Series Write-ups

UCI World Cup 2005

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Race 4 Review

The events in the latter stages of the Rond van Vlaanderen obviously took the focus away from winner Melcher's first major victory in her new team, Buitenpoort-Flexpoint, which was backed up by a second place for team-mate, Susanne Ljungskog. Nonetheless, Melchers van Poppel has once again shown her strength and speed at World Cup level. In previous years in this competition, she has ridden for (now retired) team-mate, Leontien Zijlaard van Moorsel. This year, free of that responsibility and as leader of her own team, van Poppel has only taken 4 World Cup races to get to the top of the podium. The Buitenpoort-Flexpoint team has already had a podium placing - thanks to Linda Serup, who was second in Wellington. New it may be, but this is a team to watch!

The list of abandons is a 'who's who?' of the top names in the peleton this year. Whilst there has not been an official release from the organisers of the Rond van Vlaanderen, reports indicate that there was a problem in the latter part of the race with riders being taken off-course. Apparently, a group of about 30 was chasing two breakaways and was led off-course by a race vehicle. This group were deemed to be non-finishers, whilst the main peleton finished 1 minute 23 behind winner, Mirjam Melchers van Poppel.

The UCI World Cup points which would normally be awarded in this event have been withheld for all competitors at the time of writing, leaving the series standings as at the finish of Race 3 - Primavera Rosa - see below. 

Update - the UCI has awarded World Cup points to this race - changing the standings and putting Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel into the Leader's jersey. Click here for series standings  

Results 

Starters : 150, Finishers 54, Abandons (AB) : 61, Outside time limit (OTL): 35                                                

 Results courtesy - UCI