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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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