Brand secures win at GP de Plouay-Bretagne
Rabo-Liv teammates Vos and Ferrand Prevot round out podium
With Lizzie Armitstead (Boels-Dolmans) having tied up the Road World Cup victory at last week's Crescent Vårgårda, the last round of the series was all about a final attempt at glory, as the peloton faced the tough, hilly course.
The GP Plouay is always a dramatic finish to the World Cup series, with a course that changes regularly, but always includes short, punchy climbs and descents that are perfect for attacks. This year it was 121.5km, four laps of 27km with three climbs each, then a last loop missing out the northern part but keeping the two steepest climbs, including the Côte de Ty-Marrec 4km from the end.
All eyes were on Rabobank-Liv, as Marianne Vos had won here in 2012 and 2013, and been a major factor in her teammate Annemiek van Vleuten's win in 2011 – but the Dutch team blew these expectations out of the water. The question had been who they'd ride for, and they answered this with an all Rabo podium, Lucinda Brand winning solo ahead of Vos and Ferrand-Prévot, Van der Breggen coming fifth.
Brand had been especially active in this race, fighting with and against Tiffany Cromwell (Specialized-lululemon) forcing breaks and splits, so that by the last 35km there were just 20 riders in front. This was whittled down to an elite group of champions, with Rabo always over-represented, four in a group of ten, then, when Brand and Cromwell seemed like they’d been finally dropped in the last 7km, three in a group of seven – Vos, Van der Breggen and Ferrand-Prévot against Emma Johansson (Orica-AIS), Elisa Longo Borghini (Hitec Products), Armitstead, Rossella Ratto (Estado de Mexico-Faren) and World Cup Queen of the Mountains Alena Amialiusik (Astana-BePink).
But Brand and Cromwell would not give up, and when the pair caught that front group one last time, Brand didn't pause to draw breath, but attacked again, this time getting clear, with her lead quickly getting up to 48 seconds.
This was the point the race was lost for the others, as fear of exhausting themselves to help the Rabo's attack later, or just plain exhaustion meant the chase wasn't coordinated. Although Brand suffered and lost time on the final climb, she made it to the finish solo for the biggest win of her career. This has been a spectacular 2014 for the 25-year-old Dutchwoman, supporting her team-mates throughout the year, and in return having team support to win her first stage race, the Energiewacht Tour in April, and now her first World Cup.
Armitstead, Longo Borghini and Johansson all attacked out of the chase to try to catch Brand, or slip away for the podium, but the group came to the finish together, Vos out-sprinting the opposition as only she can, with Ferrand-Prévot on her wheel – the perfect finish to the World Cup for the team that has consistently animated the races.
Full Results
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Lucinda Brand (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team | 3:08:26 |
2 | Marianne Vos (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team | 0:00:56 |
3 | Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Fra) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
4 | Rossella Ratto (Ita) Estado de Mexico Faren | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
5 | Anna Van Der Breggen (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
6 | Emma Johansson (Swe) Orica - AIS | Row 5 - Cell 2 |
7 | Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Hitec Products | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
8 | Elizabeth Armitstead (Gbr) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
9 | Alena Amialiusik (Blr) Astana Bepink Womens Team | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
10 | Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Specialized - Lululemon | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
11 | Audrey Cordon (Fra) Hitec Products | 0:02:57 |
12 | Roxane Knetemann (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team | Row 11 - Cell 2 |
13 | Megan Guarnier (Usa) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team | Row 12 - Cell 2 |
14 | Valentina Scandolara (Ita) Orica - AIS | Row 13 - Cell 2 |
