive two more laps. On the first climb Emma Pooley has attacked and got away solo. She immediately catches Curi Mattis and opens a large gap.

The race has completely shattered on the climb. Pooley off the front with reigning champ Tatiana Guderzo chasing. Canada’s Whitten came over the top 16 seconds down lets see if she can close the gap.

On the second climb the race has come back together with Whitten up at the front.

Tatiana Antoshina of Russia has attacked late in the lap. She has already opened a 12-second gap on a field who are not in a hurry to chase her.

Lap 8 Final
The riders have heard the bell – one lap to go at 3:07:07. Two riders have attacked and joined Antoshina – British rider Williamson and Giorgia Bronzini of Italy. They have 5 seconds on the main field which includes Willock and Whitten. Samplonius is two minutes back in a small group.

The Dutch are driving the chase as they approach the climb. Marianne Vos is the name everyone is saying if the race stays together for a sprint.

Canada’s Willock leads the women up the first climb – at the top of the climb 10km to go the lead group is down to 15. Willock is still there 8th over the top.

Great Britain’s Cooke has a attacked on the first descent and the group has let her go – she has 150 metrss – could this be the move of the day?

7km to go the riders are on the final climb. Cooke is caught on the climb. Willock is looking strong at fourth wheel.

Cooke and Arndt are off the front together over the top of the climb. CORRECTION it’s Whitten in the lead group – the comentators are confused.

Arndt and Cooke are working well together this may be the winning move. Whitten is pulling the chasers at 11 seconds back with 3km to go.

Cooke Arndt are together – the gap is out to 13 seconds with 2.2km to go. Willock has made her way back to the chase while Whitten hammers it on the front.

The gap is closed at 500m out.

Giorgia Bronzini of Italy wins with photo finish between Emma Johansson of Sweden and Marianne Vos for second, Whitten in the teens.

Results

1. Giorgia Bronzini (Italy) 3:32:01
2. Marianne Vos (Netherlands)
3. Emma Johansson (Sweden)
4. Nicole Cooke (Great Britain)
5. Judith Arndt (Germany) 0:01
6. Grace Verbeke (Belgium) 0:03
7. Trixi Worrack (Germany)
8. Rasa Leleivyte (Lithuania)
9. Elizabeth Armitstead (Great Britain)
10. Carla Swart (South Africa)
11. Catherine Cheatley (New Zealand)
12. Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli (France)
13. Olga Zabelinskaya (Russia)
14. Andrea Graus (Austria)
15. Tara Whitten (Canada)
16. Sharon Laws (Great Britain)
17. Amber Neben (United States)
18. Edwige Pitel (France)
19. Linda Villumsen (New Zealand)
20. Emma Pooley (Great Britain)
21. Evelyn Stevens (United States) 0:08
22. Noemi Cantele (Italy)
23. Erinne Willock (Canada) 0:21
24. Tatiana Guderzo (Italy) 0:32
25. Annemiek Van Vleuten (Netherlands) 1:42
26. Ruth Corset (Australia)
27. Regina Bruins (Netherlands)
28. Vicki Whitelaw (Australia)
29. Catherine Williamson (Great Britain)
30. Tatiana Antoshina (Russia)
31. Loes Gunnewijk (Netherlands)
32. Noortje Tabak (Netherlands)
33. Edita Pucinskaite (Lithuania)
34. Natalya Boyarskaya (Russia) 1:47
35. Elena Berlato (Italy) 2:02
36. Luisa Tamanini (Italy)
37. Grete Treier (Estonia) 7:38
38. Mayuko Hagiwara (Japan) 7:40
39. Oxana Kozonchuk (Russia)
40. Yulia Martisova (Russia)
41. Robyn De Groot (South Africa)
42. Marissa Van Der Merwe (South Africa) 7:45
43. Anne Samplonius (Canada) 7:48
44. Polona Batagelj (Slovenia) 9:39
45. Sara Mustonen (Sweden)
46. Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (France)
47. Fröydis Waerstad (Norway)
48. Sophie Creux (France)
49. Liesbet De Vocht (Belgium)
50. Veronica Leal Balderas (Mexico)
51. Lieselot Decroix (Belgium)
52. Marie Lindberg (Sweden) 11:36
53. Lise Nöstvold (Norway)
54. Emilia Fahlin (Sweden)
55. Sofie De Vuyst (Belgium)
56. Anriette Schoeman (South Africa)
57. Martina Ruzickova (Czech Republic)
58. Christine Majerus (Luxembourg) 11:52
59. Emilie Aubry (Switzerland)
60. Natalya Stefanskaya (Kazakhstan)
61. Luise Keller (Germany) 11:54
62. Serena Sheridan (New Zealand)
63. Jennifer Hohl (Switzerland)
64. Marcia Fernandes Silva (Brazil)
65. Carmen Sm (United States)
66. Alona Andruk (Ukraine)
67. Valentina Carretta (Italy)
68. Theresa Cliff-Ryan (United States)
69. Joelle Numainville (Canada)
70. Toni Bradshaw (New Zealand)
71. Nathalie Lamborelle (Luxembourg) 16:39
72. Edita Janeliunaite (Lithuania)
73. Inga Cilvinaite (Lithuania)
74. Tatiana Panina (Belarus) 18:06
75. Ariadna Tudel Cuberes (Andorra) 18:33
76. Belen Lopez Morales (Spain) 19:35
DNF Rossella Callovi (Italy)
DNF Eleonora Patuzzo (Italy)
DNF Chantal Blaak (Netherlands)
DNF Adrie Visser (Netherlands)
DNF Kirsten Wild (Netherlands)
DNF Charlotte Becker (Germany)
DNF Ina Teutenberg (Germany)
DNF Katie Colclough (Great Britain)
DNF Lucy Martin (Great Britain)
DNF Katheryn Curi Mattis (United States)
DNF Shelley Olds (United States)
DNF Amanda Miller (United States)
DNF Tiffany Cromwell (Australia)
DNF Shara Gillow (Australia)
DNF Bridie O’donnell (Australia)
DNF Carla Ryan (Australia)
DNF Amanda Spratt (Australia)
DNF Katazina Sosna (Lithuania)
DNF Modesta Vzesniauskaite (Lithuania)
DNF Ludivine Henrion (Belgium)
DNF Elena Kuchinskaya (Russia)
DNF Karol-Ann Canuel (Canada)
DNF Denise Ramsden (Canada)
DNF Emma Crum (New Zealand)
DNF Courteney Lowe (New Zealand)
DNF Patricia Schwager (Switzerland)
DNF Doris Schweizer (Switzerland)
DNF Svitlana Galyuk (Ukraine)
DNF Lesya Kalitovska (Ukraine)
DNF Cherise Taylor (South Africa)
DNF Emilie Moberg (Norway)
DNF Rosa Maria Bravo Soba (Spain)
DNF Ana Belen Garcia Antequera (Spain)
DNF Monrudee Chapookam (Thailand)
DNF Chanpeng Nontasin (Thailand)
DNF Sofia Arreola (Mexico)
DNF Ana Teresa Casas (Mexico)
DNF Noor Azian Alias (Malaysia)
DNF Mariana Mohammad (Malaysia)
DNF Kimberley Yap (Malaysia)
DNF Colleen Ang (Singapore)
DNF Dinah Chan (Singapore)
DNF Serene Lee (Singapore)
DNF Maja Marukic (Croatia)
DNF Kathryn Bertine (Saint Kitts And Nevis)
DNF Valeria Teresita Muller (Argentina)
DNS Nina Ovcharenko (Ukraine)