June 15, 2013 (Val di Sole, Italy) – The Elite Women’s race is soon underway with the sun shining and 25 degrees. A total of 59 women are on the start line for round #3 with Julie Bresset (Fra) BH Suntour back in action. Tanja Zakelj (Slo) Unior Tools Team will be looking for another strong performance as will Eva Lechner (Ita) Team Colnago Sudtirol and Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) Giant Pro Xc Team. Racing for Canada are Catharine Pendrel (Luna Pro Team), Emily Batty (Trek Factory Racing), Mikaela Koffman (Scott-3Rox Racing) and Adreanne Pichette (Team Canada)… the women will complete 1 short start loop + 6 laps for 25.68km…
Start Loop
Jolanda Neff (Sui) Giant Pro Xc Team is out front…Zakelj and Lechner are up there – Pendrel and Batty are just behind
Lap 1
Pendrel has moved up and taken over the lead…Zakelj had joined her.
On the climb Pendrel has opened up a gap.
Zakelj is second Neff is third and Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team is third
Neff crashed…
Pendrel is pushing ahead on the descent and the gap is opening up – her teammate Nash takes over 2nd.
Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Multivan Merida Biking Teamis 5th and Batty is 6th.
Pendrel gap is 15s over the chasers… Wloszczowska is further back at 52s and Bresset is 1:04
Lap 2
Pendrel comes thru looking strong in 17:16…
Behind it’s Zakelj, Nash and Dahle Flesjaa has moved up to 4th at 13s – Batty is 5th at 25s.
Still on the climb Pendrel is maintaining her lead…
On the descent she bumps into a tree but stays on the bike.
Zakelj and Nash are gaining on Pendrel…
Pendrel has attacked again and has extended her lead
At the split the gap is 4s… Batty is trying to gain on Dahle – Wloszczowska is 10th and Bresset is 17th.
As the lap ends Pendrel is caught by the chasers
Lap 3
Zakelj crosses first in 33:06 with Pendrel, Nash with her and Dahle in 4th.
Batty is alone in 5th at 18s then it’s Morath and Neff at 43s… the next group of five riders led by Suss is at 1:12
Zakelj is leading with Nash and Pendrel just behind as Dahle drops off the pace a bit.
On the highest part of the course Zakelj and Nash have a small gap on Pendrel…Dahle is just behind.
On the descent Zakelj is on her own… Nash is just behind at 2s.
At the split Pendrel and Dahle are together at 18s with Batty in 5th at 30s.
Lap 4
Zakelj and Nash begin the fourth lap with a time of 48:45
Dahle is in 4th at 11 seconds w/Pendrel 4th at 14s – Batty is 5th at 26s
Zakelj and Nash are together on the climb… now Nash takes over the lead.
Dahle is alone in 3rd with Pendrel in 4th as Batty will soon join her.
Pendrel and Batty are together and gaining on Dahle… Nash is leading.
On the next climb they catch Dahle and Pendrel attacks and is now in 3rd… Batty is 4th.
On the descent Pendrel’s rear wheel slips out and she goes down…Batty and Dahle pass her.
At the split Nash has 8s over Zakelj – then it’s Batty in 3rd at 30s with Dahle 4th at 31s and Pendrel 5th at 36s.
Pendrel crashed again before the feed… it’s not her day.
Lap 5
Nash comes thru in 1:04:41 to start the penultimate lap w/Zakelj at 8s in second.
Then it’s Batty in 3rd at 31s w/Dahle 4th at 32s… Pendrel is 5th at 1:02
Nash continues to drive the pace….
In 6th it’s Adelheid Morath (Ger) Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team – Esther Süss (Sui) Wheeler – IXS Team is 7th and Lea Davison (USA) Specialized Racing Xc is 8th.
Batty is firmly in third on the climb and she’s gaining on Zakelj…
Now Morath is gaining on Pendrel…
At the split it’s Nash leading with Zakelj at 17s… then it’s Batty in 3rd at 31s, Dahle is 4th at 1:07.
Morath takes over 5th at 1:35 with Pendrel at 1:36
Lap 6 FINAL
Nash starts the final lap in 1:20:42… w/Zakelj at 8s in second.
Batty in 3rd at 30s – Dahle is 4th at 1:06… Morath is 5th at 1:30… Pendrel is 6th.
Zakelj attacks and catches Nash and takes the lead up the climb
Now Zakelj has opened a gap…Nash is struggling to keep pace.
Batty in 3rd has a minor bobble but stays on the bike.
On the descent Zakelj looks strong and the gap has opened up… she’s on her own.
It looks like Morath has caught and passed Dahle…
Zakelj takes it.
Results
1. Tanja Zakelj (Slo) Unior Tools Team 1:36:37
2. Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team 0:20
3. Emily Batty (Can) Trek Factory Racing 0:50
4. Adelheid Morath (Ger) Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team 1:34
5. Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Multivan Merida Biking Team 1:59
6. Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team) 2:58
7. Esther Süss (Sui) Wheeler – IXS Team 3:08
8. Lea Davison (USA) Specialized Racing Xc 3:14
9. Katrin Leumann (Sui) Ghost Factory Racing Team 3:26
10. Alexandra Engen (Swe) Ghost Factory Racing Team 4:04
26. Mikaela Koffman (Can) Scott-3Rox Racing 10:44
50. Adreanne Pichette (Can) Team Canada
Standings
1. Tanja Zakelj (Slo) Unior Tools Team 650
2. Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) Giant Pro Xc Team 490
3. Eva Lechner (Ita) Team Colnago Sudtirol 470
4. Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team 415
5. Emily Batty (Can) Trek Factory Racing 390
7. Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team) 375
Full results HERE.