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Photo ©: Schaaf

3rd Women's Women's Ronde van Vlaanderen - CDM

Belgium, April 2, 2006

Main Page    Results    World Cup standings

Melchers does it again

By Jeff Jones and Brecht Decaluwé in Ninove

Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel (Buitenpoort-Flexpoint)
Photo ©: Jeff Jones
(Click for larger image)

Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel (Buitenpoort-Flexpoint) scored the first of two Ronde van Vlaanderen doubles today when she beat Austrian Christiane Soeder (Univega) in a two woman sprint. Melchers won this race in the same way last year, but was with her teammate Susanne Ljungskog. This year, up until 2 km to go, it looked as though she would finish alone, but when Soeder finally caught her, victory wasn't assured.

"It was a short sprint, so I could win it," Melchers told Cyclingnews after the race. "Winning today was harder than winning last year, because now, you start as a favourite. The wind and the rain made it really hard. I experienced the race like a war, but I succeeded in winning it."

Melchers attacked a lead group containing Soeder, Edwige Pitel (Bianchi-Aliverti) and Kimberly Anderson (T-Mobile) on the Valkenberg with around 30 km to go, and built up what looked like an unbeatable lead of nearly a minute. "When I got away, it was still so far away to the finish. On the Muur van Geraardsbergen, I got cramps. I chose to take it easier and also allow people to come back to me. The sprint was to be as short as possible, because I knew the cramps could come back."

Christiane Soeder (Univega)
Photo ©: Jeff Jones
(Click for larger image)

Soeder didn't have the easiest of races, explaining to Cyclingnews, "There was a big crash on the Eikenberg, so I had to walk up it. I lost a lot of energy trying to reach the front of the race again. With the finish coming closer I felt stronger and stronger though. We escaped in the hill section but Mirjam Melchers was able to ride away from us. In the pursuit of Melchers, I worked together with Pitel. I could catch her with just two kilometres to go. Unfortunately, I used all my energy in my effort to catch her, so I didn't have any more power to win the sprint. "

Third was for Melchers' teammate Loes Gunnewijk, who beat Zoulfia Zabirova (Bigla) and Edwige Pitel for the final podium spot.

The World Cup lead remained with Ina Teutenberg (T-Mobile), who finished 11th today and has a healthy 45 point lead over Melchers and Sarah Ulmer, with Miho Oki (Nobili) just behind them in fourth place.

How it unfolded

There were 159 starters in Oudenaarde at 11:30, with most of the women looking anxiously at the skies for any more signs of rain. The sun was almost shining, though, and the roads had started to dry up as the women's peloton began its 112 km journey through the Vlaamse Ardennen. On the Paddestraat (km 24), the bunch was decimated, with only 50 riders left in front after the 2400m of wet, slippery cobbles.

The Haaghoek cobbles (km 69) saw the beginnings of the final selection, with Melchers attacking with Soeder, Anderson and Pitel. But the American Anderson didn't last long in the group, and was dropped on the Berendries. The three increased their advantage to over a minute on the peloton as they dropped into Brakel and tackled the Valkenberg. Melchers, just like Hoste and Boonen would later, put in a powerful attack there and dropped the other two, but now had to ride the last 30 km alone.

Loes Gunnewijk (Buitenpoort-Flexpoint)
Photo ©: Brecht Decaluwé
(Click for larger image)

The peloton was falling further behind, as were Pitel and Soeder. Melchers' gap stayed at 40 seconds, then went up to a minute on the Muur. But the steep cobbles above Geraardsbergen took their toll on the Dutch rider, and she began to lose speed. Over the next 15 km, she struggled over the Bosberg and still kept a 40 second advantage over Soeder, who left Pitel behind. The Austrian didn't give up, and managed to catch Melchers with just 2 km left. Unfortunately for her, the effort had cost too much, and even though Melchers was also in difficulty, she clearly won the sprint. Her second Ronde was in the bag, and the team capped off a great performance when Loes Gunnewijk finished third.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Jeff Jones/Cyclingnews.com

