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6th Women's Ronde van Vlaanderen - CDM
Belgium, April 5, 2009
Teutenberg takes her Monument
By Daniel Benson in Meerbeke
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Ina Teutenberg won the Ronde van Vlaanderen Vrouwen, the women's Tour of Flanders, with a sprint finish ahead of Kirsten Wild (Cervelo TestTeam) and Emma Johansson (Red Sun Cycling Team), to secure Columbia High Road's first World Cup win of the season. The German sprinter Teutenberg came through in the last hundred meters after World Cup leader Marianne Vos's solo attack was chased down with only two kilometres remaining. Teutenberg's achievement was all the more impressive as she was left without any teammates in the final kilometres of the race.
"I was on my own so I just sat in for the last 15km as it was a case of not wasting energy, and the scenario played right into my hands. The race was hard enough on the hills but luckily Cervelo had the numbers, and they were interested in working for a sprint and brought it back together," said a delighted Teutenberg at the finish. "Kristen started to wind things up with 200 meters to go, and I came around her with 50 meters left. She's fast, so I couldn't wait too long in case she got a gap."
Earlier in the morning, the ladies began their 131.6km cobbled classic - containing the same final 56 kilometres as the men's race and set to finish in Meerbeke - on a damp and cold start line. The field was without last year's winner Judith Arndt and two-time champion Mirjam Melchers Van Poppel (Team Flexpoint), both still recovering from illness, but had recognised stars such as World Champion Nicole Cooke (Vision 1 Racing) and Marrianne Vos (DSB Bank - LTO) and Kristen Armstrong (Cervelo Testteam).
Slow burner
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The initial miles were tame, with Cervelo TestTeam setting the pace and marking moves until the Geraadsbergen. From that point, a flurry of attacks were launched, with Vos and World Champion Cooke instigating the moves. "The race split to pieces right there and our whole team, expect for Ina, was shot right out the back," Linda Villumsen Serup (Team Columbia) told Cyclingnews. "I tried to get back on but I had nothing left."
After a quick regroup, Vos finally managed to break free on the Bosberg and it looked like she would win her second World Cup race on the bounce with a gap of around fifteen seconds. "I thought I could stay away but the group behind me was too big, and I had nothing left for the sprint."
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Cervelo, now back on the front, caught Vos and with a twenty-strong field coming into the final bend and uphill finish, it looked like they had the numbers to claim the win. "Kirsten (Wild) just didn't have that bit extra you need in finishes like that, but she crashed and still finished second, so that's really rewarding," said American Armstrong. "We worked hard and brought Vos back and had the numbers, but Ina nipped her at the line."
Despite an aggressive performance, Britain's Cooke was left disappointed with her fourth placed finish. "I was away with a group, but we were caught too far from the finish. I knew it would be a sprint from there on in, and I hoped I would be more competitive. After all, I am a bike rider. From where I started training and with my programme being based around goals in September, I'm happy with where I am now," said Cooke.
But the plaudits belonged to Teutenberg, after her faultless performance. "When Mark Cavendish won Milan San Remo I joked with him about winning a Monument as well. Now I've done it, so now we're even.”
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Davide Tricarico/ladiescycling.net
- The start of the women's race
- Marianne Vos (DSB Bank - LTO) and others ride the cobbles.
- Monique Van De Ree (Leontien.nl)
- The Red Sun Cycling Team
- Ina Teutenberg (Columbia-Highroad) wins the final sprint.
- Ina Teutenberg (Columbia-Highroad)
- Marianne Vos (DSB Bank - LTO) is the leader of the women's World Cup.
- The Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam gets introduced
- Crashes are not uncommon in the races in Vlaanderen.
- Sometimes also nicknamed the Ronde van Fall-eren...
- Italian champion Fabiana Luperini in the break of the day.
- Olympic and World Champion Nicole Cooke early in the race.
- The Molenberg is a toughy.
- An older fan along the course
- Alona Andruk (Safi -Pasta Zara Titanedi) goes solo
- Andruk made a good attempt but was caught later.
- Andruk had the advantage of not having to worry about others crashing on some of the cobble sections.
- The Wielermonument along the route of the Ronde van Vlaanderen.
- Sometimes it is better to ride on the sidewalk but the organisers made it tricky enough.
- Some climbs were too steep and riders were forced to walk.
- The riders approach the chapel on the Muur van Geraardsbergen.
- The Muur is steep
- The peloton rides up to the top.
