Write-up

German Judith Arndt (T-Mobile) today won the Montreal World Cup cycling race, in front of British Nicole Cooke (Univega) and American Kristin Armstrong (Lipton).  The winner completed the race’s 100.7 kilometres in 3 hours 11 minutes 52 seconds, at an average speed of 34.6 km/h.  Arndt and Cooke completed the race in the same time, three seconds faster than Armstrong.   

Thanks to the 75 points earned by her victory today, Arndt closes in on Cooke in the World Cup overall standings.  Cooke keeps her leader’s jersey with 289 points, 44 more than Arndt.  Third overall, Australian Oenone Wood (Nürnberger Versicherung), did not finish today but kept her rank – her closest rivals (Ina Teutenberg (T-Mobile), Zoulfia Zabirova (Team Bigla) and Susanne Ljungskog (Buitenpoort-Flexpoint)) did not make the trip to Montreal.  Switzerland’s Annette Beutler (Elk Haus No), fourth in today’s race, climbs to fourth in overall standings.

This year again, the Montreal crowd was packed and noisy on the Camilien-Houde Hill.  The course was lengthened by one kilometre this year, with the addition of a false flat at the bottom of the Hill, so the 110 starters had to climb it “just” 11 times instead of 12 like in the past.  But it did not change the race dynamics.  Right from the first climb the peloton lost racers from behind.  But in the front there was a hard race and at half-race the peleton had boiled down to about 35 riders that read like a Who’s who of women’s racing.  Arndt, Cooke, Armstrong and Beutler were flanked by Webcor-Platinum’s Christine Thorburn (USA) and Erinne Willock (CAN), Germany’s Trixi Worrack (Nurnberger-Versicherung), France’s Edwige Pitel and Élisabeth Chevanne Brunel (Équipe mixte Pruneaux d’Agen – Bianchi Aliverti Kookai) and many more.

Beutler, Thorburn and Willock took turns in front setting the pace.  But in the flat part of the ninth lap, German Tina Liebig (Nurnberger Versicherung) broke away.  When her lead reached 35 seconds a three-strong chase group formed, which included Élodie Touffet (FRA, Nobili Rubinetterie Menikini).  Touffet bridged to Liebig then counterattacked.  Her lead reached 1 min 30 secs. Touffet was reeled back mid-way through the last climb. She would finish 23^rd, 1 min. 03 secs. down.  Arndt and Cooke were side by side when they made it to the top, and Arndt outsprinted her rival.