Images by Brecht Decaluwé/Cyclingnews.com

Images by CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net

Images by Ben Atkins/Cyclingnews.com

Results - 112 km

1 Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel (Ned) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint Team     3.16.57 (34.12 km/h)
2 Christiane Soeder (Aut) Univega Pro Cycling Team                   0.01
3 Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint Team                    0.53
4 Zoulfia Zabirova (Kaz) Bigla Cycling Team                          0.58
5 Edwige Pitel (Fra) Bianchi Aliverti Kookai                             
6 Nicole Cooke (GBr) Univega Pro Cycling Team                        1.20
7 Theresa Senff (Ger) Aa-Drink Cycling Team                              
8 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint Team                     
9 Judith Arndt (Ger) T-Mobile Professional Cycling                       
10 Sharon Van Dromme (Bel) Vlaanderen-Caprisonne-T Interim           1.31
11 Ina Teutenberg (Ger) T-Mobile Professional Cycling                2.38
12 Suzanne De Goede (Ned) Aa-Drink Cycling Team                          
13 Miho Oki (Jpn) Nobili Rubinetterie Menikini Cogeas                    
14 Annette Beutler (Swi) Elk Haus Nö                                     
15 Luisa Tamanini (Ita) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan                        
16 Volha Hayeva (Blr) Bianchi Aliverti Kookai                            
17 Tanja Hennes (Ger) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint Team                         
18 Dorte Lohse Rasmussen (Den) Bianchi Aliverti Kookai                   
19 Andrea Graus (Aut) Bigla Cycling Team                                 
20 Olga Zabelinskaya (Rus) Fenixs-Colnago                                
21 Sarah Düster (Ger) Univega Pro Cycling Team                           
22 Laure Werner (Bel) Vlaanderen-Caprisonne-T Interim                    
23 Modesta Vzesniauskaite (Ltu) A.S. Team F.R.W                          
24 Trine Hansen (Den) Bianchi Aliverti Kookai                            
25 Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) Univega Pro Cycling Team                     
26 Josephine Groenveld (Ned) Aa-Drink Cycling Team                       
27 Chantal Beltman (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland                     
28 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Nobili Rubinetterie Menikini Cogeas           
29 Magali Mocquery (Fra) French National Team                            
30 Evy Van Damme (Bel) Vlaanderen-Caprisonne-T Interim                   
31 Veronica Andreasson (Swe) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan                   
32 Cindy Pieters (Bel) Vlaanderen-Caprisonne-T Interim                   
33 Evelyn Garcia (ESa) Nobili Rubinetterie Menikini Cogeas               
34 An Van Rie (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam                             
35 Sofie Goor (Bel) Vlaanderen-Caprisonne-T Interim                      
36 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                    
37 Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan                         
38 Amber Neben (USA) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint Team                          
39 Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line              
40 Noemi Cantele (Ita) Bigla Cycling Team                                
41 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Univega Pro Cycling Team                        
42 Oenone Wood (Aus) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                  7.33
43 Karen Steurs (Bel) K.S.V.-Deerlijk-Gaverzicht                     8.48
44 Kathryn Watt (Aus) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam                           
45 Loes Sels (Bel) Vlaanderen-Caprisonne-T Interim                   9.06
46 Karin Aune (Swe) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox                  10.47
47 Emma Rickards (Aus) Univega Pro Cycling Team                          
48 Silvia Parietti (Ita) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan                       
49 Bertine Spijkerman (Ned) Therme Skin Care                             
50 Adrie Visser (Ned) Aa-Drink Cycling Team                              
51 Irene Van Den Broek (Ned) Therme Skin Care                            
52 Loes Markerink (Ned) @Work Cycling Team                               
53 Svetlana Bubnenkova (Rus) Fenixs-Colnago                              
54 Kirsten Wild (Ned) Aa-Drink Cycling Team                              
55 Lise Christensen (Den) Bianchi Aliverti Kookai                        
56 Linda Villumsen (Den) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint Team                      
57 Alexandra Le Henaff (Fra) Les Pruneaux D'agen                    10.59
58 Pascale Jeuland (Fra) French National Team                            
59 Sabine Fischer (Ger) German National Team                        11.31
60 Anna Zugno (Ita) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan                            
61 Eva Lechner (Ita) Fenixs-Colnago                                      
62 Ludivine Henrion (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam                       
63 Monica Holler (Swe) Bigla Cycling Team                                
64 Eva Lutz (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                         
65 Bärbel Jungmeier (Aut) Elk Haus Nö                                    
66 Rosane Kirch (Bra) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox                     
67 Nina Ovcharenko (Ukr) A.S. Team F.R.W                                 
68 Elisabeth Chevanne Brunel (Fra) Les Pruneaux D'agen                   
69 Christina Becker (Ger) T-Mobile Professional Cycling                  
70 Kimberly Bruckner Baldwin (USA) T-Mobile Professional Cycling         
71 Claudia Häusler (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                  
72 Magali Le Floch (Fra) T-Mobile Professional Cycling                   
73 Rasa Leleivyte (Ltu) Lithuanian National Team                         
74 Daiva Tuslaite (Ltu) Lithuanian National Team                         
75 Liesbeth De Vocht (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam                      
76 Janne Brok (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland                          
77 Sophie Creux (Fra) French National Team                               
78 Katia Longhin (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line                 
79 Debby Van De Berg (Ned) @Work Cycling Team                            
80 Patricia Schwager (Swi) Elk Haus Nö                                   
81 Emma Johansson (Swe) Bizkaia-Panda Software-Durango                   
82 Olivia Gollan (Aus) Nobili Rubinetterie Menikini Cogeas               
83 Iris Slappendel (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland                     
84 Iosune Murillo Elkano (Spa) Bizkaia-Panda Software-Durango            
85 Edita Unguryte (Ltu) Lithuanian National Team                         
86 Ombretta Ugolini (Ita) A.S. Team F.R.W                                
87 Kathleen Sterckx (Bel) Belgian National Team                          
88 Ilse Geldhof (Bel) K.S.V.-Deerlijk-Gaverzicht                         
89 Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line               
90 Magali Finot Laivier (Fra) French National Team                  12.41
91 Nathalie Jeuland (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope                             
92 Moniek Rotmensen (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland               13.06
93 Janneke Vos (Ned) Therme Skin Care                                    
94 Agne Bagdonaviciute (Ltu) Lithuanian National Team                    
95 Marije Profijt (Ned) Therme Skin Care                                 
96 Sigrid Corneo (Ita) Nobili Rubinetterie Menikini Cogeas               
97 Emmanuelle Merlot (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope                            
98 Daniela Fusar Poli (Ita) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan                    
99 Veronique Belleter (Bel) Belgian National Team                        
100 Monique Verstraten (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland                 
101 Tania Belvederesi (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line       13.16
102 Grace Verbeke (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam                         
103 Naiara Telletxea Lopez (Spa) Bizkaia-Panda Software-Durango          
104 Francesca Castrucci (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox             
105 Kristy Miggels (Ned) Therme Skin Care                                
 
