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Millward does it again

By Jeff Jones and Terry Maddaford

Australian Anna Millward (Saturn-Timex) picked up where she left off in Canberra last weekend by winning round two of the women's World Cup in Hamilton City, New Zealand. Millward once again outsprinted Dutch champion Mirjam Melchers (Acca Due O), and World Champion Zinaida Stahurskaia (GAS) after the three had broken away with three others after approximately 50 kilometres.

With just 48 starters, and two fifths of the field New Zealanders, it was obvious that the Kiwis would try and get one of their own riders away to prevent a bunch sprint which would favour Millward. Despite constant aggression in the early part of the race, nothing stuck on the technical, hilly course. Millward's Saturn team, especially Anke Erlank, were doing a good job in chasing things down and by halfway, the race had settled down.

That was until Mirjam Melchers attacked up the Thackeray St hill on the eighth lap, taking Sarah Ulmer (NZ), Sara Carrigan (AIS), Zinaida Stahuskaia (GAS) and Millward (Saturn). Alfa Lum had missed the move, and spent the next few laps trying to chase the five riders down, eventually getting Mari Holden off the front to close the gap by herself.

The break was now well represented and was destined to win, despite having 40 kilometres left to travel. In the middle stages, their lead increased by a minute a lap, reaching a maximum of 5'48. Melchers tried another attack on the climb, but the Acca Due O rider couldn't get clear. Mari Holden also put in several attacks, all of them unsuccessful.

Millward ended up leading herself out for the last two kilometres, as the other five battled for her wheel. Holden led out the sprint and Millward followed, dropping into the 12 cog and "instantly regretting it". Melchers drew alongside her, but couldn't make it past and had to settle for second place again.

"I was very nervous about that sprint. It was pretty tense out there," said Millward. "Even though I have been sprinting very well I still wasn't too confident. Mari jumped after me with 300m to go and I thought they were all going to come over me but I held on."

With this win and last week's, Anna Millward now has a 50 point lead in the World Cup competition, with the other big guns such as Diana Ziliute, Leontien Van Moorsel and Pia Sundstedt yet to commence racing. "I hope she [Melchers] does not win in Italy next week," said Millward as she will return to the USA to race in the Sea Otter Classic. "That is the only World Cup race I will miss. I love the World Cup - one-day races really suit me."

Results - 107 km

1 Anna Millward (Aus) Saturn - Composite      3.08.55 (34.0 km/h)
2 Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Acca Due O HP
3 Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr) GAS Sport
4 Sara Carrigan (Aus) Australia National
5 Sarah Ulmer (NZl) New Zealand "A"
6 Mari Holden (USA) Alfa Lum R.S.M
7 Vera Hohlfeld (Ger) Acca Due O HP              5.05
8 Elizabeth Tadich (Aus) Australia National
9 Giovanna Troldi (Ita) Acca Due O HP
10 Sara Felloni (Ita) Alfa Lum R.S.M
11 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Acca Due O HP
12 Rosalind Reekie-May (NZl) New Zealand "A"
13 Melissa Holt (NZl) New Zealand "A"
14 Alison Wright (Aus) Australia National
15 Kym Shirley (Aus) Australia National
16 Lara Ruthven (USA) Carpe Diem - Itera
17 Luisiana Pegoraro (Ita) Carpe Diem - Itera
18 Anke Erlank (RSA) Saturn - Composite
19 Katie Mactier (Aus) Australia National
20 Tatiana Stiajkina (Ukr) Alfa Lum R.S.M
21 Vanessa Cheatley (NZl) New Zealand "A"
22 Silvia Parietti (Ita) GAS Sport
23 Vera Carrara (Ita) Carpe Diem - Itera
24 Kerry Hellmuth (USA) Carpe Diem - Itera
25 Roberta Bonanomi (Ita) GAS Sport
26 Fany Lecourtois (Fra) Alfa Lum R.S.M
27 Kirsty Robb (NZl) New Zealand "B"             5.10
28 Penny Warring (NZl) Auckland                 11.01
29 Marguerite Ritchie (NZl) Te Awamutu Sports   11.03

DNF Toni Bradshaw (NZl) New Zealand "B"           
DNF Annaliisa Farrell (NZl) New Zealand "B"       
DNF Nichola Solomon (NZl) Auckland                
DNF Tracy Clark (NZl) Auckland                    
DNF Gabriella Pregnolato (Ita) GAS Sport          
DNF Chantelle Berry (NZl) Te Awamutu Sports Cl    
DNF Robyn Groom (NZl) Te Awamutu Sports Club      
DNF Sofie Henmingsen (Den) Saturn - Composite     
DNF Johanna Buick (NZl) Te Awamutu Sports Club    
DNF Ljudmila Corneo (Ita) Carpe Diem - Itera      
DNF Nora Moeke (NZl) New Zealand "B"              
DNF Sigrid Corneo (Ita) Carpe Diem - Itera        
DNF Robyn Wong (NZl) Auckland                     
DNF Hayley Rutherford (Aus) Australia National    
DNF Kristy Scrymgeour (Aus) Saturn - Composite    
DNF Nicole Tasker (NZl) Auckland                  
DNF Rosy Mccall (NZl) Auckland                    

Starters: 46
Finishers: 29

World Cup standings after round 2

                                      Can     Ham    Total

1 Anna Millward (Aus)                  75      75     150 pts
2 Mirjam Melchers (Ned)                50      50     100
3 Sarah Ulmer (NZl)                    18      27      45
4 Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr)            8       35      43
5 Sara Felloni (Ita)                   30      11      41
6 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus)               35      -       35
7 Alison Wright (Aus)                  27      7       34
8 Mari Holden (USA)                    9       24      33
9 Sara Carrigan (Aus)                  0       30      30
10 Priska Doppmann (Swi)               15      10      25
11 Miho Oki (Jpn)                      24      -       24
12 Vera Hohlfeld (Ger)                 0       21      21
12 Bridget Evans (Aus)                 21      -       21
14 Rosalind Reekie-May (NZl)           10      9       19
15 Elizabeth Tadich (Aus)              0       18      18
16 Giovanna Troldi (Ita)               0       15      15
17 Melissa Holt (NZl)                  5       8       13
18 Lara Ruthven (USA)                  6       5       11
18 Susy Pryde (NZl)                    11      -       11
20 Hayley Rutherford (Aus)             7       0       7
21 Anke Erlank (RSA)                   3       3       6
21 Kym Shirley (Aus)                   0       6       6
23 Luisiana Pegoraro (Ita)             0       4       4
23 Emma James (Aus)                    4       -       4
25 Vera Carrara (Ita)                  2       0       2
25 Katie Mactier (Aus)                 0       2       2
27 Tatiana Stiajkina (Ukr)             0       1       1
27 Pam Schuster (USA)                  1       -       1

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