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Festival Luxembourgeois Elsy
Jacobs
Preview |
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First held in 2008 as a one day
race known as the Grand Prix Elsy Jacobs before becoming a UCI
race the following year. In 2012 the format changed to a stage
race, it remains today as the Festival Luxembourgeois du
cyclisme féminin Elsy Jacobs. Anna Van der Breggan took the
win last year and returns looking to defend.
As always it is a strong field and the top teams Rabo, Orica-AIS Wiggle Honda and Bigla all bring teams with
three or four riders capable of a very strong performance
here.
You might be wondering about the name. Elsy Jacobs was the
first winner of the Women's Road Race at the World
Championships in 1958.
2014
Defending Champion Marianne Vos won the opening prologue and
with everyone watching Vos teammate Anna Van der Breggan went
on the attack and with no chase coming Van der Breggan took a
solo win by over one minute. Vos made it a Rabo triple winning
the final stage, while Van der Breggan finished safely in the
peloton to take the overall win.
Prologue - Marianne VOS
Stage 1 - Anna VAN DER BREGGAN
Stage 2 - Marianne VOS
1 Anna VAN DER BREGGEN
2 Marianne VOS +1:05
3 Shelley OLDS +1:14
4 Eleonora VAN DIJK +1:19
5 Pauline FERRAND PREVOT +1:21
6 Thalita DE JONG +1:21
7 Emma JOHANSSON +1:22
8 Amy PIETERS +1:23
9 Megan GUARNIER +1:23
10 Elke GEBHARDT +1:24
Past Winners
2014 - Anna Van der Breggen
2013 - Marianne Vos
2012 - Marianne Vos
2011 - Marianne Vos
2010 - Marianne Vos
2009 - Svetlana Bubnenkova
2008 - Monia Baccaille
The Route
A few minor changes in the route for 2015 with the opening
prologue (time trial) being extended to 5.6km up from 2.6. The
longer distance will create larger gaps in the general
classification and are likely to prove crucial in the final
general classification.
The first road stage remains the same as last year with an
opening 53.6km loop that includes the first GPM of the race at
the 40.8km mark. The first part of the loop is a slow descent
before flattening out and climbing back towards the start of
the finishing circuits. The climb back to the start of the
finishing circuits will start to test the legs even before the
undulating circuits start. The two GPM points are on lap two
and four.
Stage three is similar to last year but has been changed
slightly. An opening nine kilometre loop that has riders start
climbing almost from the start. From here there is a 54.1km
circuit that starts with a brief climb before a long downhill
run of around 30 kilometres. With just over 50km completed the
road starts climbing with the first GPM coming after 61.7km.
The finishing circuit has been reduced to four laps from five.
The final GPM points come on lap two and three.
There are bonus seconds available at the finish line of 10-6-4
for the top three finishers.
The Contenders
Start list available
here
Rabo
To pick out one or two contenders from Rabo is difficult when
the entire team is very capable of challenging for the win
here. Anna Van der Breggan is the defending champion after
taking a solo win on the opening road stage by over one
minute. Has had a strong season so far winning Omloop Het
Nieuwsblad, the prologue and final road stage at the
Energiewacht Tour before winning Flèche Wallonne. Has also
been on the podium at Trofeo Alfredo Binda and Ronde van
Vlaanderen. On great form at the moment and knows what it
takes to win here.
The team also had three other riders who finishes in the top
10 last year and
Lucinda Brand just one spot outside in 11th. Both
Ferrand-Prevot are Brand return and are capable of good
results. They can put in solid performances against the clock
and without a big name sprinter the team is likely to be
aggressive on the road stages.
Australian time trial champion Shara Gillow is one of the best
against the clock but prefers a longer distance. Didn't appear
to be on the bst form at EPZ Omloop van Borsele time trial
last week, finishing more than two minutes off the win. Katarzyna
Niewiadoma rounds out the team and is another to keep an eye
on. With the depth they bring here and the undulating nature
of the course perfectly suited to the team. They can put in
attack after attack and force others to spend energy chasing
them down.
Emma Johansson and Orica-AIS
Orica-AIS has not had the start to the season they would have
like but things look to be starting to turn around. Emma
Johansson broke her collarbone at Novilon Eurocup but returned
just over two weeks later and finished an impressive 13th at
Ronde van Vlaanderen. Backed up by finished 10th at Fleche
Wallone. Clearly coming in to good form despite the forced
break from racing with injury and is likely to be in better
form here. Johansson is very strong in the shorter time trials
and is likely to be challenging for the win.
