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Trofeo Alfredo Binda-Comune di
Cittiglio
Preview |
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The Women's World Cup continues
with Trofeo Alfredo Binda-Comune di Cittiglio. While the race
has been held since 1974 it is a relatively new round of the
World Cup joining in 2008. Where the Ronde van Drenthe was a
sprinter friendly course Trofeo Alfredo Binda is anything but.
Last year eventual winner Elisa Longo Borghini escaped with
Amanda Spratt and the duo built up a substantial lead. Emma
Johansson and Ellen van Dijk sensing the danger attacked from
the peloton in an attempt to bridge across. On the final lap
of the finishing circuit Longo Borghini distanced Spratt who
had been caught by the chasing duo. Longo Borghini had enough
of an advantage to hold on with Johansson beating van Dijk in
a two up sprint 1'44" down for 2nd and 3rd while Spratt held
on for 4th place. The main group including World Champion
Marianne Vos crossed the finish line nearly two and a half
minutes back.
The Course
Profile and close up of the finish available
here.
The race starts in Laveno Mombello and after 17.6km reaches
the row of Cittiglio. The race then starts a large 37.7km loop
that contains the two sprint points and the first climb of the
day. The sprint points both containing points for the World
Cup Sprint Classification come at 23.2km and 30.4km. The
second sprint point marks the end of the mostly flat roads for
the day. The road starts to climb immediately after the first
sprint with the first GPM point coming at 34.4km. From here
the large loop undulated for the next 10-13km before a 8km
downhill run back in to Cittiglio.
From here riders face four laps of a hard 17.1km finishing
circuit. The main feature of the finishing circuit is the
Orino climb just over 9km in to the lap. Over the top of the
climb there is a 7.6km mostly downhill run in to the finish.
The final 400m are uphill.
The Contenders
Start list available
here.
Elisa Longo Borghini
Took the biggest win of her career here last year and will
hope to repeat that. A very strong climber who will look to
drop riders and escape on the Orino climb. Finished 2nd and
4th at Emakumeen Euskal Bira and Giro del Trentino
respectively last year in a sign of her strength on the
climbs. Has had a strong start to the season with 8th at Le
Samyn des Dames and 10th at Omloop van het Hageland. Last
weekend finished 3rd at Cholet Pays de Loire Dames after
escaping with eventual winner Emma Johansson in the closing
stages before just being caught on the line.
Emma Johansson
The Queen of Consistency is back and with her eyes on a World
Cup win. Has had her usual strong start to the season taking
4th in Qatar as well as top 8 in all 7 one day races she has
ridden. Of those seven races five have been podium finishes
including victory at le Samyn and Cholet Pays de Loire Dames.
Johansson has finished 2nd three times including last year and
third once. One of the fastest finishes in the peloton and is
at home on short climbs expect to see an aggressive race from
Orica-AIS after they were largely absent at Ronde van Drenthe.
Ashleigh Moolman
The multiple South African National and African Continental
Champion in both the time trial and road race has had a strong
start to the year. As well as taking out both titles at
Nationals finished 8th in her opening European race of the
season at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Followed that up with 2nd at
Le Samyn four days later. A very strong climber and in the
hilliest race of the season so far expect to see Moolman come
in to her own. With the defending champion on the team may be
forced in to a supporting role.
Ellen van Dijk
After a delayed start to the year with illness van Dijk has
been back to her best. Of her six races so far has finished in
the top 14 in all but one. Her best result is 4th at Le Samyn
but also took a strong 7th in the fist round of the World Cup
Ronde van Drenthe. Finished 3rd last year after making a move
to try and bridge across to the break with Emma Johansson. The
duo caught and passed Amanda Spratt but couldn't catch Longo
Borghini.
Anna van der Breggen
The 23 year old spent two years at Sengers and when the team
folded joined Rabobank. A strong all rounder who is at her
best when the road starts to go up. Took 6 top 10 finishes in
stage races last year including the hilly Emakumeen Euskal
Bira and Trophée d'Or Féminin. Was part of a late two rider
move with teammate Annemiek Van Vleuten at the Ronde van
Drenthe World cup and only a charging Lizzie Armitstead was
able to bridge across and beat her in the sprint. Finished 9th
last year.