DNF Regina Schleicher (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung               
DNF Anke Wichmann (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                   
DNF Kimberly Anderson (USA) T-Mobile Professional Cycling                
DNF Nicole Brändli (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team                              
DNF Andrea Knecht (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team                               
DNF Marta Vilajosana Andreu (Spa) Nobili Rubinetterie Menikini Cogeas    
DNF Nathalie Bates (Aus) Aa-Drink Cycling Team                           
DNF Maja Adamsen (Den) Fenixs-Colnago                                    
DNF Johanna Buick (NZl) Fenixs-Colnago                                   
DNF Elena Stramoysova (Rus) Fenixs-Colnago                               
DNF Martina Corazza (Ita) A.S. Team F.R.W                                
DNF Tetayna Palchynska (Ukr) A.S. Team F.R.W                             
DNF Kettj Manfrin (Ita) A.S. Team F.R.W                                  
DNF Erika Vilunaite (Ltu) Bianchi Aliverti Kookai                        
DNF Leticia Gil Parra (Spa) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line            
DNF Andrea Bosman (Ned) @Work Cycling Team                               
DNF Liesbeth Bakker (Ned) @Work Cycling Team                             
DNF Linda Ringlever (Ned) @Work Cycling Team                             
DNF Judith Helmink (Ned) @Work Cycling Team                              
DNF Cristina Alcalde Huertanos (Spa) Bizkaia-Panda Software-Durango      
DNF Maitane Telletxea Lopez (Spa) Bizkaia-Panda Software-Durango         
DNF Katharina Blum (Ger) Elk Haus Nö                                     
DNF Isabella Wieser (Aut) Elk Haus Nö                                    
DNF Eleonora Van Dijk (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland                  
DNF Christa Pirard (Ned) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam                        
DNF Emilie Jeannot (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope                              
DNF Tiina Nieminen (Fin) Vienne Futuroscope                              
DNF Aurore Jeudy (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope                                
DNF Karine Gautard (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope                              
DNF Liane Bahler (Ger) Therme Skin Care                                  
DNF Sylvie Riedle (Fra) Les Pruneaux D'agen                              
DNF Vicky Fournial (Fra) Les Pruneaux D'agen                             
DNF Sylvie Fragniere (Fra) Les Pruneaux D'agen                           
DNF Corinne Overney (Swi) Les Pruneaux D'agen                            
DNF Janildes Fernandes Silva (Bra) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox        
DNF Malgorzata Wysocka (Pol) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox              
DNF Ilaria Rinaldi (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox                  
DNF Fabienne Sandig (Ger) German National Team                           
DNF Elke Gebhardt (Ger) German National Team                             
DNF Claudia Stumpf (Ger) German National Team                            
DNF Marlen Johrend (Ger) German National Team                            
DNF Bianca Knoepfle (Ger) German National Team                           
DNF Urte Juodvalkyte (Ltu) Lithuanian National Team                      
DNF Roberta Pilkauskaite (Ltu) Lithuanian National Team                  
DNF Béatrice Thomas (Fra) French National Team                           
DNF Fanny Riberot (Fra) French National Team                             
DNF Lensy Debboudt (Bel) Belgian National Team                           
DNF Katleen Vermeiren (Bel) Belgian National Team                        
DNF Sjoukje Dufoer (Bel) Belgian National Team                           
DNF Caroline Van Peteghem (Bel) Belgian National Team                    
DNF Mieke De Clercq (Bel) K.S.V.-Deerlijk-Gaverzicht                     
DNF Sofie Verdonck (Bel) K.S.V.-Deerlijk-Gaverzicht                      
DNF Lien Beyen (Bel) K.S.V.-Deerlijk-Gaverzicht                          
DNF Ine Beyen (Bel) K.S.V.-Deerlijk-Gaverzicht                           
 
