The first Team Time Trial to be included in the World Cup series was an exciting event. The course, which looked relatively flat on paper was a mix of rolling roads and, at the turn loop, some technical corners and relatively steep up and downhills. The riders were well aware that the course rose overall from the start to the turn loop and then descended back to the finish. 

With the teams starting in seeded order, the real race concerned the later starters. Norway and Poland's National Teams were preceded by the only Danish team on the start list, Team Jylland Fyn. Next starters were the UCI registered pro teams. Starting in reverse order of World Cup series team ranking, Team FBUK went off ahead of Vienne Futuroscope. The World Cups in Scandinavia this weekend represented both team's first participations in World Cups. 

At the faster end of the start list, the race, Équipe Nürnberger, T-Mobile, AA Drink were fighting out third place on the podium, whilst the battle for the win was between Univega and Buitenpoort-Flexpoint. Down by 3 seconds at the final checkpoint, Univega put everything into the closing kilometres. They were riding in close formation and changing the lead constantly to maintain their pace. Following them for the final 6km, they were clearly strong and provided an impressive display of teamwork, with a tightly-spaced line and continuous through-and-off changeovers. They knew that it was tight and it was not until after they crossed the line that race radio announced the win. 

As the news broke, Director Sportif, Thomas Campona celebrated in the team car, which he had stopped in sight of the line until he heard the result. He then drove to the team parking area, got out of the car and ran down the road to his returning group of riders. It was a case of congratulations all round for the Univegas. They had won by just 2 seconds from Buitenpoort-Flexpoint. Jean-Paul van Poppel, Buitenpoort's Director Sportif was one of the first to congratulate Campona.

The battle for third was won by AA Drink, who beat Équipe Nürnberger into fourth and T-Mobile into fifth. 

The win meant that Cooke extended her lead in the World Cup series. With three events to go, however, the series is still open. Double points for the final event in Nurnberg in September mean that mathematically, she can still be overtaken. Although in reality, it is probably only Judith Arndt (T-Mobile) or Susanne Ljungskog (Buitenpoort-Flexpoint), Oenone Wood (Nürnberger) or Annette Beutler (Buitenpoort-Flexpoint) who stnad any chance of doing so.

The final rounds are in Plouay, Rotterdam and Nurnberg on Saturday 26th August, Sunday 3rd September and Sunday 10th September respectively. 

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Comments

Nicole Cooke : "For the team its Fantastic! In the World Cup series, its always a team effort but its only one winner, whereas here its for the team effort to be repaid and for everyone to get a share of the glory, so its perfect. 

WCN : How do you feel about the next round in Plouay? [where she won her Junior World Championship title] 

NC : Yeah, I'm looking forward to it, counting down the weeks... 

WCN : Is it a special course for you?

NC : Well, I've ridden there twice and won twice, so its a special place and its probably the closest World Cup to British soil, so hopefully there'll be some Brits there out in force as well."

Priska Doppmann : "Its great for the team, we all get to share the win. I'm very happy too, its my first World Cup victory."

WCN : Did you train specifically for this event?

PD : In a way, we went out two or three times this week, mainly to get used to the bikes.

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Results

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Current Rankings after Round 9