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Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria
Preview |
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Racing continues with the first
race in Spain for the year and one of only two.
Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria is a one day race in the
Basque region. With the Giro Rosa fast approaching it
represents one of the first opportunities for the climbers to
start testing their legs. World Champion Marianne Vos has won
the race in three of the past four years with Pooley the
winner in 2012. World Number 1 Emma Johansson has been on the
podium here four times, three times second including last
year.
2013 Review
Last year the peloton remained together on the opening
circuits but one the race hit the finishing loop the main
contenders came out to play. Evelyn Stevens was the first to
go with Longo Borghini countering her move. Johansson, Vos and
Moolman also went over forming a five rider group. Moolman was
distanced from the break by a mechanical leaving four leaders.
Stevens and Longo Borghini both put in attacks in an attempt
to distance the faster Johansson and Vos but the four came to
the finish together. Johansson was the first to launch her
sprint but Vos came around ahead of the line. Stevens rounded
out the podium ahead of Longo Borghini while Moolman held on
for 5th. Annemiek van Vleuten lead the peloton home.
The Route
Profile
Final 3km
Riders face four opening laps of an opening 18.8km circuit
that includes the Côte de Miota at 9.5km in to the circuit. In
itself not steep or long enough to cause any major trouble by
the time the riders face the final two climbs many will feel
it in their legs. After the four laps riders will face two
more climbs both cat 2 (for what that is worth considering no
other rated climbs in the race). Riders will face the Cotê
Montekalbo with 25.9km remaining and after a quick descent the
Côte de Muniketagane that tops out with just 10.5km remaining.
Expect to see the big names attack on the Cotê Montekalbo and
an elite selection to form.
The final kilometre is an uphill drag and it will be important
not to start sprinting to early or you will likely be
overtaken ahead of the line.
The Contenders
Start List available
here
Marianne Vos
Vos had a late start to the season but since her debut at La
Flèche Wallonne where she finished 6th has not finished
outside the top 10. Won two stages and 2nd overall at Festival
Luxembourgeois Elsy Jacobs, two stages and the overall at The
Women's Tour as well as wins at Rabobank 7-Dorpenomloop
Aalburg and Gooik-Geraardsbergen-Gooik. That makes eight wins
in a month and a half. Comes in as defending champion and a
three time winner.
Emma Johansson
Has finished on the podium here four times and based on her
current form expect her to be on it again. 15 top 10 finishes
this year including five wins. If she is in a race there is a
very good chance Johansson will be in the top 10 if not on the
podium. Comes in with great form after finishing on the podium
in all three races last weekend. Won Boels Rental Hills
Classic, 3rd Rabobank 7-Dorpenomloop Aalburg and 2nd at
Gooik-Geraardsbergen-Gooik. After a hard start to the season
Orica-AIS is back at full strength and will be aggressive.
Annemiek van Vleuten
Van Vleuten is another rider who is more often than not in the
mix in races. Has been relatively quiet by her standards this
year but has a string of good results. 7 top 10 finishes
including 5th at the Ronde van Drenthe and Ronde van
Vlaanderen World Cups. Lead home the chase group last year to
take 6th. Part of a strong Rabo Liv squad.
Anna van der Breggen
Took her fist win of the year at Dwars door de Westhoek . Van
der Breggen followed up a week later with a solo stage win and
the overall at Festival Luxembourgeois Elsy Jacobs. Sprinted
to 2nd behind Armitstead in the first World Cup of Ronde van
Drenthe and followed up with 4th at Trofeo Alfredo Binda and
6th Ronde van Vlaanderen. A strong climber who is likely to be
in the mix.
Amanda Spratt
Spratty as she is known broke her collarbone at Ronde van
Vlaanderen and only made her return last weekend. 17th at
Boels Rental Hills Classic shows despite missing a month of
racing with injury her form is good. A strong climber who has
a very quick finish on the line. Expect Orica-AIS to support
Johansson but if Spratt gets a chance you might see her down
the road and will be hard to bring back.
Lizzie Armitstead
Finished in the first chase group last year in 18th. Had a
hard year last year after taking Silver at the London
Olympics. The start of 2013 was all about Armitstead. In her
first six races on European soil Armitstead won two and was on
the podium in all six. Leads the World Cup rankings and was
2nd at La Flèche Wallonne in confirmation her climbing has
improved. Fell ill at Festival Luxembourgeois Elsy Jacobs and
then abandoned The Women's Tour. Hasn't raced since but expect
her to come back fighting.
Ellen van Dijk
Had a strong start to the season and won arguably the biggest
one day race of the year Ronde van Vlaanderen solo ahead of
teammate Lizzie Armitstead. Took a break after The Women's
Tour and returned to take 2nd at Boels Rental Hills Classic
last weekend. 2nd in the bunch sprint last year for 7th.
Jessie Daams
Daams more often than not supports others on her team but she
is always consistent. Took 10th at Trofee Maarten Wynants in
the middle of May and 8th at Boels Rental Hills Classic and
15th at Gooik-Geraardsbergen-Gooik. Very strong on the climbs
and has a decent finish. Will probably see her play a support
role but to see her outside the top 20 would be a surprise.
Tiffany Cromwell
Made the move to Specialized-lululemon to have more
opportunity for herself. Has not had a bad season by any
calculation but hasn't quite got that big result either. 10
top 10 finishes with her best 2nd at GP Comune di Cornaredo in
a bunch sprint behind Shelley Olds. A strong climber and her
results in bunch sprints this year show she is a big danger
from a small group. 10th last year and in a race that suits
her style expect a good performance.
Elisa Longo Borghini
Part of the four rider elite group last year and just missed
the podium with 4th. Has been very consistent all year
especially in one day races with 10 top 10 finishes. Comes in
to the race with good form. 2nd last weekend behind teammate
Audrey Cordon at Grand Prix de Plumelec-Morbihan Dames and 3rd
behind Vos and Johansson at Gooik-Geraardsbergen-Gooik. Put in
a strong performance to win her National Time Trial
Championship during the week.
Ashleigh Moolman
Part of a five rider group in the closing stages and only
losing contact due to a mechanical but still held on to finish
5th between the leaders and the chase group. Took 5th at
Gooik-Geraardsbergen-Gooik last weekend in a sign of good form
Alena Amialiusik
Strong in South America in February and continued this in
Europe taking a surprising 3rd place at Trofeo Alfredo Binda.
Took a break for most of May before returning to take 4th at
The Philadelphia Cycling Classic. Finishing 9th here last year
and if her strong form continues could improve on that.
Emma Pooley
Missed most of 2013 while finishing her PhD but when she did
race she finished on the podium. Only seven race days in her
legs but importantly took 7th at La Flèche Wallonne. The 2012
winner will want to produce a good result here in the lead up
to the Giro.
Rossella Ratto
Had a quiet early season before winning the 2nd stage and
finishing 3rd overall at The Women's Tour. Like many riders
had a break during May and returned at Auensteiner-
Radsporttage last weekend. Finishing 4th overall and 3rd on
the final hilly stage. Very strong on the climbs and despite
being just 22 finished 3rd at the World Championships last
year.
Other names to watch: Lucinda Brand, Shara Gillow, Irene San
Sebastian, Lisa Brennauer, Amy Pieters, Tatiana Guderzo, Ane
Santesteban, Susanna Zorzi, Aude Biannic, Charlotte Becker and
Fabiana Luperini. |
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