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La Flèche Wallonne Féminine
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The opening three World Cup
rounds delivered wins by Jolien D'hoore, Lizzie Armitstead and
Elisa Longo Borghini. La Flèche Wallonne Féminine is by far
the hardest of the races and both Lizzie Armitstead and Elisa
Longo Borghini will be gunning for a second World Cup victory
in 2015. Defending champion and now World Champion Pauline
Ferrand-Prevot will also line up in an attempt to defend her
title. 2012 winner Evelyn Stevens is also on the start list.
Five time winner Marianne Vos will not however be making it
number six.
2014 Results
1 Pauline FERRAND PREVOT
2 Elizabeth ARMITSTEAD +1
3 Elisa LONGO BORGHINI +4
4 Evelyn STEVENS +7
5 Ashleigh MOOLMAN +11
6 Marianne VOS +13
7 Emma POOLEY +13
8 Linda VILLUMSEN +21
9 Claudia HAUSLER +24
10 Eleonora VAN DIJK +28
Past Winners
2014 - Pauline Ferrand-Prevot
2013 - Marianne Vos
2012 - Evelyn Stevens
2011 - Marianne Vos
2010 - Emma Pooley
2009 - Marianne Vos
2008 - Marianne Vos
2007 - Marianne Vos
2006 - Nicole Cooke
2005 - Nicole Cooke
2004 - Sonia Huguet
2003 - Nicole Cooke
2002 - Fabiana Luperini
2001 - Fabiana Luperini
2000 - Geneviève Jeanson
1999 - Hanka Kupfernagel
1998 - Fabiana Luperini
The Route
Two laps of a hilly circuit that finished on the famous Mur de
Huy. The opening lap features four climbs starting with the
Côte d'Ereffe after just twelve kilometres before the Côte de
Bellaire at the 31km mark. Unlike last yere where there was
four climbs in quick succession after this, this year there is
the Côte de Bohissau after 39.5km before the first passage of
the Mur de Huy after 57.5km on the first lap. Much of the
second lap is the same as the first but with five and a half
kilometres to go riders must tackle the 1.3 kilometre long
Côte de Cherave with an average gradient of 8.1% Over the top
there is a quick descent before a short run in to the Mur de
Huy. While the average gradient of the 1.3km climb is 9.6% it
reaches a maximum of 26%.
List of Climbs
12.0km - Côte d'Ereffe 2.1km at 5%
31.0km - Côte de Bellaire 1km at 6.3%
39.5km - Côte de Bohissau 2.4km at 5.5%
57.5km - Mur de Huy 1.3km at 9.6%
70.0km - Côte d'Ereffe 2.1km at 5%
89.5km - Côte de Bellaire 1km at 6.3%
97.5km - Côte de Bohissau 2.4km at 5.5%
115.5km - Côte de Cherave 1.3km at 8.1%
121.0km - HUY (Mur de Huy) 1.3km at 9.6%
The Contenders
Start list available
here
Pauline Ferrand-Prevot
The defending champion took the win last year after strong
support from Marianne Vos. At the time the win was the biggest
of her career but since then the now World Champion in both
the road race and cyclocross has been on the rise. Only
started her road season less than a month ago where she
finished second at Trofeo Alfredo Binda before adding seventh
place at Ronde van Vlaanderen a week later. Climbs with the
best and her finish on the line especially uphill is quick.
Backed by a strong team including Shara Gillow and Katarzyna
Niewiadoma and Anna Van der Breggan who are both likely to be
around the mark themselves and a strong option should
something happen to the World Champion.
Lizzie Armitstead and Boels Dolmans
The teams recruitment saw them dominant early in the season
and while they have appeared slightly less so of late the team
they bring here has a number of contenders. Lizzie Armistead's
second place finish last year surprised many considering she
had not really been in contention before. Last year her
climbing improved but her sprint suffered because of it. This
year she is back sprinting better than ever but will it hurt
her on a day like today? After missing out on the win last
year expect to see Armitstead chasing victory today.
