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Geelong Women's Tour - 2.2

Australia, February 27-March 1, 2007

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Stage 4 - March 1: Barwon Heads road race, 80km

World Cup Champion wins Geelong Women's Tour

Nicole Cooke becomes first non-Australian to claim coveted title

By John Michael Flynn in Barwon Heads, Victoria

Nicole Cooke (Raleigh Lifeforce Creation)
Photo ©: John Veage
(Click for larger image)

Twenty-three year-old Welsh cyclist Nicole Cooke (Raleigh Lifeforce Creation) made history today, becoming the first non-Australian to win the UCI women's season-opening Geelong Women's Tour as the race reached a dramatic climax at Barwon Heads on the Victorian coast.

It was a smashing effort from the Brit, who, despite being under siege on a number of fronts, showed pure class to stave off a series of determined attacks from the magenta train of T-Mobile, not to mention fighting for every available second in the intermediate sprints.

Such was the attacking nature of today's race that Cooke's overall victory in the general classification was stamped with the label 'premium quality'.

"Today the T-Mobile team threw down the gauntlet and opened up the racing," Cooke told Cyclingnews post-stage. "With my team-mates we were able to ride within our capabilities and we were able to seal off the stage with an overall win. We're absolutely delighted."

In the final analysis, it was consistency over three days of racing which made the difference for the Raleigh Life-Force cyclist. Cooke might not have won a stage, but her tenacity in fighting from start to finish, with a string of podium results and bonus seconds from intermediate sprints, tallied up.

"I think it required effort on all three days of racing," Cooke said, reflecting on her season-opening Tour victory. "I had a good time trial performance, picked up some bonuses and got on the podium in the crit which got me into the jersey."

"And I was able to control the racing yesterday, with some good work by my team," she added.

Pic makes it a threepeat

Tina Pic gets the stage win
Photo ©: John Flynn
(Click for larger image)

American Tina Pic (Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light) also continued her love affair with Australia's sea-change capital, making it a three-peat of stage victories at Barwon Heads.

The veteran sprinter powered home in the bunch kick, ahead of Rochelle Gilmore (Menikini Gysko) and Jenny Macpherson (Australian National Team). But, for a time, there were much greater spoils on offer for the Colavita girls, with general classification contender Dotsie Bausch making up valuable points in the intermediate sprints, before being caught behind a crash.

"Dotsie was going really well and going for the sprints and then we lost her in one of those crashes," the stage winner explained. "I felt bummed, I was so bummed, but the cool thing is I have this pink bike this year and for every win we're donating 1000 dollars to breast cancer research!"

How the race unfolded

Characteristic windy coastal conditions greeted the women's peloton for the start of the 76 kilometre Geelong Tour finale, the race consisting of five laps around the postcard coastal holiday escape of Barwon Heads.

Larissa Kleinmann
Photo ©: John Flynn
(Click for larger image)

Heading into the final stage Nicole Cooke led the race by a slender margin of seven seconds from the German National Team's Larissa Kleinmann, with American Dotsie Bausch one second further in arrears.

Bausch was the first of the outright contenders to play her hand, finishing second in the first intermediate sprint, behind Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine) at the end of lap one.

The winner of Tuesday's time trial, Bausch went one better in the second intermediate sprint, but Cooke was paying close attention to the mathematics and finished third, to protect her slim points margin.

On lap three, the magenta train of T-Mobile split the race apart. Its intentions clear, to hurt as many riders as possible and hopefully propel one or more of their own up the road in a winning breakaway.

T-Mobile fans
Photo ©: John Flynn
(Click for larger image)

Remarkably, it was the winner of the two previous stages, sprinter Ina Teutenberg, who did much of the sacrificing for the T-Mobile cause, pulling huge turns on the front.

T-Mobile newcomer Alexis Rhodes, who 'accidentally' finished up winning the best under 23 rider's jersey, explained the rationale.

"Today we were trying to go for the overall and we got on the front and did a bit of a teams time trial and managed to shell most of the bunch," Rhodes said. "The girls were awesome but we couldn't shake Nicole [Cooke], she's a class rider."

The combination of a frantic race pace and the strong cross winds on course led, inevitably, to a massive pileup of riders.

Dotsie Bausch
Photo ©: John Flynn
(Click for larger image)

It was a crash which would ultimately effect the general classification. Dotsie Bausch, who was challenging strongly, was caught behind the mishap.