15 | Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (Rsa) Hitec Products | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
16 | Claudia Häusler (Ger) Team Giant-Shimano | Row 15 - Cell 2 |
17 | Jessie Daams (Bel) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
18 | Evelyn Stevens (Usa) Specialized - Lululemon | Row 17 - Cell 2 |
19 | Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) Alé Cipollini | Row 18 - Cell 2 |
20 | Iris Slappendel (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team | Row 19 - Cell 2 |
21 | Malgorzta Jasinska (Pol) Alé Cipollini | 0:04:57 |
22 | Leah Kirchmann (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | Row 21 - Cell 2 |
23 | Marta Tagliaferro (Ita) Alé Cipollini | Row 22 - Cell 2 |
24 | Elise Delzenne (Fra) Specialized - Lululemon | Row 23 - Cell 2 |
25 | Sheyla Gutierrez Ruiz (Esp) Lointek | Row 24 - Cell 2 |
26 | Irene San Sebastian Lasa (Esp) Bizkaia - Durango | Row 25 - Cell 2 |
27 | Lauren Hall (Usa) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | Row 26 - Cell 2 |
28 | Joanne Kiesanowski (Nzl) Tibco / To The Top | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
29 | Elena Valentini (Ita) BTC City Ljubljana | Row 28 - Cell 2 |
30 | Barbara Guarischi (Ita) Alé Cipollini | Row 29 - Cell 2 |
31 | Tayler Wiles (Usa) Specialized - Lululemon | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
32 | Eugénie Duval (Fra) France | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
33 | Lara Vieceli (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Rox | Row 32 - Cell 2 |
34 | Edwige Pitel (Fra) S.C. Michela Fanini Rox | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
35 | Amy Pieters (Ned) Team Giant-Shimano | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
36 | Belen Lopez Morales (Esp) Lointek | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
37 | Lieselot Decroix (Bel) Belgium | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
38 | Annelies Van Doorslaer (Bel) Belgium | Row 37 - Cell 2 |
39 | Ane Santesteban Gonzalez (Esp) Alé Cipollini | Row 38 - Cell 2 |
40 | Melodie Lesueur (Fra) Lointek | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
41 | Janel Holcomb (Usa) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | Row 40 - Cell 2 |
42 | Oxana Kozonchuk (Rus) RusVelo | Row 41 - Cell 2 |
43 | Lucie Pader (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope | Row 42 - Cell 2 |
44 | Polona Batagelj (Slo) BTC City Ljubljana | Row 43 - Cell 2 |
45 | Yevgeniya Vysotska (Ukr) S.C. Michela Fanini Rox | Row 44 - Cell 2 |
46 | Shara Gillow (Aus) Orica - AIS | Row 45 - Cell 2 |
47 | Carlee Taylor (Aus) Orica - AIS | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
48 | Alexandra Burchenkova (Rus) RusVelo | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
49 | Sara Olsson (Swe) Hitec Products | Row 48 - Cell 2 |
50 | Dalia Muccioli (Ita) Astana Bepink Womens Team | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
51 | Lourdes Oyarbide Jimenez (Esp) Bizkaia - Durango | Row 50 - Cell 2 |
52 | Ursa Pintar (Slo) BTC City Ljubljana | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
53 | Tetiana Riabchenko (Ukr) S.C. Michela Fanini Rox | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
54 | Jade Wilcoxson (Usa) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
55 | Uenia Fernandes Da Souza (Bra) Estado de Mexico Faren | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
56 | Andrea Dvorak (Usa) Tibco / To The Top | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
57 | Julie Bresset (Fra) France | Row 56 - Cell 2 |
58 | Eugenia Bujak (Pol) BTC City Ljubljana | Row 57 - Cell 2 |
59 | Amélie Rivat (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope | Row 58 - Cell 2 |
60 | Anna Potokina (Rus) Servetto Footon | Row 59 - Cell 2 |
61 | Sarah Roy (Aus) Vienne Futuroscope | Row 60 - Cell 2 |
62 | Anna Trevisi (Ita) Estado de Mexico Faren | Row 61 - Cell 2 |
63 | Maaike Polspoel (Bel) Team Giant-Shimano | Row 62 - Cell 2 |
64 | Elena Cecchini (Ita) Estado de Mexico Faren | Row 63 - Cell 2 |
65 | Doris Schweizer (Sui) Astana Bepink Womens Team | Row 64 - Cell 2 |
66 | Elena Berlato (Ita) Alé Cipollini | Row 65 - Cell 2 |
67 | Karol-Ann Canuel (Can) Specialized - Lululemon | Row 66 - Cell 2 |
68 | Jasmin Glaesser (Can) Tibco / To The Top | Row 67 - Cell 2 |
