October 11, 2003 – Susanne Ljungskog (Sweden) repeated her world championship title today, taking the 123km race over Mirjam Melchers (NED) and Nicole Cooke (GBR). The race was a hotly contested affair full of of attacks from most of the favourites, but ultimately the race was not decided until the final few laps. After a series of breaks were continually caught on the fast descent, it was eternal champion Jeannie Longo (FRA) who launched on the next-to-last lap. Longo managed to stay just ahead of a chase group until the final corner, where the five leaders caught the French rider. From there, Melchers led out the sprint only to have Ljungskog barrel by in the final metres. Cooke managed to salvage a day where she was certainly one of the strongest, finishing third.

Canada's Susan Palmer-Komar had a great day but wasn't able to bridge to the leaders in the final kms and finished 13th. Lyne Bessette followed shortly in 17th. After the race Palmer-Komar said she had good legs but just missed the split that occured on the last lap. Conversely, Bessette said “I had no legs.” It had been an already emotional day for the Canadian women, with some of the riders starting the day in tears upon hearing news that Jeanson would not be starting.

World Road Championships Elite Women:

1. Susanne Ljungskog (SWE)
2. Mirjam Melchers (NED)
3. Nicole Cooke (GBR)
———

13. Sue Palmer-Komar (CAN)
17. Lyne Bessette (CAN)
44. Erinne Willock (CAN)

54. Manon Jutras (CAN)