Annemiek van Vleuten
Was the overall World Cup series winner in 2011 and is now in
her 3rd year on Rabo. One of the most consistent riders in the
peloton who more often than not finds herself in the top 10 in
both stage and one day races. Started her year off with 9th at
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and then 6th at Omloop van het Hageland.
Was part of a late two rider move at Ronde van Drenthe before
losing contact in the closing kilometres but still finished a
strong 5th. Finished 7th last year.
Amanda Spratt
An often underrated rider but Spratty as she is know is a very
strong all rounder. A consistent rider but with Emma Johansson
on the team her results often go unnoticed. Started the year
strongly with 7th in the TT and 5th (won by teammate Gracie
Elvin) in the Road Race at the Nationals and took 8th at
Omloop van het Hageland. The 2012 National Champion had a
solid year last year with 6th at Internationale Thüringen
Rundfahrt, 8th Festival Luxembourgeois Elsy Jacobs and a
strong 23rd at the Giro Rosa. Was part of a two rider break
but lost contact with eventual winner Longo Borghini on the
final lap but held on to finish 4th.
Chantal Blaak
After a quiet start in Qatar and Belgium on home roads in the
Netherlands Blaak has been one of the most consistent riders.
Attacked the peloton in the closing kilometres at Molecaten
Drentse 8 and held off the chase to take the first win of the
year for Specialized-lululemon. Made the main group at Ronde
van Drenthe and finished 2nd in the sprint for 4th overall.
Tried a late attack again at Novilon EDR Cup and finished 5th.
Took 13th last weekend at the GP Comune di Cornaredo in a race
that didn't exactly suit her. Won the bunch sprint last year
ahead of Marianne Vos to take 5th.
Tiffany Cromwell
After making the decision to leave Orica-AIS for more
opportunities for herself Cromwell has already shown
improvement. Just missed the podium at the National
Championships in 4th. Took 9th in Qatar and while she missed
out on defending her Omloop Het Nieuwsblad title still
finished a strong 7th. Was outsprinting sprinters at the Bay
Crits in early January and that has continued taking 2nd ahead
of former World Champion Giorgia Bronzini at GP Comune di
Cornaredo last weekend.
Linda Villumsen
When on good form Villumsen is one of the best climbers in the
women's peloton. Took Silver in both the Road Race and Time
Trial at the New Zealand National Championships in early
January. Her first race in Europe for the year was the GP
Comune di Cornaredo. With her Wiggle-Honda squad having been
absent from the action in nearly every race this year and on a
course that suits her expect to see a strong ride from
Villumsen.
Claudia Haussler
Another top climber, Haussler spent 2012 with Orica-AIS and
then 2013 with Tibco To The Top. Finds herself back on one of
the biggest teams in the World with Giant-Shimano. Won the
Giro Donne in 2009 in a sign of her climbing strength and has
finished top 10 in four of the past five years. Has been quiet
so far but with a race that suits her style expect to see her
in the action.
Alena Amialiusik
Finished 10th overall in the Giro Rosa last year and has had a
strong start to the year in South America. Won a stage and
finished 3rd overall at Vuelta Internacional Femenina a Costa
Rica, Finished 2nd and 6th in the first two one day races in
El Salvador and won the final race - Grand Prix el Salvador.
Finished off with two stages and 2nd overall at Vuelta a El
Salvador. The competition here is much greater but a strong
result is still likely. Finished 17th last year.
Rossella Ratto
In her first year as a professional last year finished 12th at
the Giro Rosa and rounded out the podium behind the two
biggest names in women's cycling at the World Championships.
Has yet to race in 2014 so her form is unknown. Finished 8th
here last year.
Other names to watch: Audrey Cordon, Lizzie Armitstead, Shara Gillow and Carlee Taylor, Christine Majerus,
Lucinda Brand, Carmen Small, Evelyn Stevens and Katrin
Garfoot. |
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