September 23, 2006 (Salzburg, Austria) – The Netherlands scored their first win of the 2006 world championships with Marianne Vos who executed a perfect sprint to win the women’s road race in Salzburg, Austria today.

She was swiftest out of a group of 15 riders who had made the final winning break away from the main field on lap six with 30 kms of the 132 kms remaining. In second place was Trixi Worrack (Germany) with Nicole Cooke (Great Britain) in third.

“It was a hard race and it was hard staying at the front for the last two laps,” said Vos. “With 150m to go I saw Oenone Wood (Australia) starting her sprint and I went for the finish. I didn’t see anyone come over me so I knew I had won.”

Anne Samplonius of Team Canada was an early escapee, surviving for two long 22 km-laps with Russia’s Natalia Boyarskaya sitting on her wheel and doing a bare minimum amount of work at the front.

With such an imbalanced partnership Samplonius and her tag-a-long managed to gain as much as 55 seconds over the bunch before being swept up towards the end of lap four.

Her compatriots had a mixed race. Alex Wrubleski put the sore knee she sustained at Wednesday’s time trial behind her and finished in the main group as the top Canuck in 23rd, while Erinne Willock, who finished 37th, was unlucky to miss the final split on lap six.

“It was hard and it was fast the whole time, but it was a good day,” commented Willock. “We were hoping one of us could get in the final break. I just missed it, but there’s just nothing you can do.”

“It was a fast race and definitely a good experience,” added Wrubleski. “Positioning was a huge thing, and it was a shame I wasn’t up there when (the break) happened but I’m not sure I could have stayed with it.”

Canada’s big hope veteran Sue Palmer never really got going and spent the mid-portion of the race near the rear of the peloton. When the hammer went down she found herself stuck in a chasing group and was unable to regain contact with the leaders and placed 75th.

Amy Moore and Leigh Hobson were early casualties, Moore ending her day at the half-way point while Hobson finished in 90th.

Once the gap was opened there was no stopping the 15 breakaways on the final lap. With three Germans, two Swiss and two Dutch in the winning move, team tactics quickly came into play.

Vos had escaped from the 15 with Nicole Brandli (Switzerland) and lone Brit Nicole Cooke over the final climb with 11 kms left to race, but the German trio were quick to chase them down.

In the final sprint, however, no amount of teamwork was going to stop Vos, who celebrated wildly as she crossed the line over a length ahead of Worrack.

“I don’t really believe it,” said an ebullient Vos. “The team worked hard today and I’m sure there’ll be a party tonight.”

“I’m very happy with my silver,” Worrack said, “but I’m also a bit sad. (Germany) has had the title for the last two years but I think we can do it again.”

Race Notes

Road racing is just one part of Marianne Vos’ busy year. In just four weeks time she begins her cyclo-cross season which she competes in throughout the winter.

She currently holds the women’s cyclo-cross world championship title which she won in Holland last January. When asked whether she ever needs a rest she replied, “I have three weeks now and then again before the road season starts next year,” surely defining the term “full-time” professional.

