Vos wins her fourth Flèche Wallonne

Marianne Vos proved that she is the top women’s Classics rider of 2011 by winning her second World Cup race in five days, becoming the only woman to have won the Flèche Wallonne four times.

The 109.5km race started in Huy, and covered all of the same climbs as the men’s event, but with only two ascents of the Mur de Huy to the men’s three.

The race began with attacks from the start, but none had been able to stay away until HTC-Highroad’s Evelyn Stevens attacked solo after the Côte de Bohisseau. At one point, she held an advantage of 1:15, but a group of 20 riders, including Emma Johansson (Hitec Products UCK), Judith Arndt (HTC-Highroad), Nicole Cooke (MCipollini-Giambenini) and Marianne Vos (Nederland Bloeit), was chasing hard, and by the time she crossed the Mur de Huy for the first time, her gap had dropped to 20 seconds.

She was finally caught with about 15 km to go, and in the final ten kilometres an elite group was leading the race. With under five kilometres to go, Diadora-Pasta Zara’s Olga Zabelinskaya attacked, and was joined by Vos, but they were caught within the last kilometres, and the group came together for the final climb of the Mur de Huy.

In an exciting final sprint up the Mur, Vos finished three seconds ahead of Emma Johansson. This is Johansson’s second time to occupy the second step of the podium in the race – the Swedish rider finished in second place in 2009 and in third place last year. Judith Arndt, who will be on the podium for her fifth time, came home in third.

'It's a really hard climb and so a few seconds is only a few metres but a win is a win, it doesn't matter how big the gap is." Vos told Cyclingnews after the race

"Evelyn Stevens was in the lead and we tried to control the race and my teammates did a great job to keep me out of the wind and keep me in front. Evelyn is really strong but it's really hard alone on the climbs and up the Mur two times. There was a long way to go and we held her at a minute and then my teammate Annemiek van Vleuten did a great job with some Garmin riders.

“We caught Stevens and then after that it was important not to let anyone else escape before the climb.”

This has been a spectacular year for the 23-year old Dutch rider, who started 2011 by winning the Cyclocross World Championships in Sankt Wendel, and won her second rainbow jersey of the year in the Scratch race at the Track World championships in Apeldoorn, taking her total number of World Championship gold medals to seven.

Riding track delayed Vos’ start on the road, but her win today means she takes the lead in the UCI Road World Cup series from her teammate Annemiek van Vleuten, who finished the race in sixth place.

Vos leads the series with 185 points over Van Vleuten’s 158, and Emma Johansson retains her third place in the standings on 145. The fifth round of the World Cup will be the Tour of Chong Ming Island on May 15.

