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Emakumeen Euskal Bira
Preview |
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The second and final race in
Spain for the season Emakumeen Euskal Bira follows on from
Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria on Tuesday. With the Giro del
Trentino Alto Adige - Südtirol reduced to just one day it will
serve as an important warm up race for the Giro Rosa.
Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria gives an indication on who
will be in contention. It was no surprise to see Johansson,
Armitstead and Vos the three riders to contest the finish.
Johansson and Vos will both be in contention. Both are former
winners and Johansson the defending champion.
2013 Review
The first stage ended in a bunch sprint with Vos taking the
win and the early race lead.
On hillier roads stage two shook up the GC. Four riders
Johansson, Cromwell, Vos and Longo Borghini escaped in the
middle of the stage. On the final climb Longo Borghini upped
the pace, Johansson sat on her wheel while Vos and Cromwell
were distanced. By the top of the climb Cromwell had dropped
Vos and was 40" down. Evelyn Stevens and Fabiana Luperini
attacked and joined Vos and then Cromwell early in the
descent. The chase had taken it out of the chasers and were
quickly distanced by Vos and Cromwell. Longo Borghini opened
her sprint early but was overtaken by Johansson for the win.
Vos was able to distance Cromwell to take the final spot on
the podium.
The penultimate stage was an undulating time trial (missing
from this years edition). Emma Johansson put in a strong
performance to take a second stage win in a row, finishing 38"
seconds ahead of World Champion Ellen van Dijk with Longo
Borghini 3rd on the same time.
The final stage saw attack after attack attempt to put
pressure on Johansson. Despite the efforts of a number of
riders Johansson was able to mark every move containing a
threat. The attacks eventually reduced the group until only
Johansson, Longo Borghini and Stevens remained after the first
of two final climbs. Anna van der Breggen joined on the
descent to the finish. With the win within her grasp Johansson
kept a close eye on every move. The four came in to the finish
together with Longo Borghini taking the stage ahead of
Stevens. Johansson rounded out the podium to secure the
overall victory.
The Route
There is no time trial this year, just four road stages. Bonus
seconds are on offer at the finish 6-4-2 for the first three
riders.
There is also what is interestingly being called Secret
Hotspot Control. There is 3-2-1 seconds on offer at a secret
"control" line on each stage. Riders are not told when it is
and only results will be communicated.
Stage 1
The start of the stage follows part of Durango-Durango
Emakumeen Saria route and includes the climb from the opening
lap. The first sprint comes at 10.5km just ahead of the
uncategorised climb (13.8km). From here the next 40km are run
over slightly undulating roads. The final sprint point of the
day comes at 49.4km just ahead of the first climb. The first
climb of the day to Dima (11km at 4.29% average) comes at
64.5km. While not steep the distance will put a lot of riders
out the back. The road levels off for about 5km before riders
face the Urkiola climb (3.4km at 3.68% average) comes at
76.3km. With around 1km to the top road reach 11%. Expect to
see the climbers attack here. There is only around 10km
remaining over the top with most of it a fast downhill.
Stage 2
Much like the previous day the early part of the stage is
relatively flat before two climbs in the closing stages. The
first sprint on the stage comes after 35.3km and the second at
62.3km, just ahead of the first climb. The Udana climb (7km at
3.69% average) comes at 66.4km. The gradient does not tell the
full story. The first two kilometres are just 1.5% before
gradually rising to 4.9km with 2km remaining. After a short
descent riders again start to climb. The Atagoiti climb tops
out at 97.3km. 9.5km at 3.39% but after two kilometres it
levels out providing some respite before continuing on. The
descent takes riders almost to the finish. The final 2km are
flat.
Stage 3
A quick descent marks the start of the penultimate stage.
Unlike the past two stages there is no easy start. The roads
are either up or down all day with very little in the way of
flat roads. Sprint one comes after 36.8km just ahead of the
first categorised climb of Arrieta of around 9km. A quick
descent follows before the undulating roads continue. The
final sprint comes after the descent of an uncategorized climb
at 61.6km. With the final climb coming just 10km from the
finish expect the pace to be on. The final climb in Andraka is
3.3km at 3.9% average. There is no rest over the top with
another uncategorised climb with 5km to go. Riders face
another rise inside 3km and the final 500m are slightly
uphill.
Stage 4
No rest on the final stage with three big climbs ahead of the
riders. Both sprint points come early, the first at 20km. The
second is at 40km but the road has started climbing by then.
Alto de Urkillaga is the first climb (3km at 7.33%) that tops
out after 48km. The final part of the climb is the hardest
reaching 11.5% in the final km. A quick descent and a 25km
flat section leaders riders in to the penultimate climb. Alto
de Abaltzisketa is similar to the first climb 29.km at 7.76%
but not as steep towards the top although it does reach 8.5%
Riders will get a respite riders get as the road starts to
climb again. Starting the Alto de Urkillaga for the second
time with just 9km to go. Over the top there is just 5.9km to
the line. With the final km reaching 11.5% expect lots of
attacks ahead of a quick run in to the line.
The Contenders
Start List available
here
Emma Johansson
Johansson comes in as the defending champion and is on good
form. The Queen of Consistency is always in contention and is
likely to be again here. Five wins so far this year and has
been on the podium in her last 4 races over the past 2 weeks.
