May 14, 2007 – Edita Puckinskaite (Équipe Nürnberger) took a solo win on a warm sunny day in Lyss, in the Berne region of Switzerland. 2007 was the second year of the Berner Rundfahrt as a round in the World Cup series.

The race covered five laps of a circuit which rolled through the valleys and took the riders up the steep and uneven climb near Jens northwest of the start-finish town.

The race started quietly until Tanja Hennes (Team Bigla) showed her Swiss sponsor’s colours off the front of the bunch in the second lap. Hennes created a gap of just over ten seconds, but was chased hard by the bunch, led by the Raleigh Lifeforce team, with Priska Doppmann obvious at the front of the bunch on the climb, where Hennes’ advantage was dwindling. She was caught on the mainly downhill or flat roads back down to Lyss.

The race then stayed pretty much together until the final lap, when Sylvia Parietti (Italy) broke away from the bunch and stayed away until the climb; which was when the race really exploded. A group of nine riders gained an advantage as some strong attacks were made on the climb. Edita Puckinskaite (Équipe Nürnberger) was able to capitalise on strength in numbers, escaping off the front whilst team-mates Eva Lutz and Andrea Graus watched for counterattacks in the group. Also in the break were Nicole Cooke (Raleigh Lifeforce), Marianne Vos (DSB Bank), Oenone Wood (T-Mobile), Sofie Goor (Vlaanderen), Edwige Pitel (Uniqa) and Irene van den Broek (AA Drink).

Whilst Puckinskaite was preparing to celebrate her victory as she rode up the finishing straight alone and ahead of race cars and TV motorbikes, the break was sprinting for second place. The sprint was instigated by Edwige Pitel (Uniqa) with about 600m to go, but she was swallowed by the speed of the defending World Cup leader, Nicole Cooke, and the World Champion, Marianne Vos. The pair was duelling for important World Cup points, also in the mix was Oenone Wood (T-Mobile).

On the line, Marianne Vos marked her twentieth birthday with the sprint win for second, whilst Wood was third. Cooke made sure of her World Cup position by coming fourth. The bunch were closing in on the breakaway and the first seventy-three riders were all awarded the same time.

Nicole Cooke maintained her World Cup series lead, but her lead is getting smaller. She now has only 56 points advantage over Marianne Vos, who has closed the gap from 76 points at the start of the day. Oenone Wood moved up from sixth to third but she is 166 points adrift of Cooke with four rounds remaining.

Edita Puckinskaite last won a World Cup in 2005, when she was victorious in Plouay (France). Speaking via an interpreter (none other than Nicole Cooke), the Lithuanian who, like Cooke, speaks Italian commented “Thanks to my team, I was able to win. We were able to mark counterattacks whilst I was away.” She explained her tactic for the final lap break: “I don’t think I started the race as a favourite, but this meant I could make the break without being marked.”

Nicole Cooke holds no illusions about her lead in the series. With Marianne Vos closing the points gap further in Berne, she commented, “I’ve won the World Cup overall twice and it was a fantastic achievement. If I could do it again I’d be very happy, we’ll see how the season goes.”

The World Cup series continues with round six with a trip to North America in June for the Canadian round in Montreal on 2 June.

