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Sparkassen Giro
Preview |
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After a two month break the
Women's Road World Cup returns with Sparkassen Giro. Held
since 2001 but only in its second year on the World Cup
Calendar. The top nine teams are lining up with only
UnitedHealthcare missing from the top 10 ranked UCI teams.
Defending Champion Marianne Vos will miss the race with injury
but as one of the few sprinter friendly courses the top
sprinters will be fighting for the win.
With the races upgrade to the World Cup the major teams place
a much greater focus on it than they have in the past. Lizzie
Armitstead currently leads the World Cup rankings with a
narrow 19-point lead over Elisa Longo Borghini and 25 on Anna
Van der Breggen. With a number of hillier races to come it
will be chance for Armitstead to increase her lead on a
sprinter friendly parcours.
World Cup Rankings
1 Elizabeth ARMITSTEAD 315
2 Elisa LONGO BORGHINI 296
3 Anna VAN DER BREGGEN 290
4 Annemiek VAN VLEUTEN 226
5 Alena AMIALIUSIK 225
6 Jolien D'HOORE 220
7 Pauline FERRAND PREVOT 175
8 Shelley OLDS 140
9 Giorgia BRONZINI 130
10 Elena CECCHINI 122
2014 Results
1 Marianne VOS 2:59:48
2 Giorgia BRONZINI +0
3 Lotta LEPISTÖ +0
4 Jolien D'HOORE +0
5 Lisa BRENNAUER +0
6 Christine MAJERUS +0
7 Kelly DRUYTS +0
8 Emma JOHANSSON +0
9 Kirsten WILD +0
10 Shelley OLDS +0
Past Winners
2014 - Marianne Vos
2013 - Christine Majerus
2012 - Mieke Kröger
2011 - Adrie Visser
2010 - Ellen van Dijk
2009 - Rochelle Gilmore
2008 - Suzanne de Goede
2007 - Hanka Kupfernagel
2006 - Oenone Wood
2005 - Angela Hennig
2004 - Deirdre Demet-Barry
2003 - Svetlana Bubnenkova
2002 - Bertine Spijkerman
2001 - Sharon van Essen
The Route
The race covers eight laps of a 15.5km circuit. The main
feature is a climb in the middle of the lap. While not overly
difficult after eight laps it is likely to take its toll on a
number of riders. Expect the teams without a pure sprinter to
attack and try and create a more select group but avoiding a
bunch sprint will not be easy.
The Contenders
Start list available
here
Jolien D'hoore and Giorgia Bronzini
After a busy off season Wiggle have emerged with a number of
the pelotons fastest finishers and top climbers. Wiggle has
the best train in the peloton and it if often made up of
riders who could be sprinting for the win themself. Jolien
D'hoore comes in with good form. After finishing fourth last
year D'hoore will be looking to get on to the podium
particularly the top step. Has taken a massive step forward
this year with eight sprint wins and only missed out on
winning La Course last weekend when nobody could chase down
Anna Van der Breggen. While she missed the win she was clearly
the fastest in the peloton and heads in as the big favourite.
Has signed a new contract with Wiggle so the pressure is off
and with a focus on the track next year D'hoore will be
looking to finish off the season with a few more wins.
Giorgia Bronzini finished second last year but has hasn't
seemed at her usual level this year. Won Acht van Westerveld
in March and the Tour of Chongming Island World Cup in May and
will no doubt want to improve on her second place finish last
year but with the form of D'hoore is likely to play a support
role.
D'hoore can count on support from Annette Edmondson who
finished fourth at RideLondon yesterday. Mayuko Hagiwara comes in with amazing form
following a stage win at the Giro Rosa and Tour de Bretagne
Féminin and can go on the attack. Elisa Longo Borghini is just
19 points off the World Cup lead and is likely to want to pick
up some points to keep her in contention.
Lizzie Armitstead
The British National champion would likely prefer a much
hillier route and even with the climb in the middle of the lap
the course is not perfect for her. Armitstead packs a strong
finish but her climbing has at times cost her some speed in
the sprint. Won the opening stage of the Women's Tour in a
sign that when on form she can beat the best. Boels Dolmans
have other options in Chantal Blaak and former winner
Christine Majerus (6th last year) who may go on the attack to
give Armitstead an easier ride.
Orica-AIS
While the team has arguably the most consistent rider in the
peloton Emma Johansson they are always aggressive and have
more than one card to play. Johansson comes in after having
won Internationale Thüringen Rundfahrt and seventh at La
Course. A top 10 finish last year and with the overall World
Cup victory not on the cards this year expect to see Johansson
even more aggressive than usual.
The teams best chance in a big sprint is likely to be Melissa
Hoskins. One of the few riders who managed to avoid a crash at
La Course seems to be fully recovered after food poisoning
kept her out of Internationale Thüringen Rundfahrt. It will be
Hoskins' last race for the team before turning her attention
back to the track and the Rio Olympics so expect Hoskins to
want to go out on a high. Can compete with the best so if she
is will positioned expect to see her fighting for the win.
