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GP de Plouay-Bretagne
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The final round of the UCI
Women's World Cup GP de Plouay-Bretagne is not only a race for
the win but the overall World Cup is still up for grabs.
Jolien D'hoore leads the series by six points but is not
racing to defend the series lead. Anna Van der Breggen is
sitting just six points behind D'hoore, while Lizzie
Armitstead is in third 21 points behind her Van der Breggen.
Elisa Longo Borghini is fourth and if things go right could
still take the title.
World Cup Rankings
1 Jolien D'HOORE 391
2 Anna VAN DER BREGGEN 385
3 Elizabeth ARMITSTEAD 364
4 Elisa LONGO BORGHINI 320
5 Lucinda BRAND 297
6 Alena AMIALIUSIK 255
7 Giorgia BRONZINI 230
8 Annemiek VAN VLEUTEN 226
9 Elena CECCHINI 182
10 Pauline FERRAND PREVOT 175
2014 Results
1 Lucinda BRAND
2 Marianne VOS +56
3 Pauline FERRAND PREVOT +56
4 Rossella RATTO +56
5 Anna VAN DER BREGGEN +56
6 Emma JOHANSSON +56
7 Elisa LONGO BORGHINI +56
8 Elizabeth ARMITSTEAD +56
9 Alena AMIALIUSIK +56
10 Tiffany CROMWELL +56
Past Winners
2014 - Lucina Brand
2013 - Marianne Vos
2012 - Marianne Vos
2011 - Annemiek van Vleuten
2010 - Emma Pooley
2009 - Emma Pooley
2008 - Fabiana Luperini
2007 - Noemi Cantele
2006 - Nicole Brandli
2005 - Noemi Cantele
2004 - Edita Pucinskaite
2003 - Nicole Cooke
2002 - Regina Schleicher
The Route
4 laps of the longer 26.9 kilometre circuit before a final
shorter circuit of 13.9 kilometres over part of the opening
circuit.
The Contenders
Start list available
here
Rabo Liv
The team dominated last year with Lucinda Brand taking a solo
win and Marianne Vos and Pauline Ferrand-Prevot making it a
clean sweep of the podium. Rabo bring a strong team including
defending champion Lucinda Brand, World Champion Pauline
Ferrand-Prevot and the rider of the season Anna Van der
Breggen. Kasia Niewiadoma, Roxane Knetemann and Shara Gillow
add considerable firepower.
Despite having defending champion Brand it is likely the team
will ride for Van der Breggen who has the World Cup overall
rankings in her grasp. It takes just six points for her to
take the title assuming she can hold off Lizzie Armitstead by
20 points. The undulating course is a good one for Van der
Breggen who has proven all but unstoppable over all terrain
this year. With a number of steep sections including the Cote
de Ty Marrec with around four kilometres to go. Van der
Breggen has proven if she is given even the smallest gap she
can time trial to the finish.
Lucinda Brand, the Dutch Champion also comes in with good
form, two stages at the Giro Rosa, second Sparkassen Giro and
fourth Vargarda World Cup last weekend. In the event of a
select group sprint Brand will be a name to watch but could
just as easily go on the attack. European Champion Katarzyna
Niewiadoma is another rider who can go well on this undulating
course.
Emma Johansson and Orica-AIS
Johansson is in her final World Cup race with Orica-AIS before
moving to Wiggle in 2016. A three time podium finisher, mostly
recently second in 2013. The course is one that suits
Johansson with several steep sections for her attacking riding
style. With her sprint not as competitive this year expect to
see her even more aggressive than normal.
Johansson is joined by the on form Rachel Neylan who won the
Trophée d'Or Féminin earlier this week and seems to be back to
her 2012 World Championship silver medallist form. Amanda
Spratt has had a strong second half of the season finishing
third at Internationale Thüringen Rundfahrt and fourth Ladies
tour of Norway. Katrin Garfoot is another option for the team.
Lizzie Armitstead and Boels Dolmans
As with most races Boels Dolmans brings a team with multiple
cards to play. Defending World Cup Champion Lizzie Armitstead
has already won two World Cups this season and is just 27
points off D'hoore and 21 behind Van der Breggen. Few in the
race will be able to out sprint Armitstead and these short
sharp climbs are where she is at her best. With a second
overall World Cup title within her reach expect Armitstead to
give it everything.
Megan Guarnier has had a highly successful season winning
Strade Bianche, US National Championship and the Ladies tour
of Norway earlier this month. Generally thought of as a
climber but her performances in select finishes this year has
shown her sprinting has improved.
Christine Majerus and Evelyn Stevens present two other options
for the team. In the past they have allowed their riders to
attack and follow moves knowing that if it comes back together
Lizzie Armitstead has had an easy ride for a sprint.
Carlee Taylor and Jessie Daams
Lotto Soudal's climbing duo will be looking to continue their
success of recent weeks. Carlee Taylor comes in to the race
after finishing fourth at La Route de France and fourth at
Trophée d'Or Féminin. The shorter climbs are less suited to
Taylor but with the form she is on expect to see Taylor put in
plenty of attacks trying to get away.
Jessie Daams is another option for the team and comes in after
finishing 10th at La Route de France. Together with Taylor the
duo are likely to be aggressive and try and ease the pressure
on Elena Cecchini who could produce a good result in a reduced
bunch sprint.
Ashleigh Moolman
The South African Champion comes in having finished in the top
20 the past four years. After her best season to date Moolman
will be looking to improve on that. After winning Auensteiner-
Radsporttage, finishing second at Euskal Emakumeen Bira and
fourth at the Giro Rosa Moolman has taken another step up this
year. Strong on this sort of undulating terrain and also packs
a reasonably quick finish.
Wiggle Honda
With World Cup leader Jolien D'hoore focusing on the World
Championships the team has to look elsewhere and they bring a
team more than capable of taking another world cup victory in
2015. Elisa Longo Borghini has had an excellent season winning
Ronde van Vlaanderen and more recently La Route de France. In
the right circumstances Longo Borghini can still take the
overall win. Seventh last year but has finished on the podium
in the past.
Japanese Champion Mayuko Hagiwara is a rider who could
surprise. Has had a fantastic season winning a stage of the
Giro Rosa and Tour de Bretagne. Will likely play a supporting
role but if she is given any room could again spring a
surprise.
Other names to watch: Lauren Stephens, Joelle Numainville,
Eugenia Bujak, Jesse Walker, Elise Delzenne, Amber Neben and
Claudia Lichtenberg. |
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