Results

1. Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 3.06.33
2. Marianne Vos (Ned) Team DSB Bank at 0.11
3. Oenone Wood (Aus) T-Mobile Team
4. Nicole Cooke (GBr) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team
5. Eva Lutz (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung
6. Andrea Graus (Aut) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung
7. Sofie Goor (Bel) Vlaanderen-Capri Sonne-T Interim
8. Irene Van Den Broek (Ned) AA-Drink Cycling Team
9. Edwige Pitel (Fra) Team Uniqa
10. Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Menikini-Gysko
11. Olga Slyusareva (Rus) Fenixs-HPB
12. Angela Brodtka (Ger) Team Getränke-Hoffmann
13. Martina Corazza (Ita) Team Ista
14. Nikki Egyed (Aus) Australia
15. Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team
16. Tanja Hennes (Ger) Bigla Cycling Team
17. Sylvie Riedle (Fra) France
18. Priska Doppmann (Swi) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team
19. Monia Baccaille (Ita) Saccarelli EMU Marsciano
20. Daiva Tuslaite (Ltu) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox
21. Alessandra D’ettorre (Ita) Saccarelli EMU Marsciano
22. Annette Beutler (Swi) Switzerland
23. Miho Oki (Jpn) Menikini-Gysko
24. Ludivine Henrion (Bel) Team DSB Bank
25. Patricia Schwager (Swi) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team
26. Oxana Kozonchuk (Rus) Fenixs-HPB
27. Marta Bastianelli (Ita) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan
28. Marina Jaunatre (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope
29. Andrea Bosman (Ned) Team DSB Bank
30. An Van Rie (Bel) AA-Drink Cycling Team
31. Monica Holler (Swe) Bigla Cycling Team
32. Magali Le Floch (Fra) France
33. Emma Johansson (Swe) Vlaanderen-Capri Sonne-T Interim
34. Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan
35. Nathalie Jeuland (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope
36. Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Team Flexpoint
37. Paulina Brzezna (Pol) AA-Drink Cycling Team
38. Grace Verbeke (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam
39. Olena Andruk (Ukr) USC Chirio Forno D’Asolo
40. Evelyn Garcia (ESa) Team CMax Dila-Guericiotti-Cogeas
41. Karin Aune (Swe) Menikini-Gysko
42. Dorte Lohse Rasmussen (Den) Menikini-Gysko
43. Michelle Hyland (NZl) New Zealand
44. Lieselot Decroix (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam
45. Candice Sullivan (Aus) Australia
46. Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel (Ned) Team Flexpoint
47. Andrea Thürig (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team
48. Toni Bradshaw (NZl) New Zealand
49. Carissa Wilkes (NZl) New Zealand
50. Nicole Brändli (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team
51. Silvia Parietti (Ita) Team Ista
52. Madeleine Sandig (Ger) Team Flexpoint
53. Marta Vilajosana Andreu (Spa) Team CMax Dila-Guericiotti-Cogeas
54. Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung
55. Birgit Söllner (Ger) Team Specialized designs for women
56. Rosane Kirch (Bra) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox
57. Nathalie Bates (Aus) Team Getränke-Hoffmann
58. Maja Adamsen (Den) Team CMax Dila-Guericiotti-Cogeas
59. Siobhan Dervan (Irl) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam
60. Karin Thürig (Swi) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team
61. Serena Sheridan (NZl) New Zealand
62. Laura Lorenza Morfin (Mex) Fenixs-HPB
63. Zoulfia Zabirova (Kaz) Bigla Cycling Team
64. Monika Schachl (Aut) Team Uniqa
65. Julie Krasniak (Fra) France
66. Georgina Waibl (NZl) New Zealand
67. Chantal Beltman (Ned) T-Mobile Team
68. Noemi Cantele (Ita) Bigla Cycling Team
69. Olivia Gollan (Aus) Menikini-Gysko
70. Luise Keller (Ger) Team Flexpoint
71. Sara Carrigan (Aus) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam
72. Vera Carrara (Ita) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan
73. Marlijn Binnendijk (Ned) AA-Drink Cycling Team
74. Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) AA-Drink Cycling Team 0.28
75. Judith Arndt (Ger) T-Mobile Team 0.34
76. Sigrid Corneo (Ita) Menikini-Gysko 1.04
77. Janildes Fernandes Silva (Bra) Brazil 5.02
78. Natalia Boyarskaya (Rus) Fenixs-HPB 6.13
79. Lang Meng (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team
80. Anna Antoshina (Rus) Fenixs-HPB
81. Yong Li Liu (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team
82. Mirjam Senn (Swi) Team Specialized designs for women
83. Leda Cox (GBr) Saccarelli EMU Marsciano
84. Silva Cremilda Fernandes (Bra) Brazil
