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Le Samyn des Dames
Preview |
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The early season classics
continue with Le Samyn. The event doubles as the opening round
of the season long Lotto Cycling Cup. No UCI points are on
offer for winning the Lotto Cycling Cup but there is jerseys,
prize money available across the overall, sprint, mountains
and team classifications. As well as the standard UCI points
for the individual race.
For a number of the field especially the Australian's their
seasons have been going since January, many others started in
early February in Qatar and for others it is just starting.
2014 Recap
As with the 2012 edition the race finished with a select group
of around 40 riders contesting the sprint.
1 Emma JOHANSSON
2 Ashleigh MOOLMAN +0
3 Sofie DE VUYST +0
4 Eleonora VAN DIJK +0
5 Maaike POLSPOEL +0
6 Maura KINSELLA +0
7 Amy PIETERS +0
8 Elisa LONGO BORGHINI +0
9 Emilia FAHLIN +0
10 Joanne KIESANOWSKI +0
Past Winners
2012 Adrie VISSER
2013 Ellen VAN DIJK
2014 Emma JOHANSSON
The Route
The 112km race starts with an opening 59.9km section over
rolling roads. The undulating roads and the mixture of big UCI
teams and club teams is likely to see the peloton quickly thin
out. Ahead of the finishing circuit riders face a long gradual
rise and the first cobbled section. Both will likely further
reduce the peloton.
Two finishing circuits of 24.7km complete the race and where
the main action is likely to take place. The laps start off
with a small rise before a false flat for the opening few
kilometres. The second half of the lap is more undulating
giving riders a few opportunities to attack.
Not to discount the importance of the three cobbled sections
on the finishing circuit. Inside the first 5km of the lap
comes the Rue du vert pignon. The cobbled climb of Côte de la
Roquette is likely to be the most significant of the three
though. Coming at the mid point of the lap it is likely to
feature attacks as teams try to distance any sprinters.
The last Rue de Belle Vue comes inside the final three
kilometres. Making it a perfect opportunity for a strong
classics rider to attack and try to hold on to the finish.
The uphill finish makes it one for the stronger riders who are
not necessarily pure sprinters. Just look at the top three
from last year Emma Johansson, Ashleigh Moolman and Sofie De
Vuyst. All quick finishes but not pure sprinters.
The Contenders
Start list available
here
Emma Johansson and Orica-AIS
The defending champion who is normally strong from the first
race of the season to the finish will be looking to defend her
title. The uphill run in to the finish is perfectly suited to
Johansson, who as well as winning in 2014 finished third in
2013. Johansson had support from Gracie Elvin in the important
stages at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad but was outnumbered with the
other top teams Boels Dolmans, Rabo and Velocio having four or
five riders.
Johansson has been responsible for the majority of Orica-AIS's
wins the past two years but they have a very strong team.
Classics specialist and road captain Loes Gunnewijk will be
crucial to the success of Orica-AIS. With their track riders
not yet starting their European season and several riders with
injury they could find themselves on the back foot again.
The team is always aggressive and with Amanda Spratt and
Gracie Elvin they have two cards to play who can go long and
win a sprint from a small group.
Boels Dolmans
The Ladies Tour of Qatar showed the strength of Boels Dolmans
and they were dominant again at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on the
weekend. The team always had numbers in the moves and while
they didn't pull off the win they claimed 2nd, 3rd and 4th
with Ellen Van Dijk, Lizzie Armitstead and Chantal Blaak.
After winning the bunch sprint and finishing third at Omloop
Het Nieuwsblad Armitstead was a favourite for the race but has
elected to sit out. Van Dijk might have missed out on the win
but her second place shows she still has the form that saw her
solo to win stage two in Qatar. The uphill finish suits her
but lacks the finishing speed of others so don't be surprised
to see her go on the attack.
Chantal Blaak finished fourth and could have easily been third
on the weekend. Another rider with good form and the uphill
finish increases her chances. Won Molecaten Drentse 8 with a
late attack and did the same at Open de Suède Vargarda where
she won from a three rider group that included Amy Pieters.
Wiggle Honda
Chloe Hosking seems to be coming in to good form finishing in
the first chase group at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, finishing 12th
and equalling her performance in 2012. Hosking finished 18th
here last year but the uphill finish doesn't suit her
perfectly.
Jolien D'hoore started her season with sixth in Qatar, before
finishing fourth in the omnium at the Track World
championships. Returned to the road at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
but was off the pace in a sign her road legs haven't quite
returned yet. Her best finish here was 10th in 2012 but
D'hoore is a much stronger rider. Still unlikely to be at her
best but if she is in the front group at the finish don't
discount her.
Elisa Longo Borghini showed good form on the weekend but isn't
racing here. Audrey Cordon is a rider worth watching as the
uphill finish suits her.