"Yeah, there was a split from the crashing," a disappointed Bausch said. "We were going for time bonuses, we were going for the purple jersey, we were three seconds away from the jersey and there was just a big bad crash on the third lap.

"I almost caught back on and in 100 metres there was another huge crash, and then Tina made it and I think 30 girls were up the road."

The group included the woman in the purple race leader's jersey, Nicole Cooke, who still had plenty to do defending the race lead.

At the third intermediate sprint, German contender Larissa Kleinmann kicked ahead and scored the maximum time bonus, but Cooke comfortably finished second and minimized the damage.

The winning team:
Photo ©: John Veage
(Click for larger image)

"There was a lot to keep track of and I don't know how we did it, I'm really struggling to remember the race," Cooke said after one of the most thrilling stages in the short history of the Geelong Women's Tour. "Everything happened, between sprints, lead-outs, crashes, windy echelons, chasing, closing gaps, attacks, counters, the finish somewhere in there, I don't know it was a very busy day."

Cooke's day at the office became even busier when T-Mobile played another of its aces late in the race. But this time around the attack from three-time Geelong Tour Champion Oenone Wood brought no result.

The Raleigh Lifeforce Creation team worked to the death defending Cooke's lead. The Brit eventually crossing the finish line with the leading group for the hardest earned of Geelong Tour victories.

"This is awesome, we've started the season, our first UCI race and we've won it," Cooke said.

Cooke finished the race as the winner of both the general classification and the points classification.

T-Mobile still team to watch at World Cup

As promising as her form appears to be, the World Cup Champion is cautious ahead of Saturday's Geelong World Cup. T-Mobile was most impressive today, despite going home without a result.

"I think the whole T-Mobile team, we've seen that they're really in form this week," Cooke noted. "With the sprinters we've seen Gilmore on the podium every day, so I think she's going to be a rider to watch and I'm sure there are other riders that you just can't count out like Ljungskog or Beutler.

The T-Mobile team
Photo ©: John Veage
(Click for larger image)

"They've perhaps been testing waters a little bit this week but not showing their cards," she added.

Another second placing today has 2005 Geelong World Cup winner Rochelle Gilmore feeling more confident, provided she can get her timing right when the moment arrives.

"I probably came off the wheel a little bit late, I feel like I've got the power but I just hesitate," Gilmore said. "I'm disappointed with my mentality."

A consummate professional, Gilmore is banking on a change of attitude and tactics between now and then, to bring the ultimate result.

"It's a big race on Saturday and it's not worth gambling with," Gilmore said. "If I get the wheel I'll be looking at the line a lot earlier."

Gilmore will be one of many riders studying the course tomorrow ahead of Saturday's World Cup race which rolls out of the Geelong waterfront at 10.30a.m.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by John Veage