- The Muur's final pitch after you think you have already done it.
- Giorgia Bronzini (Safi -Pasta Zara Titanedi) won the field sprint for 19th place.
- Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Columbia-Highroad) celebrates her win ahead of Kirsten Wild (Cervélo Testteam, l) and Emma Johansson (Red Sun Cycling Team).
Results
1 Ina Teutenberg (Ger) Columbia-Highroad 3.30.12 (38.849 km/h) 2 Kirsten Wild (Ned) Cervelo Testteam 3 Emma Johansson (Swe) Red Sun Cycling Team 4 Nicole Cooke (GBr) Vision 1 Racing 5 Martine Bras (Ned) Selle Italia Ghezzi 6 Marianne Vos (Ned) DSB Bank - LTO 7 Julia Martisova (Rus) Gauss RDZ Ormu - Colnago 8 Noemi Cantele (Ita) Bigla Cycling Team 9 Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Team Flexpoint 10 Grace Verbeke (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam 11 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 12 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Team Flexpoint 13 Christiane Soeder (Aut) Cervelo Testteam 14 Eva Lutz (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 15 Tania Belvederesi (Ita) Gauss RDZ Ormu - Colnago 16 Vicki Whitelaw (Aus) Vision 1 Racing 0.06 17 Sarah Düster (Ger) Cervelo Testteam 18 Kristin Armstrong (USA) Cervelo Testteam 19 Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Safi -Pasta Zara Titanedi 2.01 20 Liesbet De Vocht (Bel) DSB Bank - Nederland Bloeit 21 Ludivine Henrion (Bel) Red Sun Cycling Team 22 Pascale Jeuland (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope 23 Marta Vila Josana Andreu (Spa) Team Dila' Kuota 24 Catherine Hare Willianson (GBr) Fenixs 25 Adrie Visser (Ned) DSB Bank - LTO 26 Modesta Vzesniauskaite (Ltu) Bigla Cycling Team 27 Christel Ferrier Bruneau (Fra) Vision 1 Racing 28 Catherine Delfosse (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam 29 Sophie Creux (Fra) ESGL 93 - GSD Gestion 30 Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned) DSB Bank - LTO 31 Kelly Druyts (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen Thompson Ladies Team 32 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Team Dila' Kuota 33 Lieselot Decroix (Bel) Cervelo Testteam 34 Chantal Blaak (Ned) Leontien.nl 35 Marina Jaunatre (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope 36 Mascha Pijnenborg (Ned) Red Sun Cycling Team 37 Nicole Brändli (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team 38 Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Gauss RDZ Ormu - Colnago 39 Jessica Allen (GBr) Great Britain National Team 40 Andrea Bosman (Ned) Leontien.nl 41 Sjoukje Dufoer (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen Thompson Ladies Team 42 Alexandra Wrubleski (Can) Columbia-Highroad 43 Irene Van Den Broek (Ned) Leontien.nl 44 Lucinda Brand (Ned) Leontien.nl 45 Loes Sels (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen Thompson Ladies Team 46 Kimberly Anderson (USA) Columbia-Highroad 47 Linda Villumsen Serup (Den) Columbia-Highroad 48 Lea Davison (USA) USA National Team 49 Amber Neben (USA) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 50 Claudia Häusler (Ger) Cervelo Testteam 51 Martina Corazza (Ita) Gauss RDZ Ormu - Colnago 52 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam 3.03 53 Karin Aune (Swe) Fenixs 54 Daniela Pintarelli (Aut) Team Uniqa - ELK 55 Rasa Leleivyte (Ltu) Safi -Pasta Zara Titanedi 56 Iturriagaechevarria Mazaga (Spa) Safi -Pasta Zara Titanedi 57 Carmen Mcnellis (USA) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 58 Petra Dijkman (Ned) Red Sun Cycling Team 59 Oxana Kozonchuk (Rus) Selle Italia Ghezzi 60 Iris Slappendel (Ned) Team Flexpoint 61 Lien Lanssens (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam 62 Audrey Cordon (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope 63 Charlotte Becker (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 64 Karin Thürig (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team 65 Luise Keller (Ger) Columbia-Highroad 66 Trine Schmidt (Den) Team Flexpoint 67 Jessie Daams (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen Thompson Ladies Team 4.54 68 Katie Colclough (GBr) Great Britain National Team 69 Kim Schoonbaert (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam 70 Denise Zuckermandel (Ger) German National Team 71 Martina Ruzickova (Cze) Team Uniqa - ELK 72 Ree Monique Van De (Ned) Leontien.nl 73 Laure Werner (Bel) Red Sun Cycling Team 74 Emanuela Azzini (Ita) Gauss RDZ Ormu - Colnago 75 Kaytee Boyd (NZl) Selle Italia Ghezzi 76 Tina Liebig (Ger) DSB Bank - LTO 77 Chantal Beltman (Ned) Columbia-Highroad 78 Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Selle Italia Ghezzi 79 Sigrid Corneo (Slo) Selle Italia Ghezzi 80 Alona Andruk (Ukr) Safi -Pasta Zara Titanedi 81 Saskia Elemans (Ned) Team Flexpoint 82 Angela Hennig (Ger) DSB Bank - LTO 83 Jacobien Kanis (Ned) Team Flexpoint 7.12 DNF Christina Becker (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung DNF Marlen Johrend (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung DNF Jennifer Hohl (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team DNF Bettina Kuhn (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team DNF Agne Bagdonaviciute (Ltu) Selle Italia Ghezzi DNF Eleonora Suelotto (Ita) Gauss RDZ Ormu - Colnago DNF Latoya Brulee (Bel) Red Sun Cycling Team DNF Alessandra Borchi (Ita) Safi -Pasta Zara Titanedi DNF Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Safi -Pasta Zara Titanedi DNF Gabriella Day (GBr) Vision 1 Racing DNF Debby Van De Berg (Ned) Vision 1 Racing DNF Dani King (GBr) Vision 1 Racing DNF Vuyst Sofie De (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam DNF Saneila Biagi (Ita) Team Dila' Kuota DNF Silvia Tirado Marquez (Spa) Team Dila' Kuota DNF Alice Donadoni (Ita) Team Dila' Kuota DNF Francesca Faustini (Ita) Team Dila' Kuota DNF Natalia Boyarskaya (Rus) Fenixs DNF Suzie Godart (Lux) Fenixs DNF Corine Hierckens (Bel) Fenixs DNF Urte Juodvalkyte (Ltu) Fenixs DNF Marlijn Binnendijk (Ned) Leontien.nl DNF Florence Girardet (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope DNF Alessia Quarta (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox DNF Rosane Kirch (Bra) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox DNF Oliveira Flavia M. (USA) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox DNF Carly Hibberd (Aus) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox DNF Giulia Lazzerini (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox DNF Manuela Grunzweil (Aut) Team Uniqa - ELK DNF Bernadette Schober (Aut) Team Uniqa - ELK DNF Nathalie Lamborelle (Lux) Team Uniqa - ELK DNF Stefanie Degle (Ger) Team Uniqa - ELK DNF Béatrice Thomas (Fra) ESGL 93 - GSD Gestion DNF Christine Majerus (Lux) ESGL 93 - GSD Gestion DNF Estelle Patou (Fra) ESGL 93 - GSD Gestion DNF Mélodie Lesueur (Fra) ESGL 93 - GSD Gestion DNF Katrien Van Looy (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen Thompson Ladies Team DNF Jolien D`Hoore (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen Thompson Ladies Team DNF Danielle Bekkering (Ned) Team Hitec Products UCK DNF Eyelien Bekkering (Ned) Team Hitec Products UCK DNF Tone Hatteland (Nor) Team Hitec Products UCK DNF Bjørg Eva Jensen (Nor) Team Hitec Products UCK DNF Isabelle Söderberg (Swe) Team Hitec Products UCK DNF Margriet Helena Kloppenburg (Den) Team Hitec Products UCK DNF Hanna Amend (Ger) German National Team DNF Jana Schemmer (Ger) German National Team DNF Laura Ditmann (Ger) German National Team DNF Sharon Van Essen (Ned) Dutch National Team DNF Sissy Van Alebeek (Ned) Dutch National Team DNF Anne Eversdijk (Ned) Dutch National Team DNF Hannah Welter (Ned) Dutch National Team DNF Roxane Knetemann (Ned) Dutch National Team DNF Jessica Phillips (USA) USA National Team DNF Alley Stacher (USA) USA National Team DNF Kristin Mchrath (USA) USA National Team DNF Amber Rais (USA) USA National Team DNF Lucy Martin (GBr) Great Britain National Team DNF Alexandra Greenfield (GBr) Great Britain National Team DNF Joanna Rowsell (GBr) Great Britain National Team
