Vos strongest in Pontchâteau

Cyclo-cross world champion Marianne Vos (Nederland Bloeit) captured her first World Cup victory of the season in Pontchâteau, France. Hanka Kupfernagel was second at 24 seconds while Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (Gauss) pleased the local fans with her third place finish.

World Cup leader Katherine Compton wasn't present in France and Sanne van Paassen (BrainWash) took over the white leader's jersey by finishing fourth in Pontchâteau.

Vos put the hammer down right from the start. Twenty-year-old Belgian champion Sanne Cant (BKCP-Powerplus) tried to keep up with Vos but quickly found out the long climbs didn't suit her capabilities. Only Ferrier-Bruneau and Kupfernagel had the necessary power to keep up with Vos and this trio had a 10-second gap over a chase group with Sophie de Boer (ZZPR.nl), Pauline Ferrand-Prevot and Van Paassen.

Vos put her companions in trouble on the long climb during the second lap but she couldn't drop them. One lap later, however, only Kupfernagel was able to stay with the reigning 'cross world champion.

During the fifth of six laps the 23-year-old Dutchwoman dropped Kupfernagel on a long sloping climb and soloed to the victory 24 seconds ahead the German national champion. Local rider Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (Gauss) dug deep to keep up with the leading duo during the first two laps but she did manage to stay alone in third place, holding off new World Cup leader Sanne van Paassen (BrainWash) a minute off the pace of Vos.

In the World Cup standings Van Paassen took advantage of the absence of both Compton and third-placed Dutch champion Daphny van den Brand (ZZPR.nl) to take over the lead. During next week's last World Cup round in Hoogerheide, The Netherlands, Van Paassen should be able to clinch the overall victory on home soil if she can finish within the top five, a feat she has accomplished all season long.

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Full Results
1Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit0:37:49
2Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) Stevens Racing Team0:00:24
3Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (Fra)0:00:52
4Sanne van Paassen (Ned) BrainWash0:01:10
5Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Fra)0:01:12
6Caroline Mani (Fra)Row 5 - Cell 2
7Sophie de Boer (Ned) ZZPR.nl0:01:14
8Sanne Cant (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus0:02:12
9Pavla Havlikova (Cze) APB Cycling Team0:02:20
10Sabrina Stultiens (Ned) BrainWash0:02:48
11Katrin Leumann (Swi)Row 10 - Cell 2
12Amy Dombroski (USA)0:03:05
13Nikki Harris (GBr) APB Cycling Team0:03:06
14Arenda Grimberg (Ned)0:03:09
15Jasmin Achermann (Swi) Fischer-BMCRow 14 - Cell 2
16Gabriella Day (GBr) The ChainStay-RENNER0:03:13
17Helen Wyman (GBr) Kona0:03:32
18Natasha Elliott (Can) Garneau Club Chaussure-Ogilvy0:03:41
19Linda van Rijen (Ned)0:03:46
20Ellen Van Loy (Bel)0:03:52
21Martina Zwick (Ger)0:03:56
22Nadia Triquet-Claude (Fra)0:04:01
23Martina Mikulaskova (Cze)0:04:38
24Nancy Bober (Bel) Style & Concept Cycling Team0:04:48
25Bénédicte Herve (Fra)0:05:06
26Camille Darcel (Fra)0:06:00
27Aurélia Dupont (Fra)-1lap
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World Cup standings after round 6
1Sanne van Paassen (Ned) BrainWash270pts
2Katherine Compton (USA)240Row 1 - Cell 3
3Daphny van den Brand (Ned) ZZPR.nl190Row 2 - Cell 3
4Sanne Cant (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus173Row 3 - Cell 3
5Pavla Havlikova (Cze) APB Cycling Team172Row 4 - Cell 3
6Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (Fra)167Row 5 - Cell 3
7Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit160Row 6 - Cell 3
8Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) Stevens Racing Team148Row 7 - Cell 3
9Helen Wyman (GBr) Kona140Row 8 - Cell 3
10Sophie de Boer (Ned) ZZPR.nl137Row 9 - Cell 3
11Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team135Row 10 - Cell 3
12Caroline Mani (Fra)126Row 11 - Cell 3
13Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Fra)108Row 12 - Cell 3
14Linda van Rijen (Ned)107Row 13 - Cell 3
15Sabrina Schweizer (Ger)101Row 14 - Cell 3
16Arenda Grimberg (Ned)100Row 15 - Cell 3
17Jasmin Achermann (Swi) Fischer-BMC97Row 16 - Cell 3
18Nikki Harris (GBr) APB Cycling Team94Row 17 - Cell 3
19Sabrina Stultiens (Ned) BrainWash93Row 18 - Cell 3
20Nadia Triquet-Claude (Fra)67Row 19 - Cell 3
21Ellen Van Loy (Bel)62Row 20 - Cell 3
22Gabriella Day (GBr) The ChainStay-RENNER61Row 21 - Cell 3
23Reza Hormes-Ravenstijn (Ned) ZZPR.nl49Row 22 - Cell 3
24Susan Butler (USA) Hudz-Subaru48Row 23 - Cell 3
25Amy Dombroski (USA)43Row 24 - Cell 3
26Martina Zwick (Ger)39Row 25 - Cell 3
27Joyce Vanderbeken (Bel)39Row 26 - Cell 3
28Nancy Bober (Bel) Style & Concept Cycling Team34Row 27 - Cell 3
29Elisabeth Brandau (Ger)28Row 28 - Cell 3
30Martina Mikulaskova (Cze)23Row 29 - Cell 3
31Jana Kyptova (Cze)22Row 30 - Cell 3
32Katrin Leumann (Swi)20Row 31 - Cell 3
33Nicole De Bie - Leyten (Bel) APB Cycling Team16Row 32 - Cell 3
34Natasha Elliott (Can) Garneau Club Chaussure-Ogilvy13Row 33 - Cell 3
35Sabine Spitz (Ger) Central Pro Team13Row 34 - Cell 3
36Tessa Van Nieuwpoort (Ned)12Row 35 - Cell 3
37Maureen Bruno Roy (USA) Bob's Red Mill p/b Seven Cycles11Row 36 - Cell 3
38Nicoletta Bresciani (Ita)10Row 37 - Cell 3
39Daniela Bresciani (Ita)9Row 38 - Cell 3
40Gertie Willems (Bel)7Row 39 - Cell 3
41Bénédicte Herve (Fra)6Row 40 - Cell 3
42Camille Darcel (Fra)5Row 41 - Cell 3
43Helena van Leijen (Ned)5Row 42 - Cell 3
44Aurélia Dupont (Fra)4Row 43 - Cell 3
45Nikoline Hansen (Den)3Row 44 - Cell 3
46Margriet Helena Kloppenburg (Den) Hitec Products UCK3Row 45 - Cell 3
47Dorota Warczyk (Pol)2Row 46 - Cell 3
48Christine Vardaros (USA) Baboco - Revor Cycling Team1Row 47 - Cell 3
49Francesca Cucciniello (Ita) Guerciotti1Row 48 - Cell 3

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