Images by John Flynn/Cyclingnews.com

Results

1 Tina Pic (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light       1.59.47
2 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Menikini Gysko                                       
3 Jenny Macpherson (Aus) Australian National Team                             
4 Nicole Cooke (GBr) Raleigh Lifeforce Creation                               
5 Katherine Bates (Aus) T-Mobile Women                                        
6 Charlotte Becker (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                       
7 Melissa Holt (NZl) BikeNZ New Zealand National Team                         
8 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                          
9 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Team Flexpoint                                      
10 Janildes Fernandes (Bra) Brazilian National Team                           
11 Larissa Kleinmann (Ger) German National Team                               
12 Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) Raleigh Lifeforce Creation                        
13 Catherine Hare (GBr) Biggin & Scott                                        
14 Leigh Hobson (Can) Cheerwine                                               
15 Judith Arndt (Ger) T-Mobile Women                                          
16 Lorian Graham (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport                            
17 Michelle Hyland (NZl) BikeNZ New Zealand National Team                     
18 Betina Hold (Can) Cheerwine                                                
19 Emma Rickards (Aus) Raleigh Lifeforce Creation                             
20 Vicki Whitelaw (Aus) Landlink Cycling Team                                 
21 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                     
22 Jennifer Fay (Irl) Biggin & Scott                                          
23 Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Team Flexpoint                                        
24 Toni Bradshaw (NZl) BikeNZ New Zealand National Team                       
25 Gina Waibl (NZl) Team Kiwi                                                 
26 Sarah Düster (Ger) Raleigh Lifeforce Creation                              
27 Miho Oki (Jpn) Menikini Gysko                                              
28 Linda Villumsen (Den) T-Mobile Women                                       
29 Alexis Rhodes (Aus) T-Mobile Women                                         
30 Olivia Gollan (Aus) Menikini Gysko                                         
31 Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Ger) T-Mobile Women                                   
32 Eva Lutz (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                              
33 Oenone Wood (Aus) T-Mobile Women                                           
34 Dotsie Bausch (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light    0.45
35 Karin Aune (Swe) Menikini Gysko                                            
36 Laura Van Gilder (USA) Cheerwine                                           
37 Kate Nichols (Aus) Australian National Team                                
38 Courtney Le Lay (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport                          
39 Theresa Cliff-Ryan (USA) Landlink Cycling Team                             
40 Natalie Bates (Aus) NSW Institute of Sport                                 
41 Sara Carrigan (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport                            
42 Jocelyn Loane (Aus) Australian National Team                               
43 Patricia Palmer (Aus) MB Coaching                                          
44 Nikki Egyed (Aus) Australian National Team                                 
45 Andrea Graus (Aut) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                          
46 Sarah Ulmer (NZl) BikeNZ New Zealand National Team                         
47 Madeleine Sandig (Ger) Team Flexpoint                                      
48 Loes Markerink (Ned) Team Flexpoint                                        
49 Angela Brodtka (Ger) German National Team                                  
50 Tanja Slater (GBr) Great Britain National Team                         1.00
51 Amanda Spratt (Aus) Australian National Team                               
52 Janine Ridsdale (Aus) Team South Coast - raceconcept.net               1.11
53 Maryam Rogers (GBr) Great Britain National Team                        2.26
54 Annelies Basten (NZl) Team Kiwi                                            
55 Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) NSW Institute of Sport                          7.12
56 Liz Hayman (Aus) Team South Coast - raceconcept.net                        
57 Peta Mullens (Aus) NSW Institute of Sport                                  
58 Brei Gudsell (NZl) Team Kiwi                                               
59 Alison Powers (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light        
60 Amber Jenkins (Aus) Landlink Cycling Team                                  
61 Sheree Richmond (Aus) MB Coaching                                          
62 Toireasa Gallagher (Aus) NSW Institute of Sport                            
63 Sophie Ruderman (GBr) Biggin & Scott                                       
64 Niki Fisher (Aus) Team South Coast - raceconcept.net                       
65 Louise Kerr (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport                              
66 Deborah Fagg (Aus) Landlink Cycling Team                                   
67 Rachel O'connell (Aus) Cheerwine                                           
68 Camila Rodrigues (Bra) Brazilian National Team                             
69 Sarah Murdoch (NZl) Team Kiwi                                              
70 Nina Köhn (Ger) German National Team                                       
71 Sheba Farrin (USA) MB Coaching                                             
72 Hannah Banks (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport                             
73 Gail Johnston (Aus) Team South Coast - raceconcept.net                     
74 Brooke Ourada (USA) Cheerwine                                              
75 Virgina Henning (Ger) German National Team                                 
76 Emma Lovelock (Aus) Team South Coast - raceconcept.net                     
77 Liz Young (Aus) MB Coaching                                            9.04
78 Rebecca Jones (GBr) MB Coaching                                       16.27
DNF Priska Doppmann (Swi) Raleigh Lifeforce Creation                          
DNF Sereina Trachsel (Swi) Raleigh Lifeforce Creation                         
DNF Regina Schleicher (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                    
DNF Dorte Rasmussen (Den) Menikini Gysko                                      
DNF Alex Wrubleski (Can) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light      
DNF Candice Sullivan (Aus) Australian National Team                           
DNF Clemilda Fernandes (Bra) Brazilian National Team                          
DNF Uenia Fernandes (Bra) Brazilian National Team                             
DNF Naomi Williams (Aus) NSW Institute of Sport                               
DNF Skye-Lee Armstrong (Aus) NSW Institute of Sport                           
DNF Carla Ryan (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport                              
DNF Kerri-Anne Torckler (NZl) Team Kiwi                                       
DNF Jemma O'brien (Aus) Team South Coast - raceconcept.net                    
DNF Annette Beutler (Swi) Team Flexpoint                                      
DNF Rushlee Buchanan (NZl) BikeNZ New Zealand National Team                   
 
