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UCI Road World Cup 2006 World Cup Coverage >> 2008 2007 2006 2005 WCN quicklink >> Nurnberg (Series Final) Results Nürnberg Preview Rotterdam Results Plouay Results Plouay Preview Århus Results Århus Preview Vårgårda results Vårgårda Preview Montreal Results GP Castilla y Leon Results Berne Results Fleche Wallone Results Flanders Results Wellington Results Geelong Results Wellington (Round 2) Preview Geelong (Round 1) Preview Primavera Rosa cancelled On this page >> Results Post Race Comments Photos |
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Sarah Ulmer takes brilliant victory 2006 World Cup Round 2 - Wellington results Race date - 5th March 2006 Sarah Ulmer took a brilliant 'home' victory in Wellington today. After winning the Tour of New Zealand, she showed stunning form to win the World Cup today. She broke away on the 7th lap and quickly built up a lead which was at 5minutes 55 seconds at one point. The Kiwi road champion stayed away to win by over 4 minutes, for a very popular victory in the streets where everyone knows her name. Ina-Yoko Teutenberg retained her World Cup series jersey, with 110 points, over (now) second placed Ulmer with 75 points. The weather brightened up after a particularly windy and cool preceding week. The Wellington World Cup round is unique - the course passes through the Parliament grounds of the country with a population of just 4 million people. They may be a small population, but the Kiwis turn out in huge numbers to support National Hero, Sarah Ulmer. Every street and corner of the circuit was lined with fans. The organisers of this event certainly put on a show when they bring this race to town. The shutting down of the road system in Wellington is no easy feat. That, combined with the excellent police cooperation and the involvement of local and national companies to support the race and some of the domestic teams makes this a very special event. The quality of the racing compliments the quality of the event organisation. If only the organisers could do something about the weather...... The race action started early on. Within the first couple of laps, Toni Bradshaw had tried her luck off the front, but had been brought back by an attentive pack. There was a flurry of activity as various riders and teams worked to the plans they had for the race. Then, at lap 6 of 20 circuits of 6.2km, a crash put paid to the chances of Nicole Cooke, who retired (not seriously injured) and Susie Wood (NZ), who continued for several more laps, but was not able to rejoin the bunch. Sarah Ulmer took off in a pre-planned attack on the sixth or seventh lap. She very quickly gained a minute over the bunch and then kept stretching the gap. At one stage, she was 5 minutes, 55 seconds ahead. Sarah Duester (Univega Pro Team), Natalie Bates (Chase Smart) and Bärbel Jungmeier (Elk Haus Nö) managed to get themselves in-between the bunch and Ulmer, but hung precariously just out of sight up to a minute or so ahead off the bunch. The Kiwis were working hard to keep Ulmer out in front, policing the bunch. The T-Mobile team had a stake in the policing action too. Ulmer is unlikely to continue her World Cup campaign in Europe this year - it is not in the New Zealand team's plans - and so she was no threat to the overall competition. There could not have been a better person to be off the front. The T-Mobile team was evident at the front of the bunch; indeed, when Kate Bates went up the road with 6 to go, Judith Arndt went with her. The pair only stayed away for a lap. Series leader, Ina-Yoko Teutenberg was protected all day by her team, who were one rider down. Lynne Bessette fell during the Geelong Tour 10 days ago and remains in Australia to recuperate from the concussion she sustained. So it was an expectant crowd which saw Sarah Ulmer enter her final lap. "Only a mechanical can stop her now" said the commentator, tempting fate. Ulmer stayed away safely, though and rode into Parliament grounds ready to celebrate. As she turned left into the short finishing straight, Ulmer raised an arm and punched the sky in delight. She then sat up and celebrated all the way over the line with a double-handed victory. Just over 4 minutes later, Oenone Wood, Ina-Yoko Teutenberg and Joe Kiesanowski (Univega) entered the grounds and turned left into the finishing straight. Wood was ahead and sprinting hard, Teutenberg did not have the legs to catch her. It did not matter, though, third was enough to keep the series lead.
OTL - outside time limit AB - Abandon DNS - Did not start
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