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Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria
Preview |
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As the season heads towards the
Giro Rosa the races start to get harder and involved a lot
more climbing. A week of racing in Spain starts with the one
day Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria. Marianne Vos has won four
of the last five editions of the race but is not bad to make
it win number five due to injury. She may never have won the
race but it is a special one for Emma Johansson. The Basque
Country is where Johansson started her career and has been on
the podium five times here.
2014 Results
1 Marianne VOS
2 Elizabeth ARMITSTEAD +0
3 Emma JOHANSSON +0
4 Anna VAN DER BREGGEN +17
5 Elisa LONGO BORGHINI +19
6 Annemiek VAN VLEUTEN +27
7 Katarzyna PAWLOWSKA +28
8 Ashleigh MOOLMAN +28
9 Trixi WORRACK +28
10 Rossella RATTO +28
Past Winners
2014 - Marianne Vos
2013 - Marianne Vos
2012 - Emma Pooley
2011 - Marianne Vos
2010 - Marianne Vos
2009 - Noemi Cantele
2008 - No Race
2007 - Edita Pucinskaite
2006 - Susanne Ljungskog
2005 - Mirjam Melchers
2004 - Joane Somarriba
2003 - Joane Somarriba
2002 - Joane Somarriba
2001 - Sara Felloni
The Route
The 110 kilometre race starts with four laps just to the south
east of the Durango. The four laps of a 17.8km circuit that
includes the Alto de Miota climb that tops out nine and a half
kilometres in to the lap. The first half of the lap is
climbing with the second all downhill.
After completing the opening four laps the peloton heads back
to Durango and heads north for a long finishing loop that
includes the Alto de Montekalbo and Alto de Muniketagane. Both
are short and steep and categorised cat two. Over the top of
the Alto de Muniketagane there is a quick descent back in to
the finish in Durango.
The Contenders
Start list available
here
Emma Johansson
Despite not having won the race Johansson is never far from
victory here. In the past six years Johansson has been on the
podium in five of the six, with the other occasion a still
impressive seventh. It has been a difficult year for Johansson
and Orica-AIS but things are starting to turn around. They
come in off a high of two victories and Johansson is also
returning to her best after a broken collarbone. Johansson is
back by a very strong team of climbers and punchers including
Valentina Scandolara, Amanda Spratt, Lizzie Williams, Rachel
Neylan and Katrin Garfoot.
It will be an important test to see how former World
Championship silver medallist Rachel Neylan is riding. If she
is on the form she was several years ago expect to see her
with the best and a key support for Emma Johansson. Katrtin
Garfoot, Amanda Spratt and Valentina Scandolara are all punchy
riders who can handle the climbs and still pack a quick
finish. With the options the team has expect to see them send
riders up the road to split the race and take the pressure off
Johansson.
Boels Dolmans
Boels Dolmans bring their usually strong squad and come in
fresh off winning the Parx Casino Philly Cycling Classic on
the weekend with Lizzie Armitstead. While Armitstead is not
racing two of the riders who helped her to that success are.
Evelyn Stevens and Megan Guarnier both come in with good form
and in to a race that is suited to them. The American duo
finished sixth and 14th respectively at the Philly Cycling
Classic.
Stevens has finished on the podium in the past with third in
2013. While Guarnier will have the opportunity to wear the US
national champions jersey for the first time in Europe and
when the road starts to climb she is one of the best. Not
generally thought of as a sprinter but managed to outsprinted
the quick Coryn Rivera to with the US Championships after a
hard day.
Former time trial World Champion Ellen Van Dijk should not be
discounted either. On paper it might not seem like the
absolute best route for her but the past three years have see
her finish 10th, 7th and 11th in a sign she can go well here.
Anna Van der Breggan
Anna Van der Breggan is one of the best all rounders in the
peloton and has already taken six wins this year including La
Flèche Wallonne. Finished fourth last year after losing
contact with Vos, Armitstead and Johansson in the closing
stages. Van der Breggan climbs very well and can sprint well
from a select group. Hasn't raced since the start of May so
how her form is going is a question but is likely to be one of
the strongest on the climb. Will likely need to distance the
likes of Johansson is she wants to win a sprint.
Carlee Taylor and Jessie Daams
Lotto Soudal bring their two climbers who could both spring a
surprise. Daams finished 12th last year and despite some
injury issues earlier in the season comes in with some very
good form. At the end of May Daams finished 11th at Boels
Rental Hills Classic and 19th at Gooik-Geraardsbergen-Gooik
before picking up 14th overall at Auensteiner- Radsporttage.
Taylor climbs well and has finished 16th at Strade Bianche and
La Flèche Wallonne both hilly races. Taylor often spends a
little too much time on the front early but if she can sit
back with Daams they could produce a strong result.
Other names to watch: Elena Cecchini, Rossella Ratto and
Katarzyna Niewiadoma. |
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