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Tour of Chongming Island
Preview |
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The three day Tour of Chongming
Island is the perfect warm up ahead of the fifth World Cup
round held two days later. Of the seven previous editions
three have been won by Australian's including the past two
years with track stars Melissa Hoskins in 2012 and Nettie
Edmondson last year. Chloe Hosking was the first International
winner back in 2009.
No former winner is on the start list. Defending Champion
Nettie Edmondson will miss the race after her Orica-AIS squad
elected to race The Women's Tour. 2012 winner Melissa Hoskins
was scheduled to race with the Australian National team but a
delay in receiving a visa will see her also miss the race.
Story
here.
Despite the difficulties in travelling to China there is
substantial points on offer with 80 for the overall win and
points for the top 18. Stage winners collect 16 points down to
2 for 8th. Seven of the top 10 teams in the world are here but
there is no Rabo, Orica-AIS or Specialized-lululemon. Of the
top 10 teams Boels Dolmans, Wiggle Honda, Hitec Products and
Astana Be-Pink all rode the recent Women's Tour in Great
Britain and will start here but without a number of their big
names.
2013 Review
Last year two time Junior World Champion took a surprise win
on the first stage ahead of Chloe Hosking and Oxana Kozonchuk
after a crash impacted the sprints of a number of riders. Two
time Elite World Champion Giorgia Bronzini won stage two ahead
of Australian duo Chloe Hosking and Nettie Edmondson.
Throughout the race both Hosking and Edmondson had been
chasing bonus seconds. Hosking started the final stage with a
six second lead over Edmondson and nine over Garner.
Hosking took both bonus sprints on the final stage to increase
her lead to nine seconds over Edmondson. With 10 seconds on
offer for the win Edmondson needed to win the stage with
Hosking outside the top 3 to win. After a perfect leadout from
Melissa Hoskins and Emma Johansson, Edmondson stormed to
victory on the final stage. With Hosking finishing outside the
top 10, Edmondson took the overall by one second with Garner
taking third overall 17 seconds back.
The Route
The roads are essentially pan flat over all three stages.
There are two sprint points on each stage offering bonus
seconds of 3, 2 and 1 for the first three across the line.
With the race normally decided by seconds expect to see
intense fights for the bonus seconds.
Stage 1 - 121.6km
Starting on the mainland with a long run down the coast before
crossing over on to Chongming Island. The first sprint comes
after 24km and the second after 106.3km (15.3km) to go. Strong
winds could cause splits but the teams of the sprinters will
want to keep it together.
Stage 2 - 113.7km
The second stage takes place on Chongming Island starting and
finishing on Chongming Avenue. The first sprint comes at
34.7km and the second at 78.5km (35.2km)
Stage 3 - 80.8km
The final stage takes place on eight laps of a short 10.1km
circuit. At 80.8km the stage is significantly shorter so
expect an even faster pace. The first sprint comes at the end
of the second lap at 20.2km with the final sprint after five
laps at 50.5km.
The Contenders
Kirsten Wild
Wild has been the fastest sprinter over the past two seasons
but despite the flat nature of the Tour of Chongming Island
has only ridden it once. Missed the race last year due to
injury but is back to try and improve on her 2nd overall in
2010. In a sprint finish an on form Wild is very difficult but
not impossible to beat.
Giorgia Bronzini
Started with three stages at the Bay Crits in Australia in the
first week of January but since then wins have been hard to
come by. Bronzini's only UCI win of the year came at the Grand
Prix de Dottignies. Has six other podium places including the
final three stages of The Women's Tour. Commented after the
final stage she didn't think she was 100% and the travelling
to China may take a bit out of her after a hard week of racing
in the UK.
Shelley Olds
Olds has long been one of the top sprinters in the women's
peloton but has stepped it up to another level this year. Has
ridden the race twice before finishing 4th in 2012 and 8th
last year. Always consistent and performs well here, took the
World Cup in 2012. Has four wins so far this year including GP
Comune di Cornaredo where she outsprinted Bronzini.
Elena Cecchini
Won the Trophee d'Or Feminin in 2012, the same year she
finished 10th at the Tour Of Qatar and 13th here. At 21
Cecchini is still in the early part of her career but is
another rider who has stepped up this year. Finished just off
the podium in 4th at Grand Prix de Dottignies and 5th at
Winston-Salem Cycling Classic, where she won the Criterium.
Comes in with good form after four top 10 finishes and 10th
overall at The Women's Tour.
Lucy Martin
Has had a very hard time with some bad luck the past year and
a half and after a run of DNF's the form has started to come.
The Tour of Chongming Island has been a strong race for Martin
in the past. Finished 10th in 2011, 18th in 2012 and 16th last
year. Was also 8th in the World Cup in 2012. With teammate
Elena Cecchini sprinting well may play a support role.
Lauren Kitchen
Brought on to the team to support friend and fellow Australian
Chloe Hosking but Kitchen has a fast finish herself. Finished
second at the National Championships in January. Had a very
strong year last year with 5th at Rabobank 7-Dorpenomloop
Aalburg and 6th at Sparkassen Giro.
Julie Leth
Leth is a track rider who has stepped up to another level on
the road this year. Finished just outside the top 10 at Cholet
Pays de Loire and Dwars door de Westhoek. Took her best result
to date two weeks ago with 3rd on the final stage of the
Festival Luxembourgeois Elsy Jacobs. The final sprint was
impacted by a crash but the significance of the result should
not be ignored. Without Chloe Hosking in China, Leth may get
an opportunity for herself.
Oxana Kozonchuk
Finished 7th overall last year after taking third on the
opening stage and backed that up with 9th in the World Cup.
Took stages and finished 4th overall in the smaller Tour de
Bretagne Féminin and Tour Féminin en Limousin.
Other names to watch: Kim de Baat, Emilie Moberg, Cecilie
Gotaas, Roxane Fournier, Pascale Jeuland, Inga Cilvinaite and
Annalisa Cucinotta. |
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