Gracie Elvin is another rider with form and her confidence is
also sky high following two wins this year including an
impressive solo win at Thüringen Rundfahrt. Expect to see
Elvin team up with Valentina Scandolara to put in attack after
attack and try to create a move. Both pack quick finishes.
Lotto Lepisto
The champion of Finland has been one of the most improved
riders of 2015. Finished fifth at the Tour of Chongming Island
World Cup in May and has been flying in July. Won a stage and
finished in the top 10 of every stage bar one to finish
seventh overall at the Internationale Thüringen Rundfahrt. The
wet conditions didn't trouble her at La Course where she
sprinted to fifth. A quick finisher but challenging the likes
of Wild and D'hoore will be difficult. The inclusion of the
climb is a benefit to her and if it can help thin out the
peloton her chances will increase. Bigla has Vera Koedooder
to attack in an attempt to thin out the
peloton. Joelle Numainville is another name to watch.
Kirsten Wild
There are not many races for sprinters that Kirsten Wild has
not won but this is one of them. With renewed importance on
the event as a World Cup expect to see Wild very motivated to
regain her title as the top sprinter in the women's peloton.
With a focus on Rio and the omnium on the track Wild has been
racing less on the road and her win count is not what has
become expected of her. On form she is very quick and few have
the speed to beat her. Missed the opportunity to take the win
at La Course and will be looking to get one back on her
rivals. Can count on strong support from the likes of Charlotte Becker and Tatiana Guderzo.
Velocio-SRAM
Italian sprinter Barbara Guarischi is the name to watch for
the team. Took the biggest win of her career when she won
stage one of the Giro Rosa. The win will have given her
confidence and can come in with confidence having won
RideLondon on Satuday
Brennauer has had a strong season including seven wins. Looked
set to take the overall victory at Internationale Thüringen
Rundfahrt but was overhauled on the final stage. Bounced back
to finish sixth at La Course. Is not afraid of mixing it with
the pure sprinters and a race on home soil will give her extra
motivation.
German champion Trixi Worrack is another rider with a quick
finish and winning the only world cup in Germany in the
stripes of national champion would be one of her most
important results.
Elena Cecchini
Cecchini successfully defended the Italian Championship on a
course that didn't really suit her and will wear the jersey
for another year. While Cecchini is very consistent and has
improved greatly this year winning a big bunch sprint will be
hard. Won a stage at Festival Luxembourgeois Elsy Jacobs and
had two podium finishes at the Giro Rosa. Her climbing has
improved but her speed seems to have suffered for it. Crashes
prevented her from fighting for the win but expect to see her
bounce back and try to improved on 12th last year.
Lucy Garner
La Course was a big target for Garner but crashes and bad luck
conspired to ruin her chances. Had good form at BeNe Ladies
Tour and since turning professional has been a regular
challenger to the best in the world. Garner's last win was
back in 2013 at the Tour of Chongming Island over two years
ago but she is returning to her best after some injury issues.
Liv Plantur also have Amy Pieters who rounded out the podium
at La Course after being given the go ahead by Garner.
Rabo Liv
Without defending champion and a big name sprinter Rabo's
chances of back to back wins will be difficult. The absence of
Vos and a sprinter didn't bother them at La Course when a late
attack by Anna Van der Breggen was able to hold off the
peloton. Van der Breggen's form is clearly still good after
her Giro Rosa win so expect to see her on the attack and try
and make it a second win in two weekends. In a sprint look for
Lucinda Brand who finished eighth at La Course.
Shelley Olds
Shelley Olds has moved back to Ale Cipollini after spending
the first half of the season with Bigla. While Olds is one of
the most reliable sprinters in the peloton she struggles to
convert her consistent placings in to wins. Has been on good
form picking up wins at BC Superweek in Canada but to take the
win ahead of many of the pelotons best finishers will be a
difficult ask for her.
Kelly Druyts
2014 world champion in the scratch race is usually at her best
in the second half of the season. After finishing seventh in
2014 Druyts will be looking to improve on that this year.
Finished second at the Diamond Tour behind Jolien D'hoore but
ahead of some quick finishers including Lucy Garner.
Roxane Fournier
The up and coming French sprinter has had a breakout season
winning Grand Prix de Dottignies ahead of Chloe Hosking and
then upstaging the biggest names in the sport to win the final
stage of the Tour of Chongming Island. Won the bunch sprint on
the final stage of Tour de Bretagne Féminin before finishing
11th at La Course in a sign of good form.
Emily Collins and Kendall Ryan
The US Tibco squad continues the European campaign and brings
two underrated riders. Emily Collins the pocket rocket from
New Zealand spent two seasons with Wiggle before moving to
Tibco. In the past month has claimed three podium finishes in
Europe and the 2013 Omloop van het Hageland winner will be
hoping to produce a good result. United States criterium
champion Kendall Ryan is another name to watch with the 22
year old taking two podiums at Tour de Feminin.
Other names to watch: Leah Kirchmann, Eugenia Bujak and
Sofie de Vuyst. |
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