Intermediate sprint 1 - 15.2km
 
1 Laura Van Gilder (USA) Cheerwine                                           6 pts
2 Dotsie Bausch (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light        4
3 Angela Brodtka (Ger) German National Team                                  2
 
Intermediate sprint 2 - 30.4km
 
1 Dotsie Bausch (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light        6 pts
2 Annette Beutler (Swi) Team Flexpoint                                       4
3 Nicole Cooke (GBr) Raleigh Lifeforce Creation                              2
 
Intermediate sprint 3 - 45.6km
 
1 Larissa Kleinmann (Ger) German National Team                               6 pts
2 Nicole Cooke (GBr) Raleigh Lifeforce Creation                              4
3 Janildes Fernandes (Bra) Brazilian National Team                           2
 
Intermediate sprint 4 - 60.8 km
 
1 Nicole Cooke (GBr) Raleigh Lifeforce Creation                              6 pts
2 Nikki Egyed (Aus) Australian National Team                                 4
3 Miho Oki (Jpn) Menikini Gysko                                              2
 
Final sprint 
 
1 Tina Pic (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light             8 pts
2 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Menikini Gysko                                      6
3 Jenny Macpherson (Aus) Australian National Team                            4
 
Final General classification
 
1 Nicole Cooke (GBr) Raleigh Lifeforce Creation                        6.15.46
2 Larissa Kleinmann (Ger) German National Team                            0.10
3 Judith Arndt (Ger) T-Mobile Women                                       0.23
4 Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Ger) T-Mobile Women                                0.26
5 Oenone Wood (Aus) T-Mobile Women                                        0.28
6 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Team Flexpoint                                  0.40
7 Tina Pic (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light          0.46
8 Vicki Whitelaw (Aus) Landlink Cycling Team                              0.47
9 Dotsie Bausch (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light     0.54
10 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                 0.56
11 Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Team Flexpoint                                        
12 Alexis Rhodes (Aus) T-Mobile Women                                     1.05
13 Sarah Düster (Ger) Raleigh Lifeforce Creation                          1.07
14 Eva Lutz (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                          1.13
15 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                         
16 Katherine Bates (Aus) T-Mobile Women                                       
17 Laura Van Gilder (USA) Cheerwine                                           
18 Leigh Hobson (Can) Cheerwine                                           1.16
19 Olivia Gollan (Aus) Menikini Gysko                                     1.18
20 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Menikini Gysko                                  1.24
21 Toni Bradshaw (NZl) BikeNZ New Zealand National Team                   1.25
22 Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) Raleigh Lifeforce Creation                    1.27
23 Sara Carrigan (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport                        1.28
24 Michelle Hyland (NZl) BikeNZ New Zealand National Team                 1.29
25 Kate Nichols (Aus) Australian National Team                                
26 Melissa Holt (NZl) BikeNZ New Zealand National Team                    1.36
27 Nikki Egyed (Aus) Australian National Team                             1.37
28 Natalie Bates (Aus) NSW Institute of Sport                             1.39
29 Betina Hold (Can) Cheerwine                                            1.47
30 Emma Rickards (Aus) Raleigh Lifeforce Creation                         1.50
31 Andrea Graus (Aut) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                      2.00
32 Karin Aune (Swe) Menikini Gysko                                        2.04
33 Madeleine Sandig (Ger) Team Flexpoint                                  2.08
34 Linda Villumsen (Den) T-Mobile Women                                       
35 Catherine Hare (GBr) Biggin & Scott                                        
36 Gina Waibl (NZl) Team Kiwi                                             2.10
37 Tanja Slater (GBr) Great Britain National Team                         2.11
38 Angela Brodtka (Ger) German National Team                              4.16
39 Lorian Graham (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport                        5.21
40 Charlotte Becker (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                  5.55
41 Janine Ridsdale (Aus) Team South Coast - raceconcept.net               5.58
42 Jenny Macpherson (Aus) Australian National Team                        6.07
43 Patricia Palmer (Aus) MB Coaching                                      6.37
44 Janildes Fernandes (Bra) Brazilian National Team                       6.39
45 Jocelyn Loane (Aus) Australian National Team                           7.05
46 Annelies Basten (NZl) Team Kiwi                                        7.46
47 Sarah Ulmer (NZl) BikeNZ New Zealand National Team                     7.52
48 Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) NSW Institute of Sport                          8.14
49 Amanda Spratt (Aus) Australian National Team                           8.16
50 Brooke Ourada (USA) Cheerwine                                          8.48
51 Miho Oki (Jpn) Menikini Gysko                                          9.28
52 Alison Powers (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light    9.34
53 Toireasa Gallagher (Aus) NSW Institute of Sport                       11.50
54 Niki Fisher (Aus) Team South Coast - raceconcept.net                  11.57
55 Hannah Banks (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport                        12.02
56 Peta Mullens (Aus) NSW Institute of Sport                             12.38
57 Liz Hayman (Aus) Team South Coast - raceconcept.net                   12.46
58 Sarah Murdoch (NZl) Team Kiwi                                         12.56
59 Jennifer Fay (Irl) Biggin & Scott                                     13.05
60 Brei Gudsell (NZl) Team Kiwi                                          13.15
61 Theresa Cliff-Ryan (USA) Landlink Cycling Team                        14.23
62 Sophie Ruderman (GBr) Biggin & Scott                                  14.28
63 Amber Jenkins (Aus) Landlink Cycling Team                             14.51
64 Deborah Fagg (Aus) Landlink Cycling Team                                   
65 Rachel O'connell (Aus) Cheerwine                                      15.02
66 Loes Markerink (Ned) Team Flexpoint                                   16.15
67 Virgina Henning (Ger) German National Team                            18.19
68 Louise Kerr (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport                         19.41
69 Nina Köhn (Ger) German National Team                                  23.09
70 Gail Johnston (Aus) Team South Coast - raceconcept.net                23.37
71 Liz Young (Aus) MB Coaching                                           24.05
72 Sheba Farrin (USA) MB Coaching                                        24.26
73 Emma Lovelock (Aus) Team South Coast - raceconcept.net                25.32
74 Sheree Richmond (Aus) MB Coaching                                     32.13
75 Courtney Le Lay (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport                     32.47
76 Maryam Rogers (GBr) Great Britain National Team                       36.11
77 Camila Rodrigues (Bra) Brazilian National Team                        40.29
78 Rebecca Jones (GBr) MB Coaching                                       51.11
 
