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Grand Prix de Dottignies
Preview |
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Racing continues in Belgium for
Grand Prix de Dottignies for the third round of the Lotto
Cycling Cup. After a hard day of racing in Flanders yesterday
the majority of the top teams have elected to sit out the race
with Wiggle Honda the only big name team here.
Roxane Fournier is back looking to make it two in a row while
former winners Giorgia Bronzini and Vera Koedooder will be
chasing their third and second wins respectively.
2015 Results
1 FOURNIER Roxane
2 HOSKING Chloe +0
3 JEULAND Pascale +0
4 LEPISTÖ Lotta +0
5 KOPECKY Lotte +0
6 CECCHINI Elena +0
7 VERHOEVEN Aurore +0
8 DELZENNE Elise +0
9 FRAPPORTI Simona +0
10 MARKUS Kelly +0
Past Winners
2015 - Roxane Fournier
2014 - Giorgia Bronzini
2013 - Vera Koedooder
2012 - Monia Baccaille
2011 - Emma Johansson
2010 - Kirsten Wild
2009 - Sarah Düster
2008 - Marianne Vos
2007 - Giorgia Bronzini
2006 - Oenone Wood
2005 - Nicole Cooke
2004 - Olga Slyusareva
2003 - Baukje Boedee
2002 - Alessandra Cappelotto
The Route
Eight laps of a 14.66km circuit that includes a short cobbled
sections three kilometres in.
The Contenders
Start list available
here
Roxane Fournier
Rising French sprinter Roxane Fournier comes in as the
defending champion and an impressive 2015 where she claimed
three wins against some of the sports best names. After a
consistent start to the year including a top 10 finish at Le
Samyn des Dames and with several top 20's will be a name to
watch. Packs a very quick finish and will be a name to watch
in a sprint.
Wiggle Honda
The team have been close finishing in the top 10 in every
European race they have started to far including three podiums
but they are still chasing the win. On paper they have the
strongest team in the race and if they can put it all together
as a team they have several strong contenders for the win.
Chloe Hosking finished second last year and will be keen to go
one better. The Australian sprinter has had a strong start to
the year winning a stage of the Ladies Tour of Qatar after top
10 finishes at the Australian Championships and the Cadel
Evans Great Ocean Road Race. Seventh at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
and sixth at Drentse Acht van Westerveld show she has carried
the form to Europe.
Dual world champion Giorgia Bronzini claimed the win in 2014
and 2007 and will be chasing another win as she comes to the
end of her successful career. Has been quiet so far this
season but finished an impressive 10th at Trofeo Alfredo Binda
last month.
Jolien D'hoore made a late start to the season following track
commitments but finished fifth at the Pajot Hills Classic last
week but seemed off her best at Ronde van Vlaanderen
yesterday. With other quick sprinters on the team she is
likely to support them here. Lucy Garner is always a name to
watch in a sprint but hasn't raced in a month.
Vera Koedooder
Koedooder is known for her attacking style of racing and after
a quiet season in 2015 will be looking to re-find her old form
that saw her often on the podium. Her win here in 2013 came
from a break and she will be looking to again find the right
opportunity to make a move. A strong rider and once she has a
gap can prove difficult to bring back.
Kimberley Wells and Sarah Roy
Wells and Roy are both former Australian Champions in the
criterium and both could challenge for the win here. Wells
part of the Australian Women's Development Team claimed her
first UCI win last year at Trophée d'Or Féminin where she beat
defending champion and favourite for the race Roxane Fournier.
Has won win so far this season - the final stage of the Santos
Women's Tour. Still inexperience in the classics but if she is
in contention could sprint to victory.
Roy will guest ride with the team following a very consistent
season finishing top 25 in her eight European races. Her best
results are seventh at Omloop van het Hageland and eighth
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. A rider who is improving with every
race and while she may not have the support of her usual
Orica-AIS squad could pounce for the win. Comes in off 25th at
Ronde van Vlaanderen.
Shelley Olds
The always consistent Olds will be chasing her first UCI win
of the season after bad luck with crashes in the early season.
Started strongly with second at the Santos Women's Tour and
finished top six in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Omloop van het
Hageland and Ronde van Drenthe. If she is fully recovered
expect her to be among those contending for the win.
Alé Cipollini
Alé Cipollini always have multiple options when it comes down
to a sprint and you often see more than one of them in the top
10. When they get it right they can produce a dominant display
in the sprint. 2007 world champion Marta Bastianelli claimed
something of a surprise win Omloop van het Hageland at the end
of February. Backed up with fifth at Ronde van Drenthe but has
been quiet since but if she is kept well positioned could
unleash her powerful finish and shock the peloton again.
Other names to watch:
Keep an eye on Hannah Walker, who has proven she can produce
strong results at Lotto Cup races in the past. Pajot Hills
Classic was her first UCI race in almost two years last week
and she is still finding her road legs again but could produce
a strong result.
After a strong season Camilla Mollebro could spring a surprise
here. 30th at Omloop van het Hageland, 17th Le Samyn des Dames
before claiming a strong 10th at Pajot Hills Classic. Would
prefer a hillier course but in this field she could again
claim a top 20 result.
Sofie de Vuyst could surprise if she can find her form from
2014 when she was one of the most consistent riders in the
sprint classics. A strong rider but lacks a super quick finish
if she wants to win will need to try and escape as part of a
select group.
Lensworld - Zannata have a number of options in Nina Kessler,
Alice Maria Arzuffi and Maaike Polspoel all capable of
producing top 10 rides in a field of this quality.
Olga Zabelinskaya |
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