Olds win Chongming Island World Cup

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Shelley Olds (AA Drink-Leontien.nl Cycling Team) sprinted to victory in the Tour of Chongming Island, the fifth round of the UCI World Cup which took place in China's Chongming Island. The 31-year-old American edged Melissa Hoskins (Orica GreenEdge-AIS) and Monia Baccaille (MCipollini Giambenini) in the finale to claim the first World Cup win of her career.

"My team did a great job bringing me in to the finish and I would like to thank them all. I couldn't have done it without them," said Olds.

The parcours for the 2012 edition of the Tour of Chongming Island was very different from the previous two editions as the peloton traveled from Pudong to the finish on Chongming Island via the Changjiang Tunnel and Bridge, 18 kilometres of water crossings.

In wet and windy conditions, the field stayed together for the first half of the 120.4km race as a strong tailwind to the tunnel seemed to discourage breakaways. The tunnel was warm and still, a stark contrast to the bridge just a few kilometres later. The elevation and openness of the bridge meant that the peloton was buffeted by a strong cross wind from the right.

As the peloton climbed to the crown of the bridge various teams went on the attack, trying to form a breakaway. But the other teams were too attentive and closed down the gaps which Hitec Mistral Home and Orica GreenEdge-AIS squads tried to create. Also at the front and wishing to close down any breakaway attempts were the MCippollini and Rabobank Women's teams.

After a flurry of action on the road which descended off the bridge and through the tree-lined, narrow roads of Chongming Island, the bunch slowed considerably. No significant breakaways occurred during the race as the sprinters' teams were keen to keep things together for a sprint at the finish.

Heading into the finale, the teams' sprint trains formed in the wide, suburban streets and the final corner with 700 metres to go was safely negotiated by all. The peloton kicked into high gear with 300 metres remaining as the sprinters spread across the road and powered to the finish. Shelley Olds, Melissa Hoskins and Monia Baccaille were all prominent at the front and as each rider threw her bike forward at the line it was Olds who prevailed by a small margin. Melissa Hoskins was second, followed by Monia Baccaille in third.

Although not present, Marianne Vos (Stichting Rabo Women Cycling Team) maintained her UCI World Cup series lead and will wear the leader's jersey at the next round in Vargarda, Sweden in August.

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