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Ladies Tour of Qatar
Preview |
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The Ladies Tour of Qatar is first
big race of the year on the UCI women's calendar and the first
race of the year for most professionals other than the
Australian's and the few who make the trip to Argentina.
Kirsten Wild has dominated the event, winning four of the six
editions. With her focus turning towards the track and with
the World Championships in the middle of February she doesn't
return to defend. There is no shortage of sprinters on the
start line through.
2014 Recap
Stage 1 - Kirsten Wild
Stage 2 - Amy Pieters
Stage 3 - Kirsten Wild
Stage 4 - Kirsten Wild
General Classification
1 Kirsten Wild
2 Amy Pieters +22
3 Chloe Hosking +36
4 Emma Johansson +50
5 Trixi Worrack +1:02
6 Melissa Hoskins +1:06
7 Jolien D'Hoore +1:44
8 Elena Cecchini +1:55
9 Tiffany Cromwell +2:03
10 Iris Slappendel +2:31
As they have since the team started Orica-AIS tore the race
apart in the crosswinds. Kirsten Wild won the sprint from a
select group of 20.
The second stage saw much the same with a group of around 20
escaping under the crosswinds before several riders escaped
late in the stage. Amy Pieters took the stage ahead of Anna
Van der Breggen, Charlotte Becker and Inga Cilvinaite. Wild
won the bunch sprint 27" back but lost the race lead to
teammate Amy Pieters.
Crosswinds again saw the race split with Orica-AIS again the
driving factor. Kirsten Wild took the stage win from a select
group and regained the lead due to bonus seconds.
A large group of 40 riders contested the finish with Wild
making it three stage wins ahead of Giorgia Bronzini and
Melissa Hoskins.
Past Winners
2014 Kirsten Wild
2013 Kirsten Wild
2012 Judith Arndt
2011 Ellen Van Dijk
2010 Kirsten Wild
2009 Kirsten Wild
The Route
For those unfamiliar with the race four stages with pan flat
roads. Crosswinds on the open desert roads are what makes the
race. The big teams especially those without a pure sprinter
will take advantage of every opportunity to split the race.
Stage 1 - Museum of Islamic Art - Dukhan Beach (98km)
Sprint 1 - 28km
Sprint 2 - 69km
Stage 2 - Al Zubarah Fort - Madinat Al Shamal (112km)
Sprint 1 - 72km
Sprint 2 - 99km
Stage 3 - Souq Waqif - Al Khor Corniche (93km)
Sprint 1 - 44km
Sprint 2 - 63km
Stage 4 - Sealine Beach Resort - Doha Corniche (101km)
Sprint 1 - 38km
Sprint 2 - 90km
The Contenders
Start list available
here
Liv-Plantur
Amy Pieters
Pieters had a very strong season in 2014 and it all started
with her stage win here. Her stage win came from a late attack
but Pieters is also very quick on the line. Won the first
European race of the year Omloop Het Nieuwsblad a month later.
Those were her only two wins but had 17 other top 10 finishes
all while on the same team as Kirsten Wild. This year without
Wild on the team expect her to have more opportunities.
Lucy Garner
The 20 year old dual Junior World Champion went without a win
last year despite five podiums and 11 top 10 finishes. With
Kirsten Wild having left the team the door is open for Garner
to step in to the role of the teams top sprinter. Liv-Plantur
might have last years runner up on the team but when it comes
to a sprint on flat Garner has a faster finish.
Wiggle Honda
Giorgia Bronzini
Bronzini has often started the season slowly but for the
second year she has started her season in January. In 2014
picked up three stages at the Bay Crits, this year it was only
one, though she added another win at the Santos Women's Tour.
The former dual World Champion is one of the top sprinters in
the world and without Kirsten Wild in the race Bronzini is the
name to beat.
Chloe Hosking
The Australian sprinter was left without a team when her
contract with Hitec was not renewed but was eventually picked
up by Wiggle Honda. One of the few people in the world to have
beaten Kirsten Wild in a sprint, over the past few years when
she won EPZ Omloop van Borsele in 2014. Started 2014 on a
strong note winning the opening stage and the overall at Bay
Crits. With the sprint depth on the team might have to support
others.
Jolien d'Hoore
D'Hoore stepped up to another level on both the track and road
in 2014. Claimed five wins last year including the Belgium
Championships for a total of 15 podium finishes. Has a very
quick finish and is certainly one who could challenge for not
just stage but the overall wins. Won the opening round of the
Track World Cup in Guadalajara and with the Track World
Championships in the middle of February her form should be
nearing peak.
Orica-AIS
The team comes without a pure sprinter with Melissa Hoskins
focused solely on the track. That has been the case the past
few years but the team always performs here. Orica-AIS have
won the team classification the past two years. If there is
one certainty heading in to the race that is at the fist sign
of a cross wind Orica-AIS will take advantage of it.