In Evelyn Stevens the team has the 2012 winner and a rider who
goes well on this sort of terrain. Knowing the team has a
number of cards to play Stevens could go for a long one and
look to time trial to the finish. Megan Guarnier is one of the
best when the road starts to go uphill. Attacked early from a
select group at Strade Bianche and soloed to the finish as
nobody was willing to chase her down with Armitstead sitting
on. Ellen Van Dijk is another one. Mostly thought of as one of
the best time trialists in the peloton, which she is but
climbs well on the shorter steeper climbs. Sixth in 2013 and
tenth last year. How the team uses its riders will be one of
the biggest questions of the race.
Elisa Longo Borghini
Winning Ronde van Vlaanderen was the biggest win of her career
and added a second World Cup to her palmares after her 2013
Trofeo Alfredo Binda victory. Despite her win in Flanders this
was her big goal and based on current form adding another
World Cup win is there for the taking. Has had a strong season
finished third at Strade Bianche and fourth at Trofeo Alfredo
Binda. After finishing second in 2013 and third last year,
will 2015 be the year she comes out on top? Mara Abbott is
worth keeping an eye on as well. Finished seventh back in 2009
and is arguably the best pure climber in the peloton.
Ashleigh Moolman and Annemeik Van
Vleuten
Moolman finished fifth in 2012, was the first South African to
stand on a World Cup podium in third the following year and
added another fifth place last year. The race is one that is
perfect suited to Moolman's style as the last three years have
shown. On a new team that is yet to take a win Moolman will be
even more motivated.
Annemeik Van Vleuten's best result here was sixth in 2011 and was
just outside the top 10 in 2010 and 2012. To challenge for the
win she needs to be at her absolute best and so far this year
has been consistently inside the top 10.
Emma Johansson and Orica-AIS
On paper the former number one ranked team has several options
but will it come together on the day for them? The team has
not been able to repeat their performances of their first of
second years. Emma Johansson made a quick return after a
broken collarbone and finished in the first chase group at
Ronde van Vlaanderen. Johansson has finished on the podium
three times and in seven participations has never finished
worse than 12th (her first attempt). Was sick over the weekend
and missed Ronde van Gelderland and is unlikely to be at her
best.
Katrin Garfoot finished 16th in 2014 riding for the Australian
National Team before turning professional two months later. On
paper the finish up the Mur du Huy suits her. Rachel Neylan
was a late signing and if she has the form that earned her a
silver medal at the 2012 World Championships can be competing
with the best.
Alena Amialiusik and Tiffany
Cromwell
Could the Belarusian Champion again be the surprise packet?
Hard one day races like this are where she is at her best. Has
joined the strong Velocio-SRAM and will be looking to continue
her rise. Has ridden the race three times in the past with her
best finish seventh in 2013. Has had a strong start to 2015
especially in the hillier races - fifth Trofeo Alfredo Binda,
sixth Ronde van Vlaanderen and seventh at Strade Bianche.
While Amialiusik is likely to be the best option for the team
it would be a mistake to discount Tiffany Cromwell who has
been riding herself in to form recently.
Jolanda Neff
What can the talented young Swiss cross country expert do
here? There is no doubting the 22 year olds talent, has two
under 23 cross country World titles to her name. Impressed at
Trofeo Alfredo Binda at the end of March finishing sixth but
this is a different test. Don't be surprised to see her around
the mark though.
Carlee Taylor and Jessie Daams
Neither is an outright favourite but both are capable of
performing well here. Aussie climber and workhorse Taylor has
finished just outside the top 10 in 14th. Climbs very well and
while she is unlikely to be able to follow the top names
another result in or around the top 10 is well within her.
Daams is just returning from a knee injury but is another who
could go well.
Other names to watch: Rossella Ratto, Solovey, Carmen Small,
Tatiana Guderzo and Eugenia Bujak. |
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