April 24, 2005 (Francorchamps, Belgium) – Canada’s Marie-Hélène Prémont (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) won the World Cup season opener today, after ripping up 21.6 kilometres in 1:25:26 and outriding a field of 80 women.

The Canadian, last year’s Olympic silver medalist, finished 43 seconds ahead of Gunn-Rita Dahle (NOR, Multivan-Merida) who was unbeatable in 2004, winning Olympic gold, World Championships and the World Cup Series.

Several of last year’s top World Cup riders were missing today, including Prémont’s teammate, Canadian Alison Sydor (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects).

The Francorchamps course, which wound its way through the woods in and around the Francorchamps Formula One raceway, was muddy and included several technical sections, along with short, intense climbs, reminiscent of Prémont’s home course in Mt. Ste-Anne, Que, where she placed second behind Dahle last year.

Despite threats of rain from TV weather reporters and grey clouds passing over the race area all day, no drops materialized.

Results (provisional)
1. Marie-Hélène Prémont (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) 1:25:26
2. Gunn-Rita Dahle (NOR, Multivan-Merida) at 0:43
3. Irina Kalentieva (RUS, Multivan-Merida) 3:01
4. Sabine Spitz (GER, Specialized) 4:05
5. Maja Wsoszczowska (POL, Lotto) 4:24
6. Margarita Fullana (ESP) 4:27
7. Mary McConneloug (USA, Seven Cycles-Kenda) 6:16
8. Bernardine Boog-Rauwerda (NED) 6:45
9. Sabrina Enaux (FRA, Lapierre) 6:54
10. Katrin Leumann (SUI, Fischer-BMC) 7:16

Canadians
24. Kiara Bisaro (CAN, Gears Racing) 12:45
34. Trish Sinclair (CAN, Scott USA) 15:56