Starters: 159
Classified: 105

World Cup standings after round 3

 
1 Ina Teutenberg (Ger) T-Mobile Professional Cycling                  120 pts
2 Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel (Ned) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint Team          75
3 Sarah Ulmer (NZl)                                                    75
4 Miho Oki (Jpn) Nobili Rubinetterie Menikini Cogeas                   73
5 Tina Mayolo Pic (USA)                                                57
6 Annette Beutler (Swi) Elk Haus Nö                                    52
7 Christiane Soeder (Aut) Univega Pro Cycling Team                     50
8 Oenone Wood (Aus) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                     50
9 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint Team                   43
10 Nicole Cooke (GBr) Univega Pro Cycling Team                         42
11 Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) Univega Pro Cycling Team                   41
12 Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint Team                     35
13 Katherine Bates (Aus) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                35
14 Edwige Pitel (Fra) Bianchi Aliverti Kookai                          30
15 Zoulfia Zabirova (Kaz) Bigla Cycling Team                           30
16 Svetlana Bubnenkova (Rus) Fenixs-Colnago                            27
17 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan                    27
18 Tamara Boyd (NZl) Les Pruneaux d'Agen                               26
19 Gina Grain (Can) Giant Pro Cycling                                  24
20 Theresa Senff (Ger) AA-Drink Cycling Team                           21
21 Judith Arndt (Ger) T-Mobile Professional Cycling                    15
22 Sharon Van Dromme (Bel) Vlaanderen-Caprisonne-T Interim             11
23 Lang Meng (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling                                   10
24 Monia Baccaille (Ita) Saccarelli Emu Marsciano                      10
25 Olga Slyusareva (Rus)                                                9
26 Suzanne De Goede (Ned) AA-Drink Cycling Team                         9
27 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Univega Pro Cycling Team                       8
28 Hayley Brown (Aus)                                                   8
29 Olivia Gollan (Aus) Nobili Rubinetterie Menikini Cogeas              7
30 Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) A.S. Team F.R.W                               7
31 Emma Rickards (Aus) Univega Pro Cycling Team                         6
32 Luisa Tamanini (Ita) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan                       6
33 Sarah Düster (Ger) Univega Pro Cycling Team                          6
34 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                   5
35 Volha Hayeva (Blr) Bianchi Aliverti Kookai                           5
36 Tanja Hennes (Ger) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint Team                        4
37 Toni Bradshaw (NZl) Les Pruneaux d'Agen                              4
38 Dorte Lohse Rasmussen (Den) Bianchi Aliverti Kookai                  3
39 Larissa Kleinmann (Ger) GER                                          3
40 Kate Nichols (Aus)                                                   2
41 Melissa Holt (NZl)                                                   2
42 Andrea Graus (Aut) Bigla Cycling Team                                2
43 Olga Zabelinskaya (Rus) Fenixs-Colnago                               1
44 Nikki Egyed (Aus)                                                    1
45 Catherine Sell (NZl)                                                 1
 
Teams
 
1 Univega Pro Cycling Team                                            153 pts
2 T-Mobile Professional Cycling                                       135
3 Buitenpoort-Flexpoint Team                                          132
4 New Zealand                                                         107
5 Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                                       90
6 Nobili Rubinetterie Menikini Cogeas                                  85
7 Elk Haus Nö                                                          52
8 Russian Federation                                                   36
9 Bianchi Aliverti Kookai                                              35
10 Giant Pro Cycling                                                   34
11 Bigla Cycling Team                                                  32
12 Aa-Drink Cycling Team                                               30
13 United States Of America                                            30
14 Vlaanderen - Caprisonne - T Interim                                 11
15 Italy                                                               10
16 A.S. Team F.R.W                                                      7
17 Safi - Pasta Zara Manhattan                                          6
18 Germany                                                              3
19 Fenixs - Colnago                                                     1