May 31/08 6:30 am - Montreal Women's World Cup: report & full results

Posted by Editoress on 05/31/08
 

Montreal Women's World Cup
by Leigh Hargrove

Montreal's event has now become a regular stop on the women's world cup circuit; the weather often rainy, the race win often determined on the hill leading into the finish area and the race activity not usually stirring up until halfway through. Although the rain and hill were still very present, a recent change in the start/finish location in 2007 has now forced the climbers to be more strategic in their race plan for this 11-lap, 110 km race, now ending with a fairly flat, slightly uphill 300-metre finishing straight.

The race played out rather perfectly for Team High Road Women. With Judith Arndt sitting in the world cup leaders' jersey, teammate Ina Teutenberg distracted the field with a 2nd lap attack, immediately opening up a fifteen second gap going into the climb. With the pack relatively unresponsive, Teutenberg opened up her lead to a minute twenty over the next four laps.

At the top of the climb in the 7th lap the pack reeled Ina in, instantly blowing her off the back. The German's job was done, she had forced Kristen Armstrong's Team Cervelo-Lifeforce to lead the chase and do the majority of the work.

The next two times up the hill saw the pack split into two smaller groups of fifteen to twenty riders each with a 20 second gap between groups. Birthday girl Alex Wrubleski (Webcor Builders) looked very comfortable in the pack leading the field into each climb. She was also accompanied by other Olympic spot contenders Felicia Gomez, (Aaron's Professional Cycling), Anne Samplonius (Canadian National Team), Leigh Hobson (Canadian National Team) and Erinne Willock (Webcor Builders).

At the top of the 10th time up the hill a break formed to open up a fifteen second gap on the main pack. Five riders split from the pack including last year's winner, Fabiana Luperini, Armstrong, Arndt, Sara Carrigan (Australian National Team) and recent up-and-comer British rider Emma Pooley (Specialized Designs for Women).

With Olympic qualification most likely at the back of their minds, three determined Canadians, Hobson, Willock and Samplonius, worked together to jump the now diminished group of 19 riders to bridge the gap up to the break. The trio was successful and a winning break of 8 riders was formed going into the 11th lap.

Arndt was looking strong going into the final lap. Bridging away from the break of eight she took a tired Luperini along for the ride. "I tried to make it really hard the last time up the climb and she couldn't stay on. Then she said she would work and draft with me but she also that she wouldn't sprint at the end. I think that was really fair because she was tired and if she hadn't worked and I hadn't worked that wouldn't have got us second place. It would have been bad for us but I think this was really fair. She's a great champion."

The two opened up a gap of 40 seconds on the break, guaranteeing a 1/2 finish. With Arndt clearly pulling Luperini around for the final lap, the duo did not contest the sprint with Luperini letting the German cross the line first with her fist pumped up into the air.

Forty seconds later the race for third place was on. With three Canadians in this group and an Olympic spot up for grabs, this was a bit of a nail biter. With a confident strength it was Hobson who pulled through for her first ever World Cup podium finish. Samplonius took sixth and Willock was 7th.

Leigh Hobson's dreams have come true after a third place World Cup finish has secured her a position on the Olympic team. She was visibly worked up about it after the race once the realization started to set in. "I am very happy, I had hoped to get top 10 so podium was like "wow! That's an extra bonus and an opportunity to go the Olympics!" It doesn't feel real right now."

An automatic position on the Canadian Olympic team goes to the rider with the highest World Cup finish. In speaking with National Team Coach, Vincent Jourdain after the race, it is apparent that Hobson has secured her position on the team. Wrubleski has taken the second spot based on her two fourth place finishes at World Cup races earlier this season. The talented rider was sitting in 7th place overall going into Montreal's race but just didn't have her best race. "I just didn't have it for myself today. Definitely not as good as expected...It just came down to climbing today and if you were climbing good you were going to be in the top bunch."

The third and final position on the Olympic team goes to committee choice and the team will be officially announced June 15.

Race Notes:

• Although Judith Arndt was successful in her win she seemed happy but not satisfied. The German rider mentioned that her main focus this year is the Olympics, everything else is just preparation. Her win in Montreal secured her lead in the overall world cup standings.

• 123 racers started the event. After 8 laps only 20 had abandoned.

• Montreal was Kristin Armstrong's first race back after some scheduled time off and, as a result, the start of the next training block for Olympic training. She finished fifth.

• Leigh Hobson mentioned how great it was that the three Canadians worked so well together to chase down the race-winning break. They set their personal goals aside (to qualify for the Olympics) and worked together as a team to bridge the gap. It seems to be the theme of this year's season for the girls. "As we were going into this Olympic year we started to say we will never work against each other but we realize that every world cup race is a race against each other. So we will all try to have our best race without hindering each other's chances. We would never chase one another down."

• Christine Thorburn (Webcor Builders) had two flat tires within the first three laps of the race and one really slow wheel change. This misfortune caused her to lose the group and ultimately DNF.

• Clara Hughes was on site to watch the race. She will be racing in the local Grand Tour du Montreal, which starts on Monday, June 2 with Team Specialized Carrefour Multisport. Clara hasn't raced in five years but she will be riding on the team as a mentor for this week. After that she will return to Calgary to continue training for speed skating.

• Jeannie Longo Ciprelli (Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz) crashed late in the race, injuring her hip, and requested medical assistance. She seemed concerned that her hip might take awhile to heal. The world-class cycling legend is turning 50 this year.