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Geelong Women's Tour - 2.2

Australia, February 22-24, 2005

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Stage 4 - Thursday, February 24: Road Stage Lara, 112.9km

Wood takes stage and Tour in clean sweep

By Mikkeli Godfree

Race winner Wood
Photo ©: John Veage
Click for larger image

In testing conditions, 24-year old Oenone Wood has taken her second successive Geelong Tour victory in fine style by taking the stage, the sprint jersey and the overall - confirming her as the rider to watch at this weekend's World Cup. It was an absolutely flawless performance by the Nürnberger team who ended up with three riders in the front group of six who fought it out for victory in the 11.2.9km stage.

It was a successful day at the office also for the Buitenpoort-Flexpoint team. Susanne Ljungskog showed her Swedish National Champion jersey at the front of the race for the first time to take second on the stage and second on GC whilst Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel took third on the stage to move up to fourth on GC.

However, the rider too lose out overall was Kate Bates. Bates climbed Mt Wallace fantastically to be just off the back of the Nürnberger riders driving the race but couldn't make it onto the front group of six who skipped up the road to decide the stage and the overall.

How it unfolded

Susie Wood (NZl)
Photo ©: Mark Gunter
Click for larger image

Under a beautiful blue sky the race headed into its final stage - a battleground boasting Mt Wallace and a couple of intermediate sprints. The dreaded Mt Wallace is always the talking point of this race. With a recent resurfacing job leaving some sticky tar and loose stones there were as many low-gear set-ups as there were nervous faces. A forecast of 35 degrees certainly wouldn't help the women around the 112.9km course. Kate Bates commented on Mt Wallace before the stage, "Every year I think 'it can't be that bad'...but it always is!"

As the intermediate sprints fell either side of the climb, a seemingly pre-written script saw New Zealanders Susie Wood (Team NZ) and Vickie Burr (BikeNZ) team up with Silvia Valseccah (Nobili) and head off into the hazy distance. The trio quickly established a handy gap of 2:45 after 13 km.

With neither Nürnberger or Ton van Bemmelen (GC leaders Wood and Bates' teams) prepared to tire themselves before Mt Wallace the gap to the leaders quickly blew out to 6:40 at 37km mark. Sensing weakness, Susie Wood left her partners and headed down the valley solo. As she approached the 66 km mark, the lone kiwi had gained a minute over Burr and Valseccah with another 5:10 back to the bunch. With Susie Wood starting the day only 54sec down on GC, Nürnberger moved to the front to force the pace to ensure the race lead was secure.

Oenone Wood
Photo ©: Mark Gunter
Click for larger image

The first to crest Mt Wallace was lone battler Susanne Wood who maintained her 1:14 lead to Valseccah whilst Burr had dropped off the pace. Before you could take 3min 19sec to say 'Jack Rabbit's Slims Twist Contest,' Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel drove over the top of the climb with race leader Wood in tow. Wood was far from isolated though with teammates Arndt and Worrack punching over the top only 13sec back in a group with Ljungskog and U23 race leader Michelle Hyland (NZL).

With all her troops by her side, Wood looked to have the race sewn up as Kate Bates crested Mt Wallace 20sec behind the race leader. However, with Olympic Champion Sarah Carrigan and Natalie Bates only metres behind, the stage was set for a tête-a-tête battle between the teams of Wood and Bates.

After the climb, a front group of six assembled with Nürnberger teammates Wood, Arndt and Worrack joining up with Buitenpoort-Flexpoint teammates Melchers-Van Poppel and Ljungskog whilst the intrepid Susie Wood tacked on the back to make it six. The two teams joined forces to quickly take a lead of 2:45 over the shattered peloton as Bates' Ton van Bemmelen team hit the gas to save Kate Bates' second place on GC.

