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La Flèche Wallonne
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La Flèche Wallonne is the fourth
round of the Women's World Cup and one of the hardest on the
calendar. It will also mark the first race of the year for
defending champion and current World Champion Marianne Vos.
Vos has won the race five times and finished on the podium one
other time.
Last year rider after rider attacked from the peloton but no
group was able to get much more than 30 seconds on the
peloton. As what was left of the peloton approached the Mur de
Huy all the big favourites were still in the lead group.
Inside the final few hundred metres Vos attacked and only
Elisa Longo Borghini and Ashleigh Moolman were able to follow.
But they two were eventually distanced with Longo Borghini
taking 2nd with Moolman 3rd.
The Course
The race has 12 short steep climbs over the 127km route with
the race finishing at the top of the famous Mur de Huy (1.3km
at 9.3%).
Details of the climbs
12km Côte d'Ereffe (2.2km at 5.9%)
31km Côte de Bellaire (1km at 6.8%)
38.5km Côte de Bohisseau (1.3km at 7.6%)
41.5km Côte de Bousalle (1.7km at 4.9%)
52km Côte d'Ahin (2.1km at 5.9%)
63km Mur de Huy (1st passage) (1.3km at 9.3%)
75.5km Côte d'Ereffe (2.2km at 5.9%)
95km Côte de Bellaire (1km at 6.8%)
102km Côte de Bohisseau (1.3km at 7.6%)
105.5km Côte de Bousalle (1.7km at 4.9%)
116km Côte d'Ahin (2.1km at 5.9%)
127km Mur de Huy (1.3km at 9.3%)
Profile and close up of the final 5km can be found
here
The two circuits with the climbs coming in relatively quick
succession are likely to put a lot of riders in trouble early
but expect the big favourites to be there as riders approach
the Mur de Huy for the second and final time. With the race
marking Vos' first appearance in the European peloton for the
year it leaves the field wild open.
The Contenders
Full Start List available
here
Anna van der Breggen
World Champion and last years winner has revealed on twitter
she will be riding in support of van der Breggen in her first
race of the season. Van der Breggen has had a strong start to
the year with top 10 finishes in the first 3 World Cup rounds.
2nd at Ronde van Drenthe after being caught in the closing
kilometres by Armitstead, 4th at Trofeo Alfredo Binda and 6th
at Ronde van Vlaanderen. Her good form continues and took 10th
on the weekend at the Ronde van Gelderland. Van der Breggen is
strong on the climbs and with the support of Vos will be a big
danger.
Annemiek van Vleuten
A very consistent rider and in recent years is one of only two
riders, the other being Vos to have won the World Cup overall.
Didn't ride last year but has finished top 15 in the three
editions she had ridden with her best finish 6th in 2011. With
van der Breggen on good form is likely to support her but is
still likely to finish well.
Elisa Longo Borghini
Finished 2nd last year just ahead of now teammate Ashleigh
Moolman, both riders have been going well this year. Has
finished in the top 10 this season at Le Samyn, Cholet Pays de
Loire, Trofeo Alfredo Binda, Ronde van Vlaanderen and 7th at
Ronde van Gelderland this past weekend. Has good form and the
pressure is off with Moolman another option for the team. Who
gets the pick is likely to depend on who is feeling best on
the day.
Ashleigh Moolman
Started her season by defending both the Time Trial and Road
race at the South African National Championships in January.
In her first two European races finished 8th in Omloop Het
Nieuwsblad and 2nd in the uphill sprint at Le Samyn. With
Longo Borghini also going well how they feel on the day may
decide who supports the other.
Lizzie Armitstead
While not a race where you immediately think of Lizzie
Armitstead she has done well here in the past taking 12th last
year. Her climbing has clearly improved dropping even Emma
Johansson on the VAMBerg at Ronde van Drenthe Armitstead but
faces a much harder challenge here. The win is probably out of
the question but a good finish is possible especially with key
World Cup points on offer. Team has said defending the World
Cup lead is not a priority. Has strong support from the likes of Jessie Daams, Megan
Guarnier and Ellen Van Dijk.
Jessie Daams
Not a name often talked about as a contender in big races but
Daams finished 10th here last year however will likely play a
support role for Lizzie Armitstead but could still easily find
herself right up there as well. A strong climber especially on
the short sharp climbs here.