Emma Johansson
Former world number one Emma Johansson may prove to be the
teams best option. Johansson finished sixth in 2013 and fourth
last year in her first two seasons with the team. While
Johansson is not a pure sprinter her finish is quick enough to
be in contention. If Orica-AIS succeeds in splitting the race
in select groups Johansson will be even more dangerous. One of
the few riders who rides the entire season and is winning from
start to finish.
Valentina Scandolara is a rider on form having won the Santos
Women's Tour winning the opening stage and finishing third in
the final stage criterium. Gracie Elvin has finished fourth
here before and after missing out on defending her Australian
title will look to pick up a win early. Loes Gunnewijk and
Amanda Spratt both have quick finishes as well.
Lizzie Armitstead
Armitstead stepped up to another level winning the World Cup
series and the Commonwealth Games road race. Another rider who
is not a pure sprinter but can be in the mix in finishes like
this. Backed by a very strong Boels Dolmans team that includes
Chantal Blaak, Christine Majerus, Ellen Van Dijk and junior
World Champion Amalie Dideriksen. Was caught out with
crosswinds last year and cost her a strong overall finish.
Velocio-Sram
Since the retirement of Ina-Yoko Teutenberg the team has been
without a sprinter. The recruitment of Barbara Guarischi now
gives the team an option to be competitive in bunch sprints.
Barbara Guarischi
Guarischi was consistent across the entire season with top
10's in Qatar in February to Premondiale Giro Toscana in
September. Picked up stage wins at La Route de France and
Trophée d'Or Féminin and just under 30 top 10 finishes. If
Guarischi can turn some of the 17 top five finishes in to wins
now she is backed by a strong team she will become one of the
top sprinters in the sport. Her quick finish combined with the
strength of the team makes her a name to watch.
Loren Rowney
Had a difficult start to last season with glandular fever but
things turned around in the second half with a stage win at
Tour de l'Ardèche. Not a pure sprinter but has a quick finish
and was around the mark at the Santos Women's Tour, finishing
third overall. Likely to lead out Guarischi but in the right
situation will be dangerous herself.
The German time trial and road race champion Lisa Brennauer
took 12 victories in 2014 including the World title in the
individual and team time trial plus a narrow second in the
road race. Brennauer's all round ability makes her dangerous
both in a support role for Guarischi and herself if the
opportunity arises. Trixi Worrack finished fifth last year and
combined with Tiffany Cromwell and Alena Amialiusik the team
has a formidable lead out train and strength to split the
race.
Elena Cecchini
The Italian Championships were the only win of the year for
Elena Cecchini despite a very consistent year including 21 top
10 finishes including second at the Tour of Chongming Island
World Cup. Started her season in Argentina taking seventh in
the Gran Prix San Luis Femenino and four top 10 finishes at
the Tour Femenino de San Luis. A quick finish thanks to her
time on the track is likely to be challenging for the top 10
again.
Shelley Olds
Olds finished second on the opening stage last year before
being caught out in the crosswinds on stage two. Took wins
throughout 2014 at Vuelta Internacional Femenina a Costa Rica,
GP Comune di Cornaredo, Winston-Salem Cycling Classic and
Premondiale Giro Toscana and three podiums at the Giro Rosa. A
pure sprinter who has the speed to be challenging the likes of
Giorgia Bronzini for the win.
Marta Tagliaferro
A strong sprinter but inconsistent. Finished ninth here in
2013 after four top five finishes plus numerous strong
performances in Europe. Ninth at the Tour of Chongming Island
and second at Tour of Zhoushan Island last year. If
Tagliaferro manages to make the splits could put in a strong
performance.
Lauren Kitchen
Has played a support role for the past few years and after a
quiet 2014 will be looking to continue 2015 on a strong note.
2015 started with second overall and two podiums at the Bay
Crits. Kitchen them claimed bronze in the Australian criterium
championships before taking ninth in the road race. A quick
finisher but lacks the pure finishing speed of others.
Leach Kirchmann
Spends most of her time racing in North America but when she
does race against the big professional peloton in Europe
always performs well. The triple Canadian Champion won the
White Spot / Delta Road Race, finished third at La Course and
eighth at the Commonwealth Games.
Kimberley Wells
A 2014 to forget with illness and injury forcing her to miss
most of the season including her time in Europe with
Futuroscope. Wells won the Noosa, Stan Siejka Cycling Classic
and Shimano Super Crit criteriums at the end of 2014 before
regaining her national criterium title in January this year. A
name that may not be overly familiar to many outside of
Australia but Wells packs a very quick finish. As long as she
doesn't get caught out in any splits could well pull off a
stage win and challenge for the overall.
Other names to watch: Chantal Blaak, Amalie Dideriksen and
Ellen Van Dijk, Tiffany Cromwell, Lucina Brand, Soline
Lamboley, Joelle Numainville, Brianna Walle and Kendelle
Hodges. |
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