The second sprint
Photo ©: John Veage
Click for larger image

At the second sprint at 86 km, Nürnberger made it a clean sweep with Oenone Wood taking the sprint over Judith Arndt and Trixi Worrack. With Arndt doing the lion's share of the work, motoring along at 55kph, the leading six looked good. But with Susie Wood sitting on the back of the front group and the Bates sisters and their Tom van Bemmelen teammates driving behind it was anyone's guess which way the race was going.

At 96km, the gap had been brought in to 1:35 as both groups tired. However, with 4km to go, the lead was still big enough for the front group to start playing games. Ljungskog played her card and took off. The tour leader, Wood, went right with her for an armchair ride to the finish. After four km in the wind, Wood had little trouble getting around the '03 World and current Swedish Champion, Ljungskog, to sew up the tour.

Wood was pleased with her second stage victory in this tour saying, "I just followed Mirjam [Melchers-Van Poppel] up the climb then Trixi [Worrack] and Judith [Arndt] came up and we had three out of the front six. There are no two better people to do a pursuit with." Even though the time-gap was coming down to the front six, Wood remained calm, "I was sitting there watching them work and I didn't think we'd get caught. When Ljungskog went I just got onto her. She was in the wind for 4km so she was pretty tired in the sprint. "

Oenone Wood and Susanne Ljungskog
Photo ©: John Veage
Click for larger image

The win fills the defending World Cup Champion, Wood, with confidence before this weekend's opening that series. "This is the best way to be before the World Cup and we've got such good riders that we haven't even decided who we are riding for."

Petra Rossner commented on the Nürnberger team effort that she had directed for the week by saying, "They worked together as a team in a brilliant way and that is why they won the tour. [Wood] has a wonderful future ahead of her in the next few years. She is a raw diamond which we have to work on - that sounds stupid because I know she is already so good but it is true."

Kate Bates, the champion of champions at the recent Australian Track National Championships had to console herself with feeling "like I have moments of brilliance, enough power to get over the climb but not enough to be able to hold it on for the 5km after the top of the climb." Although Bates ended up 6th on GC at 3:20, her main goal is the World Track Champs in Los Angeles in a month.

In the U23 competition, Michelle Hyland (NZL) was the victor in that competition, whilst Wood had a warm time on the winners' dais as the final wearer of both the sprint competition and that as tour winner.

The riders now have two days off before contesting the World Cup circuit in the centre of Geelong. One might suspect that a few riders who have had low-key rides this week will come out of the woodwork to fight it out with the in-form Nürnberger, Buitenpoort-Flexpoint and Ton van Bemmelen riders.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Mark Gunter/Cyclingnews.com