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Full Results
1Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit2:58:27
2Emma Johansson (Swe) Hitec Products - UCK0:00:03
3Judith Arndt (Ger) HTC Highroad Women0:00:06
4Elena Berlato (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo0:00:15
5Nicole Cooke (GBr) SC MCipollini GiordanaRow 4 - Cell 2
6Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned) Nederland Bloeit0:00:21
7Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Fra) FranceRow 6 - Cell 2
8Martine Bras (Ned) Dolmans Landscaping Team0:00:24
9Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) SC MCipollini Giordana0:00:26
10Kristin McGrath (USA) United States of America0:00:27
11Rasa Leleivyte (Ltu) Vaiano SolaristechRow 10 - Cell 2
12Olga Zabelinskaya (Rus) Diadora - Pasta ZaraRow 11 - Cell 2
13Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) GaussRow 12 - Cell 2
14Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo0:00:30
15Ludivine Henrion (Bel) Lotto Honda Team0:00:35
16Karol-Ann Canuel (Can) Vienne FuturoscopeRow 15 - Cell 2
17Sharon Laws (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo0:00:38
18Edwige Pitel (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope0:00:45
19Carmen McNellis Small (USA) TIBCO - To The Top0:00:47
20Lucinda Brand (Ned) AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling Team0:00:49
21Natalya Boyarskaya (Rus) Russian Federation0:00:53
22Amber Neben (USA) HTC Highroad Women0:00:55
23Lindsey Myers (USA) United States of AmericaRow 22 - Cell 2
24Svetlana Bubnenkova (Rus) Russian Federation0:00:58
25Isabelle Söderberg (Swe) Alriksson Go:Green0:01:00
26Elena Kuchinskaya (Rus) Gauss0:01:02
27Aude Biannic (Fra) France0:01:04
28Megan Guarnier (USA) TIBCO - To The Top0:01:06
29Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (Fra) GaussRow 28 - Cell 2
30Daphny van den Brand (Ned) Netherlands0:01:15
31Ana Bianca Schnitzmeier (Ger) Abus Nutrixxion0:01:17
32Romy Kasper (Ger) GermanyRow 31 - Cell 2
33Alexandra Burchenkova (Rus) Russian Federation0:01:24
34Sylwia Kapusta (Pol) Gauss0:01:26
35Roxanne Knetemann (Ned) Netherlands0:01:27
36Madeleine Olsson (Swe) Alriksson Go:Green0:01:29
37Carla Ryan (Aus) Garmin - Cervelo0:01:30
38Nina Ovcharenko (Ukr) S.C. Michela Fanini Rox0:01:39
39Shara Gillow (Aus) Australia0:01:42
40Sofie De Vuyst (Bel) Lotto Honda Team0:01:46
41Amanda Spratt (Aus) Australia0:01:58
42Ashleigh Moolman (RSA) Lotto Honda Team0:02:26
43Irina Molicheva (Rus) Russian Federation0:02:49
44Petra Dijkman (Ned) Dolmans Landscaping Team0:03:18
45Jessie Daams (Bel) Garmin - Cervelo0:03:38
46Lise Nöstvold (Nor) Hitec Products - UCK0:03:43
47Elizabeth Armitstead (GBr) Garmin - CerveloRow 46 - Cell 2
48Chantal Blaak (Ned) AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling Team0:03:48
49Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Nederland Bloeit0:03:55
50Trixi Worrack (Ger) AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling TeamRow 49 - Cell 2
51Evelyn Stevens (USA) HTC Highroad WomenRow 50 - Cell 2
52Sandrine Bideau (Fra) France0:04:10
53Noemi Cantele (Ita) Garmin - Cervelo0:04:15
54Sara Mustonen (Swe) Hitec Products - UCK0:04:20
55Theresa Cliff-Ryan (USA) Colavita Forno d'Asolo0:05:07
56Marieke Van Wanroij (Ned) Nederland BloeitRow 55 - Cell 2
57Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Lotto Honda TeamRow 56 - Cell 2
58Sarah-Lena Hofmann (Ger) Germany0:05:11
59Samantha Galassi (Ita) SC MCipollini Giordana0:05:18
60Serena Sheridan (NZl) TIBCO - To The Top0:05:19
61Eugenie Mermillod Anseleme (Fra) France0:05:22
62Katarzyna Sosna (Ltu) Vaiano Solaristech0:05:24
63Amy Pieters (Ned) NetherlandsRow 62 - Cell 2
64Chiara Nadalutti (Ita) Kleo Ladies Team0:05:28
65Malgorzta Jasinska (Pol) S.C. Michela Fanini RoxRow 64 - Cell 2
66Ine Beyen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 2012 - Ridley TeamRow 65 - Cell 2
67Anne De Wildt (Ned) AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling TeamRow 66 - Cell 2
68Jennifer Hohl (Swi) SC MCipollini GiordanaRow 67 - Cell 2
69Charlotte Becker (Ger) HTC Highroad Women0:05:31
70Uenia Fernandes Da Souza (Bra) Colavita Forno d'Asolo0:05:33
71Melodie Lesueur (Fra) FranceRow 70 - Cell 2
72Marie Lindberg (Swe) Abus NutrixxionRow 71 - Cell 2
73Mascha Pijnenborg (Ned) Dolmans Landscaping TeamRow 72 - Cell 2
74Lieselot Decroix (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 2012 - Ridley Team0:05:37
75Noortje Tabak (Ned) Nederland BloeitRow 74 - Cell 2
76Eleonora Patuzzo (Ita) Diadora - Pasta ZaraRow 75 - Cell 2
77Catherine Delfosse (Bel) Lotto Honda Team0:05:42
78Martina Ruzickova (Cze) S.C. Michela Fanini RoxRow 77 - Cell 2
79Marta Bastianelli (Ita) SC MCipollini GiordanaRow 78 - Cell 2
80Sophie De Boer (Ned) Netherlands0:07:23
81Annelies Van Doorslaer (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 2012 - Ridley Team0:08:05
HDAlison Starnes (USA) United States of AmericaRow 81 - Cell 2
HDJennie Stenerhag (Swe) Alriksson Go:GreenRow 82 - Cell 2