Won Boels Rental Hills Classic and 2nd and 3rd respectively at
Rabobank 7-Dorpenomloop Aalburg and
Gooik-Geraardsbergen-Gooik. Part of the 3 rider group to
contest the finish at Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria on
Tuesday where she took 3rd behind Vos and Armitstead.
Marianne Vos
A race Vos has won twice before in 2008 and 2011. Has ridden
the race on two other occasions and finished inside the top 5
both times. Her late start to the season has not stopped her
picking up 9 wins in a month and a half. In her last 6 races
(3 stages of The Women's Tour and 3 one day races) has won all
of them. Not a pure sprinter but often outsprints them. Vos is
arguably the rider of her generation and based on current form
will be hard to beat.
Shara Gillow
Had a slower start to the year than usual but as the roads
return to the hills Gillow is coming in to form. Took 13th at
Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria and based on her form there a
top 10 here is likely. Was 10th here last here (14th at
Durango) but the inclusion of a TT helped. One of the top
climbers in the peloton and with this the only real test ahead
of the Giro expect to see Gillow on good form.
Ellen van Dijk
World Time Trial Champion has finished 11th and 13th the past
two years thanks to her time trialing ability. With no time
trial in 2014 it makes a top 10 finish harder. A strong
climber who will need to gain time on stage three if she wants
to be fighting for the win.
Jessie Daams
Not a name that immediately jumps out for many but if you look
at her results more often than not (in undulating and hilly
races) she is in or around the top 20. Even more impressive
when you consider she is often riding for someone else. In her
last three races Daams has finished 8th Boels Rental Hills
Classic, 15th Gooik-Geraardsbergen-Gooik and 12th at
Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria. The climbs are likely to
prove too much for Lizzie Armitstead and without a time trial
van Dijk will not be at her best. Finished 17th in 2010 and
22nd in 2011 based on her current form an improvement on that
looks probable, even a top 10 finish.
Belen Lopez
In one of only two races in Spain expect to see Lopez
motivated for a strong result. Finished 12th overall last year
but would have been higher without the time trial. This year
with no time trial a move in to the top 10 is possible. Has 9
race days this year, slightly less than last year but have
seen little this year. 52nd at Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria
is an indication her form may not be great.
Rossella Ratto
A very similar lead up to last year where Ratto finished 17.
In a sign Ratto is coming in to form finishing 4th at
Auensteiner- Radsporttage and her National TT Championship
last week and then 10th at Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria.
The climbs here are harder than at Durango suiting her
climbing strength. Still just 20th and with less experience
than many but has developed strongly the past two seasons.
Fabiana Luperini
At 40 Luperini is coming to the end of her career. A very
strong climber who was sitting in the top 3 at the Giro last
year before being disqualified for her bike being underweight.
Finished 17th at Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria.
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. Part of an elite group at
Durango-Durango Emakumeen and was only distanced in the final
stages to finish 4th.
Pauline Ferrand-Prevot
Ferrand-Prevot was 23rd last year but has stepped up to
another level. Took her first win at La Flèche Wallonne and
has also finished 5th at Trofeo Alfredo Binda. Her last road
race was Festival Luxembourgeois Elsy Jacobs where she
finished 5th. Has spent the past month dominating on the dirt
taking two World Cups and the European Championship.
Elisa Longo Borghini
Second last year behind Emma Johansson and winner of the final
stage. Only 22 but is fast becoming one of the top riders in
the peloton. Has been very consistent all year especially in
one day races with 10 top 10 finishes. Comes in to the race
with good form. Put in a strong performance to win her
National Time Trial Championship during the week. After taking
5th at Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria her expectations will
be high.
Ashleigh Moolman
Comes in with good form having taken 10th at Boels Rental
Hills Classic, 5th Gooik-Geraardsbergen-Gooik and 8th on
Tuesday at Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria in a sign of good
form. A very strong climber who took 8th at the Giro Rosa last
year. Combined with Longo Borghini will be able to play a
number of cards.
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. Finished 5th in 2011 and 8th the following year
and won a stage both times. 18th at Durango-Durango Emakumeen
Saria so probably not on the form she needs to win but still
expect a competitive ride.
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. Finished 6th last year in
part down to her time trial. With no race against the clock
this year will be harder to repeat but a top 10 contender.
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. 11th last year while riding in support of
Emma Johansson. With no Evelyn Stevens in the race Cromwell
will lead the squad. 28th at Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria.
Claudia Hausler
Knows what it takes to win here having done so in 2010. When
on form few can match Hausler on the climbs. Has been quiet
all year with just one top 10 finish coming at La Flèche
Wallonne. There is no questioning her climbing skill but lacks
a fast finish. 12th at Boels Rental Hills Classic and 25th at
Rabobank 7-Dorpenomloop Aalburg last weekend. Joined
Giant-Shimano to give them an rider for hilly races. With the
Giro fast approaching Hausler will need to start finding form.
Other names to watch: Amanda Spratt, Lizzie Armitstead,
Lucinda Brand, Dalia Muccioli, Lisa Brennauer, Amy Pieters,
Ane Santesteban and Tatiana Guderzo. |
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