Images by Mikkeli Godfree

Images by John Veage

Results

1 Oenone Wood (Aus) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung                    3.01.50
2 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint                              
3 Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel (Ned) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint                 0.35
4 Judith Arndt (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung                          
5 Susie Wood (NZl) New Zealand National Team                             0.37
6 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung                         
7 Tina Mayola Pic (USA) Lloyd Morgan Recruitment                         3.01
8 Jenny Macpherson (Aus) Jayco VIS                                           
9 Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) SC Nobili Rubinetterie - Menikini Cogeas          
10 Amanda Spratt (Aus) Australian National Team                              
11 Kate Nichols (Aus) NSWIS                                                  
12 Emma Rickards (Aus) Jayco VIS                                             
13 Tamara Boyd (NZl) Bike New Zealand                                        
14 Lynn Gaggioli (USA) Lloyd Morgan Recruitment                              
15 Michelle Hyland (NZl) New Zealand National Team                           
16 Hannah Banks (Aus) QAS                                                    
17 Miho Oki (Jpn) Japanese National Team                                     
18 Tanja Hennes-Smidt (Ger) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint                            
19 Meredith Miller (USA) Lloyd Morgan Recruitment                            
20 Linda Melanie Serup (Den) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint                           
21 Emma James (Aus) NSWIS                                                    
22 Madeleine Sandig (Ger) German National Team                               
23 Melissa Holt (NZl) New Zealand National Team                              
24 Sigrid Corneo (Ita) SC Nobili Rubinetterie - Menikini Cogeas              
25 Amy Gillett (Aus) Australian National Team                                
26 Natalie Bates (Aus) Ton Van Bemmelen AA Drink                             
27 Kathryn Watt (Aus) Inexa/Melbourne University Sport                       
28 Katherine Bates (Aus) Ton Van Bemmelen AA Drink                           
29 Toni Bradshaw (NZl) New Zealand National Team                             
30 Sara Carrigan (Aus) Ton Van Bemmelen AA Drink                             
31 Suzanne De Goede (Ned) Ton Van Bemmelen AA Drink                          
32 Olivia Gollan (Aus) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung                        
33 Helen Kelly (Aus) Jayco VIS                                               
34 Louise Yaxley (Aus) Australian National Team                          4.57
35 Nadene Boyle (NZl) Bike New Zealand                                       
36 Robyn Wong (NZl) Bike New Zealand                                         
37 Michelle Kiesanowski (NZl) New Zealand National Team                      
38 Rachel O'connell (Aus) Peloton Sports / Turramurra Cyclery           11.15
39 Vickie Burr (NZl) Bike New Zealand                                        
40 Claire Baxter (Aus) Inexa/Melbourne University Sport                      
41 Verena Joos (Ger) German National Team                                    
42 Caroline Jackson (GBr) Western Global                                     
43 Amy Mosen (NZl) Bike New Zealand                                          
44 Akemi Morimoto (Jpn) Japanese National Team                               
45 Kristy Bortolin (Aus) Lloyd Morgan Recruitment                            
46 Belinda Goss (Aus) Jayco VIS                                              
47 Katie Brown (Aus) Australian National Team                                
48 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) NSWIS                                              
49 Christine Riakos (Aus) NSWIS                                              
50 Sally Cowman (Aus) QAS                                                    
51 Kerry Cohen (Aus) Western Global                                          
52 Daniela Fusar Poli (Ita) SC Nobili Rubinetterie - Menikini Cogeas         
53 Caitlin Fraser (Aus) Inexa/Melbourne University Sport                     
54 Carly Hibberd (Aus) QAS                                                   
55 Jemma O'brien (Aus) Peloton Sports / Turramurra Cyclery                   
56 Sarah Duster (Ger) German National Team                                   
57 Kelly Hulser (USA) Western Global                                         
58 Emma Lovelock (Aus) Peloton Sports / Turramurra Cyclery                   
59 Kate Charge (Aus) Peloton Sports / Turramurra Cyclery                     
60 Johanna Buick (NZl) New Zealand National Team                             
61 Emma Colson (Aus) Western Global                                          
62 Jessica Maclean (Aus) QAS                                                 
63 Anke Wichmann (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung                        
64 Silvia Valsecchi (Ita) SC Nobili Rubinetterie - Menikini Cogeas           
65 Nicole Freedman (Isr) Western Global                                      
66 Madeleine Lindberg (Swe) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung                   
67 Claudia Hecht (Ger) German National Team                             18.28
68 Germma Goyne (Aus) Lloyd Morgan Recruitment                               
69 Miyoko Karami (Jpn) Japanese National Team                                
70 Santia Tri Kusuma (Ina) Indonesian National Team                     21.04
71 Joanna Von Berky (Aus) QAS                                                
72 Briget Evans (Aus) Lloyd Morgan Recruitment                          25.22
73 Apryl Eppinger (Aus) Jayco VIS                                       31.21
74 Tanya Moss (Aus) Peloton Sports / Turramurra Cyclery                      
75 Laura Bortolozzi (Aus) Peloton Sports / Turramurra Cyclery                
76 Anna Miyazaki (Jpn) Japanese National Team                                
DNF Bianca Knopfle (Ger) German National Team                                
DNF Melissa Pilla (NZl) Bike New Zealand                                     
DNS Kerryn Charman (Aus) Inexa/Melbourne University Sport                    
 