HDTayler Wiles (USA) United States of AmericaRow 83 - Cell 2
HDAmélie Rivat (Fra) FranceRow 84 - Cell 2
HDLinn Torp (Nor) Alriksson Go:GreenRow 85 - Cell 2
HDSilvia Valsecchi (Ita) Top Girls Fassa BortoloRow 86 - Cell 2
HDAmber Pierce (USA) Diadora - Pasta ZaraRow 87 - Cell 2
HDChiara Vanni (Ita) Vaiano SolaristechRow 88 - Cell 2
HDGiada Borgato (Ita) Colavita Forno d'AsoloRow 89 - Cell 2
HDJulia Ilinikh (Rus) Russian FederationRow 90 - Cell 2
HDLorena Foresi (Ita) GaussRow 91 - Cell 2
HDMarion Rousse (Fra) Vienne FuturoscopeRow 92 - Cell 2
HDJoanne Kiesanowski (NZl) TIBCO - To The TopRow 93 - Cell 2
HDLaura Fouquet (Ger) GermanyRow 94 - Cell 2
HDKarin Aune (Swe) S.C. Michela Fanini RoxRow 95 - Cell 2
HDEmmanuelle Merlot (Fra) Vienne FuturoscopeRow 96 - Cell 2
HDSimona Frapporti (Ita) Top Girls Fassa BortoloRow 97 - Cell 2
HDAnnelies Visser (Ned) NetherlandsRow 98 - Cell 2
HDAmanda Miller (USA) HTC Highroad WomenRow 99 - Cell 2
HDAlessandra Borchi (Ita) GaussRow 100 - Cell 2
HDEska Tromp (Ned) NetherlandsRow 101 - Cell 2
HDMartina Corazza (Ita) Kleo Ladies TeamRow 102 - Cell 2
HDTania Belvederesi (Ita) Kleo Ladies TeamRow 103 - Cell 2
HDLinnea Sjöblom (Swe) Alriksson Go:GreenRow 104 - Cell 2
HDUrte Juodvalkyte (Ltu) Vaiano SolaristechRow 105 - Cell 2
DNFMaria Grandt Petersen (Den) Abus NutrixxionRow 106 - Cell 2
DNFTetyana Riabchenko (Ukr) Colavita Forno d'AsoloRow 107 - Cell 2
DNFGrace Verbeke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 2012 - Ridley TeamRow 108 - Cell 2
DNFSjoukje Dufoer (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 2012 - Ridley TeamRow 109 - Cell 2
DNFAnisha Vekemans (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 2012 - Ridley TeamRow 110 - Cell 2
DNFEmma Mackie (Aus) TIBCO - To The TopRow 111 - Cell 2
DNFCarlee Taylor (Aus) TIBCO - To The TopRow 112 - Cell 2
DNFFiona Dutriaux (Fra) Vienne FuturoscopeRow 113 - Cell 2
DNFGabriela Slamova (Cze) Vienne FuturoscopeRow 114 - Cell 2
DNFGloria Presti (Ita) Top Girls Fassa BortoloRow 115 - Cell 2
DNFBridie O'Donnell (Aus) Top Girls Fassa BortoloRow 116 - Cell 2
DNFAnna Fischer (Ger) Abus NutrixxionRow 117 - Cell 2
DNFElena Valentini (Ita) Kleo Ladies TeamRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFHeleen Van Vliet (Ned) AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling TeamRow 119 - Cell 2
DNFJessica Kihlbom (Swe) Alriksson Go:GreenRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFElla Michal (Isr) S.C. Michela Fanini RoxRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFSara Grifi (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini RoxRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFValentina Bastianelli (Ita) Vaiano SolaristechRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFIrene Falorni (Ita) Vaiano SolaristechRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFAngela McClure (Aus) Kleo Ladies TeamRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFFrancesca Tognali (Ita) Kleo Ladies TeamRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFModesta Vzesniauskaite (Ltu) Colavita Forno d'AsoloRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFNathalie Lamborelle (Lux) Abus NutrixxionRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFRowena Fry (Aus) AustraliaRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFEmilie Aubry (Swi) Nederland BloeitRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFMonia Baccaille (Ita) SC MCipollini GiordanaRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFCecilie Johansen (Nor) Hitec Products - UCKRow 132 - Cell 2
DNFEmilie Moberg (Nor) Hitec Products - UCKRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFMarie Voreland (Nor) Hitec Products - UCKRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFTrine Schmidt (Den) Garmin - CerveloRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFMarijn De Vries (Ned) AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling TeamRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFAdrie Visser (Ned) HTC Highroad WomenRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFRuth Corset (Aus) AustraliaRow 138 - Cell 2
DNFLauren Kitchen (Aus) AustraliaRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFRosane Kirch (Bra) Colavita Forno d'AsoloRow 140 - Cell 2
DNFFranziska Merten (Ger) GermanyRow 141 - Cell 2
DNFJanine Bubner (Ger) GermanyRow 142 - Cell 2
DNFAlie Gercama (Ned) Dolmans Landscaping TeamRow 143 - Cell 2
DNFWinanda Spoor (Ned) Dolmans Landscaping TeamRow 144 - Cell 2
DNFGeerike Schreurs (Ned) Dolmans Landscaping TeamRow 145 - Cell 2
DNFJacquelyn Crowell (USA) United States of AmericaRow 146 - Cell 2
DNFJessica Prinner (USA) United States of AmericaRow 147 - Cell 2
DNFClaudia Häusler (Ger) Diadora - Pasta ZaraRow 148 - Cell 2
DNFShelley Olds (USA) Diadora - Pasta ZaraRow 149 - Cell 2
DNFInga Cilvinaite (Ltu) Diadora - Pasta ZaraRow 150 - Cell 2
DNFBelinda Goss (Aus) AustraliaRow 151 - Cell 2
DNSKim Schoonbaert (Bel) Lotto Honda TeamRow 152 - Cell 2