69 | Natalia Boyarskaya (Rus) Servetto Footon | Row 68 - Cell 2 |
70 | Elena Kuchinskaya (Rus) RusVelo | Row 69 - Cell 2 |
71 | Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Estado de Mexico Faren | 0:05:01 |
72 | Fanny Leleu (Fra) France | 0:05:17 |
73 | Brianna Walle (Usa) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | Row 72 - Cell 2 |
74 | Christine Majerus (Lux) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team | Row 73 - Cell 2 |
75 | Anastasiya Chulkova (Rus) RusVelo | 0:05:27 |
76 | Kseniya Tuhai (Blr) Astana Bepink Womens Team | 0:12:08 |
77 | Kelly Van Den Steen (Bel) Belgium | Row 76 - Cell 2 |
78 | Yulia Blindyuk (Rus) RusVelo | Row 77 - Cell 2 |
79 | Lierni Lekuona Etxebeste (Esp) Bizkaia - Durango | Row 78 - Cell 2 |
80 | Silvia Valsecchi (Ita) Astana Bepink Womens Team | Row 79 - Cell 2 |
81 | Špela Kern (Slo) BTC City Ljubljana | Row 80 - Cell 2 |
82 | Anisha Vekemans (Bel) Belgium | Row 81 - Cell 2 |
83 | Lucia Gonzalez Blanco (Esp) Lointek | Row 82 - Cell 2 |
84 | Patricia Schwager (Sui) Tibco / To The Top | Row 83 - Cell 2 |
85 | Martina Ritter (Aut) BTC City Ljubljana | Row 84 - Cell 2 |
86 | Marijn De Vries (Ned) Team Giant-Shimano | Row 85 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Gracie Elvin (Aus) Orica - AIS | Row 86 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Amanda Spratt (Aus) Orica - AIS | Row 87 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Chloe Hosking (Aus) Hitec Products | Row 88 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Lauren Kitchen (Aus) Hitec Products | Row 89 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Eyerusalem Kelil (Eth) S.C. Michela Fanini Rox | Row 90 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Azzurra D'intino (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Rox | Row 91 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Amanda Miller (Usa) Tibco / To The Top | Row 92 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Lauren Stephens (Usa) Tibco / To The Top | Row 93 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Katarzyna Pawlowska (Pol) Boels Dolmans Cycling Team | Row 94 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Annie Ewart (Can) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies | Row 95 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Oriane Chaumet (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope | Row 96 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Charlotte Bravard (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope | Row 97 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Gabrielle Pilote-Fortin (Can) Vienne Futuroscope | Row 98 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Aizhan Zhaparova (Rus) RusVelo | Row 99 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Alice Maria Arzuffi (Ita) Astana Bepink Womens Team | Row 100 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Elisabet Bru (Esp) Servetto Footon | Row 101 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Marina Likhanova (Rus) Servetto Footon | Row 102 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Ana Teresa Casas Bonilla (Mex) Estado de Mexico Faren | Row 103 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Dorleta Eskamendi Gil (Esp) Bizkaia - Durango | Row 104 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Clemilda Fernandes Silva (Bra) Bizkaia - Durango | Row 105 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Yulia Ilinykh (Rus) Bizkaia - Durango | Row 106 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Mélanie Bravard (Fra) | Row 107 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Anabelle Dreville (Fra) | Row 108 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Séverine Eraud (Fra) | Row 109 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Sofie De Vuyst (Bel) Futurumshop.Nl - Zannata | Row 110 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Valerie Demey (Bel) | Row 111 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Alicia Gonzalez Blanco (Esp) Lointek | Row 112 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Eider Merino Kortazar (Esp) Lointek | Row 113 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Floortje Mackaij (Ned) Team Giant-Shimano | Row 114 - Cell 2 |
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