Results – 132.6 kms

1. Marianne Vos (NED) 3:20:26
2. Trixi Worrack (GER)
3. Nicole Cooke (GBR)
4. Noemi Cantele (ITA)
5. Priska Doppmann (SUI)
6. Oenone Wood (AUS)
7. Annette Beutler (SUI)
8. Nicole Braendli (SUI)
9. Bubnenkova Stolbova (RUS)
10. Andrea Graus (AUT)
11. Christiane Soeder (AUT)
12. Amber Neben (USA)
13. Chantal Beltman (NED)
14. Judith Arndt (GER)
15. Theresa Senff (GER)
16. Giorgia Bronzini (ITA) 2:07
17. Mette Fis. Andreasen (DEN)
18. Lada Kozlikova (CZE)
19. Monia Baccaille (ITA)
20. Grete Treier (EST)
21. Zulfiya Zabirova (KAZ)
22. Loes Gunnewijk (NED)
23. Alex Wrubleski (CAN)
24. DAMME Evy Van (BEL)
25. Diana Ziliute (LTU)
26. Marina Jaunatre (FRA)
27. Yulia Arustamova (RUS)
28. Clemilda Fern. Silva (BRA)
29. Adrie Visser (NED)
30. Mayuko Hagiwara (JPN)
31. Edita Pucinskaite (LTU)
32. Tetyana Stiajkina (UKR)
33. Linda Villumsen (DEN)
34. Christine Thorburn (USA)
35. Joanne Kiesanowski (NZL)
36. Sophie Creux (FRA)
37. Erinne Willock (CAN)
38. Kristin Armstrong (USA)
39. Tatiana Guderzo (ITA)
40. Claudia Haeusler (GER)
41. Edwige Pitel (FRA)
42. MAUCOSET Lau. Morfin (MEX)
43. Maryline Salvetat (FRA)
44. Susanne Ljungskog (SWE)
45. Dorte Loh. Rasmussen (DEN) 5:55
46. Daiva Tuslaite (LTU)
47. Yongli Liu (CHN)
48. Rasa Polikeviciute (LTU)
49. Iturriagaechevarria (ESP)
50. x Pintarelli (AUT)
51. Goede Suzanne De (NED)
52. Van Vuuren Jansen (RSA)
53. Anne Samplonius (CAN)
54. Anke Erlank (RSA)
55. Chrissie Viljoen (RSA)
56. Paulina Brzezna (POL)
57. Sharon Vandromme (BEL)
58. Trine Hansen (DEN)
59. Zita Urbonaite (LTU)
60. Ludivine Henrion (BEL)
61. Laure Werner (BEL)
62. An de TOIT (BEL)
63. Emma Johansson (SWE)
64. Emma Rickards (AUS)
65. Evgeniya Visockaya (UKR)
66. Siobhan Dervan (IRL)
67. Veronica Andreasson (SWE)
68. Tatiana Shishkova (RUS)
69. Eva Hubena (CZE)
70. An von Rie (BEL)
71. Anriette Schoeman (RSA)
72. Iris Slappendel (NED)
73. Magali Le Floch (FRA)
74. Vera Carrara (ITA)
75. Susan Palmer-Komar (CAN)
76. Maribel Moreno ALLUE (ESP)
77. Fabiana Luperini (ITA)
78. Monika Schachl (AUT) 12:26
79. Elizave. Bochkaryova (UKR)
80. Patricia Schwager (SUI)
81. Lise Christensen (DEN)
82. Toni Bradshaw (NZL) 16:58
83. Meifang Li (CHN) 22:57
84. Bernadette Schober (AUT)
85. Karolina Konieczna (POL)
86. Linn Torp (NOR) 24:06:00
87. Martina Ruzickova (CZE)
88. Uenia Fernand. Souza (BRA) 1 Lap
89. Kirsten Wild (NED)
90. Leigh Hobson (CAN)
91. Pavla Havlikova (CZE)
92. Yulia Blindyuk (RUS)
93. Valentina Gavrilova (RUS)
DNF Kimberly Anderson (USA)
DNF Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (GER)
DNF Olivia Gollan (AUS)
DNF Natalie Bates (AUS)
DNF Kimberly Baldwin (USA)
DNF Rachel Heal (GBR)
DNF Isabella Wieser (AUT)
DNF Urte Joudvalkyte (LTU)
DNF Monica Holler (SWE)
DNF Jennifer Hohl (SUI)
DNF Sofie Goor (BEL)
DNF Jean. Longo_Ciprelli (FRA)
DNF Madeleine Sandig (GER)
DNF Natalia Boyarskaya (RUS)
DNF Tina Pic (USA)
DNF Katherine Bates (AUS)
DNF Nai. Lopez (ESP)
DNF Miho Oki (JPN)
DNF Sabrina Emmasi (SUI)
DNF DER MERWE Van (Maris.)
DNF Oxana Kashchyshyna (UKR)
DNF Kateryna Krasova (UKR)
DNF Liping Zhang (CHN)
DNF BALDERAS Verón. Leal (MEX)
DNF Tanja Slater (GBR)
DNF Monika Krawczyk (POL)
DNF Amy Moore (CAN)
DNF Helen Wyman (GBR)
DNF Marie Lindberg (SWE)
DNF ANDREU M. Vilajosana (ESP)
DNF Na Zhao (CHN)
DNF Monika Grzebinoga (POL)
DNF Karin Aune (SWE)
DNF Noelia So. Fernandez (ARG)
DNF Helen Kelly (AUS)
DNF Malgorzta Jasinska (POL)
DNF Monika Kiraly (HUN)
DNF Regina Schleicher (GER)
DNF Janildes Fern. Silva (BRA)
DNF MARROQUIN Ev. Garcia (ESA)
DNF ANTEQUERA An. Garcia (ESP)
DNS HERRERA Gius. Grassi (MEX)