Recently on Cyclingnews.com |
 Mont Ventoux Photo ©: Sirotti |
Rund um die Nürnberger Altstadt - CDM / 1.3
Germany, September 12, 2004
Results World Cup standings Men's Results
Another win for Rossner, Wood takes World Cup
By Kristy Scrymgeour
|
Petra Rossner (Equipe Nürnberger) took her second world cup victory in as many weeks today when she took out the final round of the series in the home town of her team sponsor, Nürnberger. Rossner's win is another spectacular performance demonstrating her speed and the fact that she is still the world's best sprinter after 20 years of racing. As she finished the race Rossner announced that today was the very last race of her career. Australian Oenone Wood and the Australian team successfully tackled the pressure of the final race with Wood taking third in the sprint and holding onto the World Cup Jersey to become only the second Australian to win a World Cup Series after Anna Millward (1999 and 2001).
Not only was Wood given the extra obstacle of an unknown double point rule going into the final round of the world cup, but the gods also decided to give her an extra challenge by opening up the skies and the roads were wet all day long. "It wasn't necessarily the cobbles that were dangerous," explained Wood's teammate Margaret Hemsley, "it was the train tracks that we had to tackle on the corners."
This pretty much summed up what the day was like from beginning to end, but in the end the Australian team were able to keep Wood safe and she pulled it off for them in the sprint. "The wet roads and cobbles were a worry,"said Australian Director Sportif Warren McDonald. "But the race worked out well for us. Nürnberger really wanted to win and they did a really good job of keeping it all together. All we had to do was keep Oenone safe.
|
After a year that got increasingly nerve-wracking, McDonald says he can now relax. "I can sleep at night now," he laughed. "The further it went through the year, the more nervous I got, especially when our main goal was the Olympics.
"In Montreal, when Oenone had a bad day we were a bit worried because we had thought that if she could have a good result there we could wrap up the series. But the Olympics were our main goal and we had to give her that rest in the middle of the year."
Finally today when Petra came over the line with her hands raised and Wood was just behind her in third place with her hands raised, it wrapped up all the hard work. "I am over the moon," said McDonald. "It was good to see that final bit of elation. For Oenone, placing fourth at the Olympics with Sara winning was great, but this just tops it off."
Wood was extremely happy as were the rest of the team. "I feel pretty good. In fact the whole year has been good," she said "After all these races it's good to come up with the result."
Like the coach, Wood had also been feeling the pressure and said relief is definitely something she is feeling now. "This is the most pressure I have felt so far, so it was a relief to cross the line. It was a hard race because of the rain. The roads were wet the whole time and there were a lot of corners. You had to concentrate to make sure you kept good position."
|
With Nürnberger keeping the race under control, there were not a lot of opportunities for breaks to get away, however with a few laps to go Brazilian Silvia Ja Fernandez (Michela Fanini Record Rox) got away and a group bridged up to her including Hemsley, Tina Liebig (Nürnberger) and Arenda Grimberg (Therme Skin Care).The break looked good and was also good for Wood, but the Germans brought it back close to the end.
With about 10km to go the Australian team got on the front to keep the pace high and therefore Wood safe until they were swamped by Nürnberger, who took over the lead out. "It was a little messy at the end," said Wood. "I tried to get Petra's wheel a few times but there were a lot of surges despite the high pace. With 300 meters to go I got a clear run up the outside so I decided to lead out. Just as I went I heard a crash back in the bunch, so I was lucky that I went at the right time."
In the end it was a perfect finish for Wood. "It turned out better than I had hoped," she said. "To get on the podium in this race and win the overall is fantastic."
|
Finally to the winner of the race, Rossner, who has every reason to relax and drink the beer that she was enjoying when Cyclingnews caught up with her. "It was my last bike race," she said having decided not to race the world championships in Verona. "I don't want to go to worlds because I think I can be a better help on the sidelines. The course is not for me and I want to be realistic about it. It's better for me to give up my spot for one of the younger riders."