85. Yolandi Du Toit (RSA) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam
86. Debora Gerhard (Bra) Brazil
87. Inge Van Den Broeck (Bel) AA-Drink Cycling Team
88. Elke Gebhardt (Ger) Team Getränke-Hoffmann
89. Christelle Ferrier-Bruneau (Fra) France
90. Karin Steiner (Swi) Switzerland
91. Liane Bahler (Ger) Fenixs-HPB
92. Daniela Pintarelli (Aut) Team Uniqa
93. Catherine Delfosse (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam
94. Francesca Tognali (Ita) Team Ista
95. Eugenie Mermillod (Fra) Team Pro Féminin du Genevois
96. Amanda Spratt (Aus) Australia
97. Laure Werner (Bel) Vlaanderen-Capri Sonne-T Interim
98. Daniela Fusar Poli (Ita) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan
99. Giulia Lazzerini (Ita) Team Ista
100. Emanuela Azzini (Ita) Team CMax Dila-Guericiotti-Cogeas
101. Alice Donadoni (Ita) Team Ista
102. Alessandra Borchi (Ita) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan
103. Loes Sels (Bel) Vlaanderen-Capri Sonne-T Interim
104. Emma Rickards (Aus) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team
105. Linda Villumsen Serup (Den) T-Mobile Team
106. Sonia Huguet (Fra) France
107. Jocelyn Loane (Aus) Australia
108. Alexis Rhodes (Aus) T-Mobile Team
109. Iris Slappendel (Ned) Team Flexpoint
110. Sharon Van Essen (Ned) Team DSB Bank
111. Sandra Missbach (Ger) Team Getränke-Hoffmann
OTL Fanny Riberot (Fra) Team Pro Féminin du Genevois 12.56
OTL Lina Skujaite (Ltu) Lithuania 13.45
OTL Edita Janeliunaite (Ltu) Lithuania
OTL Emmanuelle Merlot (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope
OTL Jenny Macpherson (Aus) Australia
OTL Katie Brown (Aus) Australia
OTL Marieke Van Wanroij (Ned) Team DSB Bank
OTL Chiara Rozzini (Ita) Saccarelli EMU Marsciano
OTL Miyoko Karami (Jpn) Saccarelli EMU Marsciano
OTL Alexandra Born (Swi) Switzerland
OTL Christina Becker (Ger) Team Getränke-Hoffmann
OTL Fei Wang (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team
OTL Vicky Fournial (Fra) Team Pro Féminin du Genevois
OTL Emilie Lebrun (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope
OTL Xiaoning Gao (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team
OTL Mélanie Bravard (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope
OTL Catrine Josefsson (Swe) Team Specialized designs for women
OTL Xiang Yin Ruan (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team
OTL Veronika Sprügl (Aut) Team Uniqa
OTL Ombretta Ugolini (Ita) USC Chirio Forno D’Asolo
OTL Sonia Bazire (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope
OTL Aimee Vasse (USA) Team CMax Dila-Guericiotti-Cogeas
OTL Mette Fischer Andreasen (Den) Team CMax Dila-Guericiotti-Cogeas
OTL Elena Berlato (Ita) Team Ista
OTL Marina Duvnjak (NZl) New Zealand
OTL Karin Pekovits (Aut) Team Uniqa 15.45
OTL Florence Girardet (Fra) France
OTL Nathalie Tirard Collet (Fra) Team Pro Féminin du Genevois 19.11
OTL Marianne Stalder (Swi) Switzerland
AB Suzanne De Goede (Ned) T-Mobile Team
AB Loes Markerink (Ned) Team Flexpoint
AB Regina Schleicher (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung
AB Charlotte Becker (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung
AB Theresa Senff (Ger) Team Getränke-Hoffmann
AB Samantha Galassi (Ita) Saccarelli EMU Marsciano
AB Rebecca Bertolo (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox
AB Grete Treier (Est) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox
AB Federica Balestri (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox
AB Valentina Bastianelli (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox
AB Isabelle Hoffman (Lux) Team Pro Féminin du Genevois
AB Uenia Fernandes Da Souza (Bra) USC Chirio Forno D’Asolo
AB Samantha Profumo (Ita) USC Chirio Forno D’Asolo
AB Meifang Li (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team
AB Sarah Grab (Swi) Team Specialized designs for women
AB Nicole Käser (Swi) Team Specialized designs for women
AB Rosmarie Mayer (Ger) Team Specialized designs for women
AB Valérie Hofstetter (Swi) Switzerland
AB Iris Swahlen (Swi) Switzerland
AB Urte Juodvalkyte (Ltu) Lithuania
AB Agne Miliskeviciute (Ltu) Lithuania
AB Agne Sukutyte (Ltu) Lithuania
AB Alessandra Valquiria (Bra) Brazil
DNS Corinna Kreidl (Aut) Team Uniqa
DNS Sophie Creux (Fra) Team Pro Féminin du Genevois

World Cup standings after 5 events

1. Nicole Cooke (GBr) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team 251 points
2. Marianne Vos (Ned) Team DSB Bank 195
3. Oenone Wood (Aus) T-Mobile Team 85
4. Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 76
5. Adrie Visser (Ned) Team DSB Bank 75