World Cup standings after 4 rounds

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit185pts
2Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned) Nederland Bloeit158Row 1 - Cell 3
3Emma Johansson (Swe) Hitec Products - UCK145Row 2 - Cell 3
4Emma Pooley (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo86Row 3 - Cell 3
5Judith Arndt (Ger) HTC Highroad Women83Row 4 - Cell 3
6Martine Bras (Ned) Dolmans Landscaping Team76Row 5 - Cell 3
7Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Gauss66Row 6 - Cell 3
8Kirsten Wild (Ned) AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling Team54Row 7 - Cell 3
9Grace Verbeke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 2012 - Ridley Team49Row 8 - Cell 3
10Elena Berlato (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo41Row 9 - Cell 3
11Ina Teutenberg (Ger) HTC Highroad Women38Row 10 - Cell 3
12Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Fra) France36Row 11 - Cell 3
13Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Colavita Forno d'Asolo35Row 12 - Cell 3
14Shelley Olds (USA) Diadora - Pasta Zara35Row 13 - Cell 3
15Nicole Cooke (GBr) SC MCipollini Giordana27Row 14 - Cell 3
16Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Lotto Honda Team27Row 15 - Cell 3
17Joelle Numainville (Can) TIBCO - To The Top24Row 16 - Cell 3
18Chantal Blaak (Ned) AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling Team24Row 17 - Cell 3
19Ludivine Henrion (Bel) Lotto Honda Team24Row 18 - Cell 3
20Olga Zabelinskaya (Rus) Diadora - Pasta Zara24Row 19 - Cell 3
21Monia Baccaille (Ita) SC MCipollini Giordana23Row 20 - Cell 3
22Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) SC MCipollini Giordana17Row 21 - Cell 3
23Noemi Cantele (Ita) Garmin - Cervelo15Row 22 - Cell 3
24Lucinda Brand (Ned) AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling Team12Row 23 - Cell 3
25Christine Majerus (Lux) Team GSD Gestion12Row 24 - Cell 3
26Kristin McGrath (USA) United States Of America11Row 25 - Cell 3
27Elizabeth Armitstead (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo11Row 26 - Cell 3
28Rasa Leleivyte (Ltu) Vaiano Solaristech10Row 27 - Cell 3
29Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (Fra) Gauss10Row 28 - Cell 3
30Sarah Düster (Ger) Nederland Bloeit9Row 29 - Cell 3
31Julia Martisova (Rus) Gauss8Row 30 - Cell 3
32Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo7Row 31 - Cell 3