Final general classification
 
1 Oenone Wood (Aus) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung                    6.14.25
2 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint                          0.46
3 Judith Arndt (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung                      1.06
4 Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel (Ned) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint                 1.10
5 Susie Wood (NZl) New Zealand National Team                             1.41
6 Katherine Bates (Aus) Ton Van Bemmelen AA Drink                        3.20
7 Natalie Bates (Aus) Ton Van Bemmelen AA Drink                          3.28
8 Amy Gillett (Aus) Australian National Team                             3.33
9 Melissa Holt (NZl) New Zealand National Team                           3.35
10 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung                    3.36
11 Sara Carrigan (Aus) Ton Van Bemmelen AA Drink                         3.39
12 Tina Mayola Pic (USA) Lloyd Morgan Recruitment                            
13 Lynn Gaggioli (USA) Lloyd Morgan Recruitment                          3.47
14 Michelle Hyland (NZl) New Zealand National Team                       3.55
15 Jenny Macpherson (Aus) Jayco VIS                                      3.56
16 Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) SC Nobili Rubinetterie - Menikini Cogeas     4.03
17 Miho Oki (Jpn) Japanese National Team                                 4.04
18 Emma James (Aus) NSWIS                                                4.08
19 Kate Nichols (Aus) NSWIS                                                  
20 Helen Kelly (Aus) Jayco VIS                                           4.10
21 Amanda Spratt (Aus) Australian National Team                              
22 Linda Melanie Serup (Den) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint                       4.14
23 Emma Rickards (Aus) Jayco VIS                                         4.17
24 Madeleine Sandig (Ger) German National Team                           4.18
25 Suzanne De Goede (Ned) Ton Van Bemmelen AA Drink                      4.23
26 Meredith Miller (USA) Lloyd Morgan Recruitment                        4.24
27 Toni Bradshaw (NZl) New Zealand National Team                         4.30
28 Tanja Hennes-Smidt (Ger) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint                        4.38
29 Sigrid Corneo (Ita) SC Nobili Rubinetterie - Menikini Cogeas          4.41
30 Tamara Boyd (NZl) Bike New Zealand                                    5.38
31 Kathryn Watt (Aus) Inexa/Melbourne University Sport                   6.00
32 Hannah Banks (Aus) QAS                                                6.03
33 Michelle Kiesanowski (NZl) New Zealand National Team                  6.24
34 Robyn Wong (NZl) Bike New Zealand                                     6.30
35 Olivia Gollan (Aus) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung                    7.34
36 Louise Yaxley (Aus) Australian National Team                          7.39
37 Nadene Boyle (NZl) Bike New Zealand                                   7.54
38 Belinda Goss (Aus) Jayco VIS                                         12.32
39 Katie Brown (Aus) Australian National Team                           12.39
40 Christine Riakos (Aus) NSWIS                                         13.00
41 Emma Colson (Aus) Western Global                                     13.03
42 Sarah Duster (Ger) German National Team                              13.16
43 Kerry Cohen (Aus) Western Global                                     13.36
44 Claire Baxter (Aus) Inexa/Melbourne University Sport                 13.55
45 Kelly Hulser (USA) Western Global                                    13.59
46 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) NSWIS                                         14.07
47 Silvia Valsecchi (Ita) SC Nobili Rubinetterie - Menikini Cogeas      14.15
48 Johanna Buick (NZl) New Zealand National Team                        14.20
49 Sally Cowman (Aus) QAS                                               14.26
50 Nicole Freedman (Isr) Western Global                                 14.28
51 Anke Wichmann (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung                   14.31
52 Verena Joos (Ger) German National Team                               14.33
53 Daniela Fusar Poli (Ita) SC Nobili Rubinetterie - Menikini Cogeas    14.35
54 Jessica Maclean (Aus) QAS                                            14.36
55 Caitlin Fraser (Aus) Inexa/Melbourne University Sport                14.44
56 Caroline Jackson (GBr) Western Global                                14.46
57 Kate Charge (Aus) Peloton Sports / Turramurra Cyclery                14.57
58 Rachel O'connell (Aus) Peloton Sports / Turramurra Cyclery           14.59
59 Kristy Bortolin (Aus) Lloyd Morgan Recruitment                       15.00
60 Carly Hibberd (Aus) QAS                                                   
61 Amy Mosen (NZl) Bike New Zealand                                     15.08
62 Vickie Burr (NZl) Bike New Zealand                                   15.10
63 Jemma O'brien (Aus) Peloton Sports / Turramurra Cyclery              15.24
64 Emma Lovelock (Aus) Peloton Sports / Turramurra Cyclery              15.25
65 Akemi Morimoto (Jpn) Japanese National Team                          16.04
66 Madeleine Lindberg (Swe) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung              16.59
67 Miyoko Karami (Jpn) Japanese National Team                           21.36
68 Claudia Hecht (Ger) German National Team                             24.05
69 Santia Tri Kusuma (Ina) Indonesian National Team                     25.11
70 Joanna Von Berky (Aus) QAS                                           26.37
71 Germma Goyne (Aus) Lloyd Morgan Recruitment                          26.54
72 Briget Evans (Aus) Lloyd Morgan Recruitment                          27.21
73 Apryl Eppinger (Aus) Jayco VIS                                       36.46
74 Laura Bortolozzi (Aus) Peloton Sports / Turramurra Cyclery           38.45
75 Tanya Moss (Aus) Peloton Sports / Turramurra Cyclery                 41.18
76 Anna Miyazaki (Jpn) Japanese National Team                           43.15
 