Emma Johansson
Arguably the most consistent rider has finished in the top 10
in the 10 one day races she has competed in this year
including seven podiums and three victories. Currently sits
second in the World Cup rankings 80 points behind Armitstead
and a strong showing here could potentially put her much
closer or even in to the lead with a win. Strong on short
sharp climbs and is backed by a strong team including Carlee
Taylor. Has finished in the top 10 the past five years
including podiums in 2009-2011.
Carlee Taylor
I have often called Carlee Taylor one of the best domestiques
in the women's peloton and she is likely to play a key role
for Emma Johansson here. A very strong climber who spent a
considerable amount of time on the front at both the World
Championships last year and the Australian Championships this
year. Last year helped Moolman to 3rd and still finished 14th
herself. A top 10 finish even while riding for Johansson is
not out of the question.
Alena Amialiusik
Has spent most of her 2014 season so far racing in South
America. Won a stage and finished 3rd overall at Vuelta
Internacional Femenina a Costa Rica and then added 2 stages
and 2nd overall at the Vuelta a El Salvador. In between the
two stage races took 2nd at Grand Prix GSB, 6th Grand Prix de
Oriente and then won the Grand Prix el Salvador. Took a
surprise 3rd at Trofeo Alfredo Binda. Amialiusik is a very
strong climber and will look to improve on her 7th of last
year.
Evelyn Stevens
Won the race in 2012 but didn't race last year. Has only
ridden 3 races (7 days) so far this year with her best finish
10th at Ronde van Vlaanderen but has otherwise been quiet and
wasn't really in the action at all in the Energiewacht Tour.
The lack of racing may hurt her chances but as a former winner
and one of the pelotons top riders expect a strong showing.
Tiffany Cromwell
Left Orica-AIS for more chances for herself and hasn't quite
picked up a win but has had a solid year so far. Her sprinting
has clearly improved as evidenced by her 2nd place ahead of
Bronzini at the GP Comune di Cornaredo but this will be the
first big test of her climbing legs. 12th at Ronde van Drenthe
but only managed 28th at Trofeo Alfredo Binda. Supported Emma
Johansson last year and despite that effort took a strong 9th
herself. Last raced at the Energiewacht Tour taking 6th
overall in a sign her form is good.
Claudia Haussler
One of the strongest climbers in the women's peloton but
despite this has only finished in the top 10 once and that was
back in 2009 when she took the final spot on the podium. Has
been quiet so far this year but as the roads start to turn up
in the coming months Haussler will be at her best.
Emma Pooley
The 31 year old has been one of the top riders for many years
and won the race back in 2010. Raced little last year as she
was completing her PhD. Her first race of the year for her new
Lotto Belisol team was the Ronde van Gelderland on the weekend
where she finished second last. If that is an accurate
representation of her form the lack of racing will hurt her
but should never be discounted.
Rossella Ratto
Despite still being just 20 Ratto has already achieved some
impressive results. Finished 3rd in the World Championships
last year behind Vos and Johansson as well as 12th at the Giro
Rosa. Has ridden the race twice before with her best finish
15th in 2012. With only 3 race days in 2014 so far with her
best result 14th at Trofeo Alfredo Binda the last of racing
could hurt her chances.
Elena Kuchinskaya
Started her year in Qatar before heading to South America and
picking up some strong results. Finished 7th at Vuelta
Internacional Femenina a Costa Rica and top 10 in the three
one day races in El Salvador being taking 12th at the Vuelta a
El Salvador. Since returning to Europe the increased
competition has seen her out of the action. Finished 11th at
the World Championships last year.
Joanne Hogan
Left Bizkaia-Durango mid way through 2013 before joining the
now UCI Bigla squad for 2014. Started the season well with
10th at the Australian National Championships. In the past two
years has finished 21st and 26th.
Other names to watch: Marianne Vos, Pauline Ferrand Prevot,
Megan Guarnier, Ellen Van Dijk, Shara Gillow, Ane Santesteban,
Tatiana Guderzo, Linda Villumsen, Anna Sanchis, Fabiana
Luperini, Tatiana Antoshina, Katrin Garfoot and Edwige Pittel. |
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