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Open de Sučde Vargarda
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Open de Sučde Vargarda is the
penultimate event of the Women's World Cup and usually a small
group contests the finish, although on a couple of occasions
it has been larger.
Lizzie Armitstead continues to lead the World Cup rankings on
445 points, 130 ahead of Johansson. With a total of 240
available in the remaining two races it is still technically
possible for the lead to change. Racing on home roads
Johansson will be even more motivated to win in a race she
hasn't before.
1 Elizabeth ARMITSTEAD 445
2 Emma JOHANSSON 315
3 Anna VAN DER BREGGEN 268
4 Eleonora VAN DIJK 265
5 Kirsten WILD 230
Full Rankings
The race has been run since 2006 with Marianne Vos the only
repeat winner (2009 and 2013). Other winners joining Vos on
the start line are Annemiek van Vleuten (2011) and Kirsten
Wild (2010).
The Route
Profile
12 laps of an 11km. The laps are mostly flat other than a
climb of around 1km in the middle of the circuit. There are 2
GPM sprints on lap five (after 49km) and nine (after 93km).
The race regulations list the climb as 500m at average of 8%
It is still close in the World Cup Mountains and Sprint
classification so expect riders to fight for the points.
Mountain Classification
1 Alena AMIALIUSIK 12
2 Pauline FERRAND PREVOT 10
3 Ashleigh MOOLMAN-PASIO 10
Full Rankings
The only sprint point comes on lap 7 after 76.2km.
Sprint Classification
1 Iris SLAPPENDEL 20
2 Anna Zita Maria STRICKER 16
3 Rebecca WIASAK 12
Full Rankings
The climb is where a group is likely to go away. A group
sprint (from a reasonably large group anyway) is not out of
the question. Kirsten Wild has won and finished second in the
past. The teams of the two big sprinters (Giant-Shimano and
Wiggle-Honda) might look to keep it together but they also
have options to put riders in moves.
The Contenders
Marianne Vos
There has hardly been a race the past two or three months that
Rabo have stated that they have not dominated. Vos started her
season later than usual but since then has been on a roll.
Since the end of April Vos has picked up 20 wins and never
finished outside the top 10 and has helped teammates win on
more than one occasions as well. It is hard to see past the
two time winner. Rabo have a strong team and from an attack or
a sprint Vos is the name to watch. That said she might also be
happy to let a break go if it includes a teammate.
Annemiek van Vleuten
Has won the race before in 2011. Has had a very consistent
year. Won the Dutch time trial Championship ahead of Ellen van
Dijk and then went on to win the prologue and stage three of
the Giro Rosa, as well as finish 8th overall. Her 9th at the
Ladies Tour of Norway shows her form is good but maybe not
great.
Lizzie Armitstead
There is no doubting Armitstead has had a great season, but
she has still been unable to pick up a lot of wins. She only
has three at UCI level (Commonwealth Games not included),
which is really hard to imagine when you think about it.
Armitstead is climbing better than ever but that really seems
to have dented her speed in a sprint. Still a quick finisher
but doesn't seem as fast as she was. A win here could
potentially seal up the overall World Cup win, depending on
where Johansson finishes. Likely to go on the attack as
unlikely to win a sprint against the likes of Vos, Wild or
Bronzini.
Ellen Van Dijk
Boels Dolmas are likely to play the Armitstead card but they
have several other options. Ellen van Dijk has finished in the
top five, three times including second in 2011. Van Dijk's
only win of the year comes at Ronde van Vlaanderen, where she
attacked the field and nobody was willing to chase with
Armitstead sitting on until it was too late.
Emma Johansson
Home roads for one of the most consistent riders in cycling.
Johansson has never won the race but finished second last
year. Nine wins in 2014 accounting for 75% of Orica-AIS's
wins. Sits second in the World Cup rankings and if she holds
any ambitions to win overall she needs to win here. Has a
strong team behind her and if there is anyone who can beat Vos
or Armitstead it is probably Johansson
Katrin Garfoot
Joined Orica-AIS mid season after a very strong early season
with Jayco-AIS National Team. Garfoot is a genuine all rounder
who can time trial, climb and sprint. Bronze in the time trial
at the Commonwealth Games was a sign that we have not seen her
best yet. Expect Garfoot and Orica-AIS to ride their usual
attacking race and try and put one or more of them in a good
position ahead of the final few laps.
Evelyn Stevens
Did her own Grand Tour riding the Giro Rosa and then
Internationale Thüringen a race she went on to win. After her
Specialized-lululemon squad were without competition in the
TTT on Friday they will no doubt want to continue that success
in the road race.
Kirsten Wild
A race has always done well at, winner in 2010 and 2nd in
2019. In the past six editions Wild has never finished outside
the top 15. She might be the dominant sprinter in the women's
peloton but she climbs well enough to make it over the climb
in the middle of the lap. Wild has a fast finish but has not
been able to beat Vos in a bunch sprint of late.
Elena Cecchini
The Italian Champion has been impressive this year, hardly a
race where she has not been in the mix. A strong sprinter but
her ability to climb will see her develop in to one of the top
riders in the sport. The Italian Championships is her only win
of the year but her most impressive result was second at the
Tour of Chongming Island World Cup with only Wild able to out
sprint her. The climb is unlikely to trouble Cecchini and she
likes to attack.
Giorgia Bronzini
Five wins in UCI races for Bronzini this year including one at
the Giro ahead of Vos and another last week at the Route de
France (although down on her six from last year). If Bronzini
has the form she did at the Giro will be a strong contender
for the win.
Other names to watch: Anna Van der Breggen, Megan Guarnier,
Megan Guarnier, Katarzyna Pawlowska, Gracie Elvin, Amanda
Spratt, Trixi Worrack, Sara Olsson, Oxana Kozonchuk, Claudia
Lichtenberg, Jasmin Glaesser, Rosella Ratto, Vera Koedooder,
Lotta Lepisto, Eugenia Bujak, Susanna Zorzi and Linda
Villumsen. |
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