Commonwealth Games time trial bronze medallist and Oceania
Champion Katrin Garfoot showed she is also coming in to form
and if she can produce a strong time trial here will be
another fighting for the win. The short distance doesn't suit
her but could still go well. Expect to see her on the attack
on the road stages. Track World Champion Melissa Hoskins could
likewise produce a strong result here. Would prefer a shorter
2-3km prologue but the distance is till within her.
After a difficult season Amanda Spratt has returned to form
and can produce a strong ride against the clock especially
over this sort of distance. Lizzie Williams is largely
untested at this level but the course and time trial suit her.
Likewise Italian Valentina Scandolara shouldn't be discounted.
Christine Majerus
The team only brings four riders but the Champion of Luxembourg Christine Majerus is in very good
form right now and has finished in the top 10 here before.
After a solid classics campaign finished top 10 in every stage
and third overall at the Energiewacht Tour. Most impressive
was here prologue result, finishing fifth. A longer test here
and often inconsistent against the clock but with the form she
is on could remain in contention.
It will be interesting to see how Junior World Champion Amalie
Dideriksen performs.
Audrey Cordon
Cordon has had a strong season with a win at Cholet Pays de
Loire Dames. Fell ill before Ronde van Vlaanderen but could
challenge for a strong result here. Her Wiggle Honda squad has
cancelled its participation at Ronde van Overijssel due to
illness within the team.
The course is good for Cordon who does well on undulating
terrain. If she can perform well in the short time trial will
be in contention. Finished second overall and third in the ITT
at the Tour de Bretagne Féminin last year. While the
competition here is much higher it is a sign of what she is
capable of.
Lotto Soudal
The team may not have an outright favourite but they have
riders who could surprise. The underrated Jessie Daams has
just returned from injury and finished a respectable 34th at
Fleche Wallonne. Was Lotto's top finished last year in 14th,
missing the top 10 by three seconds. Two other top 2
performances in the past. Still returning from injury but is
very consistent.
The same goes for Carlee Taylor, another underrated rider who
often rides in support of others but when she gets an
opportunity for herself posts a strong result. 17th in 2012
and 24th last year. The road stages suit her and can ride a
strong TT.
In Amy Cure and Elena Cecchini the team has two strong
sprinters who can climb well. Cure is one of the best in the
world in the individual pursuit and the opening time trial is
slightly longer it is still an ideal distance for Cure. A
strong time trial and the potential to challenge for bonus
seconds. Cecchini is a rider on the rise packs a quick finish
and prefers a hard course to get the best result.
Liv Plantur
Last year Amy Pieters finished a strong eighth overall thanks
in part to a strong opening prologue. At nearly six kilometres
though it will be a hard ask for Pieters to repeat that
performance. Eight top 10 finishes in 2015 including second at
Boels Rental Ronde van Drenthe. In Floortje Mackaij and
Sabrina Stultiens the team has two young and in form riders
who could go well.
Ann-Sophie Duyck
The increased distanced against the clock will help the
chances of the Belgium TT Champion. One of the best in the
world against the clock and fifth place finisher at the World
Championships last year. Would probably prefer a longer
distance but if she can finish in the top five in the TT is
likely to maintain a strong finish overall.
Annemiek Van Vleuten and Bigla
Annemiek Van Vleuten is a prologue specialist and has twice
won the test against the clock here, though that was when the
distance was around two kilometres. Taking the win over the
longer distance is not out of the question but will be a
harder task. As long as she limits her losses Van Vleuten can
still challenge for the win. Is on some of the best form we
have seen for years as evidenced by her second place finish at
Flèche Wallonne
Ashleigh Moolman and Shelley Olds are both names to keep an
eye on. The increased distance against the clock is a
disadvantage for Olds but if she can limit her losses then
with bonus seconds could bring herself back in to contention
for a top 10 or top 5 finish. Finished third last year off the
back of her strength against the clock over a short distance.
Moolman was in good form at Flèche Wallonne finishing fourth
but again the biggest test will be the time trial.
Other names to watch: Valentina Scandolara, Giorgia Bronzini,
Sofie De Vuyst, Elinor Barker, Christina Siggaard and Janneke
Ensing. |
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