Sprint Classification
 
1 Oenone Wood (Aus) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung                         16 pts
2 Katherine Bates (Aus) Ton Van Bemmelen AA Drink                          10
3 Santia Tri Kusuma (Ina) Indonesian National Team                          4
4 Susie Wood (NZl) New Zealand National Team                                3
5 Melissa Holt (NZl) New Zealand National Team                              3
6 Judith Arndt (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung                         2
7 Kate Nichols (Aus) NSWIS                                                  2
8 Natalie Bates (Aus) Ton Van Bemmelen AA Drink                             2
9 Silvia Valsecchi (Ita) SC Nobili Rubinetterie - Menikini Cogeas           2
10 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung                       1
11 Tina Mayola Pic (USA) Lloyd Morgan Recruitment                           1
12 Michelle Hyland (NZl) New Zealand National Team                          1
13 Vickie Burr (NZl) Bike New Zealand                                       1
 
Under 23 Classification
 
1 Michelle Hyland (NZl) New Zealand National Team                     6.18.21
2 Kate Nichols (Aus) NSWIS                                               0.12
3 Amanda Spratt (Aus) Australian National Team                           0.15
4 Linda Melanie Serup (Den) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint                        0.19
5 Madeleine Sandig (Ger) German National Team                            0.22
6 Suzanne De Goede (Ned) Ton Van Bemmelen AA Drink                       0.28
7 Hannah Banks (Aus) QAS                                                 2.08
8 Belinda Goss (Aus) Jayco VIS                                           8.37
9 Katie Brown (Aus) Australian National Team                             8.44
10 Sally Cowman (Aus) QAS                                               10.30
11 Daniela Fusar Poli (Ita) SC Nobili Rubinetterie - Menikini Cogeas    10.39
12 Jessica Maclean (Aus) QAS                                            10.40
13 Carly Hibberd (Aus) QAS                                              11.05
14 Amy Mosen (NZl) Bike New Zealand                                     11.12
15 Emma Lovelock (Aus) Peloton Sports / Turramurra Cyclery              11.30
16 Claudia Hecht (Ger) German National Team                             20.10
17 Joanna Von Berky (Aus) QAS                                           22.42
18 Apryl Eppinger (Aus) Jayco VIS                                       32.51
19 Anna Miyazaki (Jpn) Japanese National Team                           39.20

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