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UCI World Cup 2005

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Race Review  - Tour of Rotterdam

On a day which was warm, but windy, the Tour of Rotterdam always promised to be one of attack and counter-attack. There was action from early in the race, including a break which included Olympic Champion Sara Carrigan and second-place in the World Cup series, Susanne Ljungskog. The break got up to a gap of over a minute, but was not allowed too much leeway, given that World Cup leader, Oenone Wood was still back in the bunch. The Nürnbergers drove the chase to bring the break back.

About an hour into the race, another significant break went away and actually managed to stay away until the end. With noone in the break likely to affect the World Cup standings, it was safe for the bunch to allow it to succeed. Escapees included Sharon van Essen (Vrienden het van Plattelands), Olivia Gollan (Nürnberger), Silvia Parrietti, Alessandra D'Ettorre (Italy), Anna Zugno (Safi), Luisa Tamanini (Team Bianchi-Aliverti) and Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Germany). There were some chases, but with 60km, the gap began to rise. The maximum time gap was almost 2 minutes 30 seconds with about 45km to go. However, the steam was beginning to go from the legs of some riders. With no obvious extra chasing effort from the bunch, the gap began to fall. Ina-Yoko Teutenberg was fresh enough to do something about this and jumped with 20km to go. 

Two other riders went with Teutenberg; D'Ettorre and Tamanini, both Italians, but riding for different teams. The three managed to get away from the break group and were still increasing their advantage with 10km to go. The long, flat finish had a tailwind and the final 500m were slightly downhill, so the finish was always going to be fast. As the riders came into view, they were already sprinting hard. As they reached 75m to go, Ina-Yoko Teutenberg had a definite advantage which she continued to open up as the three approached the finish line. Luisa Tamanini drifted backwards, resigned to third place, whilst Alessandra D'Ettorre kept trying right up until the end, but was never going to close the gap on Teutenberg, she was too strong. 

Teutenberg was obviously overjoyed at this, her first World Cup win and enjoyed a two-handed victory salute across the line. The remainder of the breakaway group followed in 1 minute 26 seconds later, with the sprint going to another Italian, Anna Zugno (Safi). 

The main bunch sprint was fiercely contested - Oenone Wood was protecting her lead of 18 points over Susanne Ljungskog in the World Cup. Susanne de Goede (Van Bemmelen) won the sprint, followed by Sarah Duster (Therme Skin Care) and Giorgia Bronzini (Italy). Oenone Wood was next across the line, for 7 World Cup points ahead of Safi's Rochelle Gilmore, who has just returned to racing after being hospitalised for a sudden illness a month ago. Ljungskog finished 28th, out of the points for the series.

Results - 128km  39.782km/h

World Cup Standings  Top 10