Rabo Liv
Rabo were relatively quiet at the Ladies Tour of Qatar and
while they had a very slow start to the European season in
2014 they have already changed that in 2015. Still just 24 but the
experienced Van der Breggen won Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on the
weekend and will look to back that up with another win here.
Top six in the opening three World Cup rounds last year. Last
year won Dwars door de Westhoek, a stage and the overall at
Festival Luxembourgeois Elsy Jacobs, stage and overall at the
Ladies Tour of Norway plus podium finishes at Emakumeen Euskal
Bira, Giro Rosa and the Lotto Belisol Belgium Tour. With a
number of faster finishers in the race expect to see her again
attempt to get away solo or as part of a two or three rider
move ahead of the finish.
20 year old Katarzyna Niewiadoma is a rider on the rise and
ready to step up further in 2015. Won Frauen Grand Prix
Gippingen in June before finished third at the Ladies Tour of
Norway, eighth at Boels Rental Ladies Tour and Premondiale
Giro Toscana before just missing the top 10 at the World
Championships. A strong finish especially on the uphill run we
have here.
Bigla
Commonwealth bronze medallist
Ashleigh Moolman finished runner up to Emma Johansson last
year. Both are similar riders who like this sort of uphill
finish but if Moolman is to get the better of Johansson she is
likely to have to get the jump as few in the world can
outsprint Johansson on a finish like this. Has had a strong
start to the year doing the time trial and road race double at
the South African National and African Continental
Championships. Finished in the first chasing group in 11th at
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on the weekend.
In Numainville and Olds, Bigla have two other cards to play. Olds is
one of the fastest sprinters in the women's peloton and a
regular podium finisher and winner in bunch sprints. Didn't
race here last year having gone to South America after the
Tour of Qatar but won the bunch sprint for second in 2013
behind Ellen Van Dijk. The uphill sprint is unlikely to
trouble Olds. If she is in the front group a name to watch.
Joelle Numainville on the other hand while still quick on the
line is more of a puncheur and has finished second at
Winston-Salem Cycling Classic the past two years, with Olds
having won last year. Knowing Olds is back in the peloton
Numainville can be aggressive on the finishing circuits.
Sofie De Vuyst
De Vuyst is a rider that is very under the radar but it is the
spring classics she takes her best results. Rounded out the
podium last year in third and also took top 10 finishes at
Omloop het Nieuwsblad and Omloop van het Hageland. Unable to
match the pure sprinters on the flat but the uphill finish
puts her in contention. Without a strong team compared to a
number of other favourites.
Elena Cecchini
Reigning Italian Champion and rising star got her start on the
track but started to make a name for herself on the road last
year. The Italian Championships were her only win last year
but Cecchini was constantly around the mark with her most
impressive result second at the Tour of Chongming Island. The
uphill finish suits her so don't be surprised to see her
standing on the podium. Finished sixth as part of the main
chase group at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in a sign her form is
good.
Kelly Druyts
2014 Scratch Race World Champion could prove to be a wildcard.
Generally rides a reduced road season due to track commitments
but when riding on the road is normally around the mark. A
strong sprinter and the classics is where she normally picks
up her results. Took stage wins at Trophée d'Or Féminin and
Boels Rental Ladies Tour.
Roxane Fournier
23 year old Fournier is a name to watch this season. Has taken
a couple of wins over the years normally in smaller French
races. Her second in a stage and fourth overall at the Tour of
Chongming Island last year stands out as her biggest result to
date and a sign of her speed. Her first race of the year was
the Tour of Qatar where she finished fourth on the final stage
bunch sprint in a sign of good form.
Amy Pieters
With Kirsten Wild having left the team and rising start and
dual junior World Champion Lucy Garner not racing Pieters has
an opportunity for herself. The 23 year old had her best
season to date last year picking up a stage win at the Tour of
Qatar and Omloop het Nieuwsblad. Top 10 here last year and
while didn't quite manage to defend her title at Omloop Het
Nieuwsblad, finished in the top 10.
Lucy Martin
Go back to 2012 and Lucy Martin was an Olympian and rising
star of British cycling. Two issues with illness and injury
and issues with teams have not dented her enthusiasm and 2015
sees a focused Martin ready to get back to her best. A strong
rider with a quick finish, if she can re-find form of old
don't be surprised to see her regularly in the top 10 and
challenging for the podium.
Other names to watch: Jessie Daams, Vera Koedooder, Roxane
Fournier, Aude Biannic, Maaike Polspoel, Floortje Mackaij,
Tatiana Guderzo, Sara Olsson, Jacqueline Hahn, Kendall Ryan,
Coryn Rivera and Maura Kinsella. |
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