Points classification
 
1 Nicole Cooke (GBr) Raleigh Lifeforce Creation                             26 pts
2 Tina Pic (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light            18
3 Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Ger) T-Mobile Women                                  16
4 Oenone Wood (Aus) T-Mobile Women                                          16
5 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Menikini Gysko                                     16
6 Dotsie Bausch (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light       10
7 Nikki Egyed (Aus) Australian National Team                                10
8 Larissa Kleinmann (Ger) German National Team                               6
9 Laura Van Gilder (USA) Cheerwine                                           6
10 Jenny Macpherson (Aus) Australian National Team                           4
11 Clemilda Fernandes (Bra) Brazilian National Team                          4
11 Annette Beutler (Swi) Team Flexpoint                                      4
13 Olivia Gollan (Aus) Menikini Gysko                                        2
14 Melissa Holt (NZl) BikeNZ New Zealand National Team                       2
15 Angela Brodtka (Ger) German National Team                                 2
16 Janildes Fernandes (Bra) Brazilian National Team                          2
17 Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) NSW Institute of Sport                             2
18 Miho Oki (Jpn) Menikini Gysko                                             2
19 Alex Wrubleski (Can) Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light      2
 
Young rider classification
 
1 Alexis Rhodes (Aus) T-Mobile Women                                   6.16.51
2 Michelle Hyland (NZl) BikeNZ New Zealand National Team                  0.23
3 Kate Nichols (Aus) Australian National Team                             0.24
4 Linda Villumsen (Den) T-Mobile Women                                    1.03
5 Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) NSW Institute of Sport                           7.09
6 Amanda Spratt (Aus) Australian National Team                            7.10
7 Hannah Banks (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport                         10.57
8 Peta Mullens (Aus) NSW Institute of Sport                              11.33
9 Loes Markerink (Ned) Team Flexpoint                                    15.10
10 Virgina Henning (Ger) German National Team                            17.14
11 Louise Kerr (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport                         18.35
12 Nina Köhn (Ger) German National Team                                  22.03
13 Emma Lovelock (Aus) Team South Coast - raceconcept.net                24.26
14 Courtney Le Lay (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport                     31.42

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