Rossner says she feels great right now. "Its hard to quit when I'm feeling so fit, but I have seen a lot of good athletes go through their careers and only a few who quit at the right moment. Where do I go from here? I'm not going to ride for another four years. I am just happy that I have ended my career in this way, with two world cup wins in a week."
As for the race, Rossner said is was amazing. "My team were unbelievable. It was a very nice race," she said. "As well as that, Oenone didn't get blocked in anywhere and she was able to win the World Cup series which was perfect."
To finish up her career Petra will most likely have a big party in the winter she said, but for now she is relaxing with friends and drinking a beer. "It's nice to sit here and relax. There are so many people to thank after 20 years of racing."
Rossner will head off to Giro della Toscana tomorrow to start work on her new career as team director and sign some riders.
As for the Australians, they were off to eat some gelati when Cyclingnews talked with them. It was rumoured that Amy Safe was going to eat two kilograms in one sitting.
|
Photography
Images by Mario Stiehl/www.world-of-cycling.com
- Riders wait for the off and the conditions don't seem to be dampening the Aussie team's spirits any
- The race rolls out in less than perfect conditions
- Perfect racing conditions - if you're a a masochist amphibian
- The Australian team policed all the moves
- The peloton grits its collective teeth against the weather
- Margaret Hemsley (Australia) in the thick of it, supporting Oenone Wood's bid for the world cup title
- Margaret Hemsley worked hard for her team leader Wood
- Here comes the cavalry
- Big screen action - a video link kept the crowd in touch with crashes like this one as well as the racing
- Double celebration as Petra Rossner (Nürnberger) wins and Oenone Wood (Australia) lands the world cup series
- Petra Rossner (Nürnberger) is quite pleased about winning her final race
- The race podium - Angela Brodka (German National Team, 2nd), Petra Rossner (Nürnberger, 1st) and Oenone Wood (Australia, 3rd)
- Smiles all round
- Petra Rossner and Oenone Wood will be on the same side in 2005 as Wood joins Nürnberger and Rossner becomes a directeur sportif of the powerful German squad
- The world cup podium - Petra Rossner (Nürnberger, 2nd), Oenone Wood (Australia, 1st) and Angela Brodka (German National Team, 3rd)
- Oenone Wood looks reflective as the new World Cup champion
- Oenone Wood celebrates her victory in the season-long World Cup series
- Oenone Wood waves from the podium
- The Australian team joins Wood (center) and Rossner and Brodka on the World Cup podium
- Oenone Wood (center) on the podium with team-mates Natalie Bates and Olivia Gollan
Results
1 Petra Rossner (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 2.53.49 2 Angela Brodka (Ger) German National Team 3 Oenone Wood (Aus) Australian National Team 4 Debby Mansveld (Ned) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Univega Ladies Team 5 Tanja Hennes (Ger) Team Next 125 6 Sissy Van Alebeek (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol 7 Katia Longhin (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 8 Liane Bahler (Ger) MAMS-Deutschland 9 Miriam Melchers (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol 10 Alison Wright (Aus) Nobili Rubinetterie-Guerciotti 11 Andrea Graus (Aut) RC Elk-Haus Tirol 12 Isabella Wieser (Aut) Lietzsport Cycling 13 Anna Gusmini (Ita) Nobili Rubinetterie-Guerciotti 14 Bettina Kuhn (Swi) Swiss National Team 15 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 16 Jane Knietsch (Ger) German National Team 17 Malgorzata Wysocka (Pol) Polish National Team 18 Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 19 Mirella Van Melis (Ned) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Univega Ladies Team 20 Eva Lutz (Ger) Team Stuttgart 21 Arenda Grimberg (Ned) Therme Skin Care 22 Judith Arndt (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 0.07 23 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 0.10 24 Anke Wichmann (Ger) MAMS-Deutschland 25 Andrea Knecht (Swi) Team Next 125 0.17 26 Jaccolien Waalaard (Ned) Team Ton Van Bemmelen Sports 27 Patrica Schwager (Swi) Swiss National Team 28 Carolin Hildebrandt (Ger) MAMS-Deutschland 0.19 29 Christine Müller (Ger) Team Stuttgart 30 Christina Mos (Ned) Therme Skin Care 31 Lind Serup (Den) Composite Team 32 Lorian Graham (Aus) Australian National Team 33 Irene Van Den Broek (Ned) Therme Skin Care 34 Laure Werner (Bel) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Univega Ladies Team 35 Ine Wannijn (Bel) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Univega Ladies Team 36 Sabrina Emmasi (Ita) Nobili Rubinetterie-Guerciotti 37 Karin Wieser (Aut) Lietzsport Cycling 38 Corine Hierckens (Bel) Ondernemers vna Nature 39 Judith Arndt (Ger) Team Euregio Egrensis 40 Nicole Hofer (Swi) Swiss National Team 41 Irene Puccioni (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 42 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 43 Sereina Tracksel (Swi) Swiss National Team 44 Rachel Heal (GBr) Team Farm Frites-Hartol 45 Olivia Gollan (Aus) Australian National Team 46 Charlotte Becker (Ger) German National Team 47 Alessandra Borchi (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 48 Katarzyna Jagusiak (Pol) Polish National Team 49 Sandra Rombouts (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol 50 Madeleine Sandig (Ger) Team Euregio Egrensis 51 Angela Hillenga (Ned) Therme Skin Care 52 Claudia Stumpf (Ger) German National Team 53 Barbara Heeb (Swi) Lietzsport Cycling 54 Meredith Miller (USA) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 55 Olga Slyusareva (Rus) Nobili Rubinetterie-Guerciotti 56 Hayley Rutherford (Aus) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 0.27 57 Theresa Senff (Ger) Team Euregio Egrensis 58 Alexand Petitpierre (Swi) Team Next 125 0.29 59 Zita Urbonaite (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 60 Annette Beutler (Swi) Lietzsport Cycling 61 Sharon Van Essen (Ned) Ondernemers vna Nature 62 Francis Linthorst (Ned) Therme Skin Care 63 Irene Hofstettler (Swi) Team Next 125 64 Iris Slappendel (Ned) Ondernemers vna Nature 65 Josephine Groenveld (Ned) Team Ton Van Bemmelen Sports 66 Monika Furrer (Swi) Team Next 125 67 Monica Holler (Swe) Composite Team 68 Laura Lange (Ger) Team Euregio Egrensis 69 Luise Keller (Ger) German National Team 70 Valentina Polkanova (Rus) Nobili Rubinetterie-Guerciotti 71 Patricia Hempel (Ger) RC Elk-Haus Tirol 72 Johanna Stephan (Ger) Team Stuttgart 73 Evelien Bekkering (Ned) Ondernemers vna Nature 74 Tina Liebig (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 75 Esther Van Der Helm (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol 76 Sarah Düster (Ger) German National Team 77 Magaret Hemsley (Aus) Australian National Team 78 Caroline Humplik (Ger) Team Stuttgart 0.39 79 Suzanne De Goede (Ned) Team Ton Van Bemmelen Sports 80 Silvia Ja Fernandez (Bra) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 0.42 81 Sigrid Corneo (Ita) Nobili Rubinetterie-Guerciotti 0.46 82 Heike Schramm (Ger) Team Euregio Egrensis 0.50 83 Bernadette Schober (Aut) Austrian National Team 0.52 84 Alexandra Vetter (Swi) Team Next 125 0.59 85 Marije Profijt (Ned) Ondernemers vna Nature 1.04 86 Ludivine Henrion (Bel) Ondernemers vna Nature 1.09 87 Sandra Missbach (Ger) Team Farm Frites-Hartol 1.21 88 Mellissa Sandbom (USA) Composite Team 89 Sharon Van Dromme (Bel) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Univega Ladies Team1.33
Final World Cup standings
1 Oenone Wood (Australian National Team) 334 points
2 Petra Rossner (Equipe Nürnberger) 293
3 Angela Brodka (German National Team) 229
4 Mirjam Melchers (Farm Frites) 197
5 Zoulfia Zabirova (Let's Go Finland) 154
