WomensCycling.net - race coverage, World Cup 2008, Victory to Beltman in Ronde van Drenthe

Chantal Beltman took a huge victory in Hoogeveen. The Dutchwoman's birthplace is only 8km away and her family and friends were in the grandstand to see the heroic breakaway succeed.

Team High Road sent first Ina-Yoko Teutenberg, then Judith Arndt up the road in the cobbled sections in the first one-third of the race. Each was marked by Cervelos Sarah Duester and it was not until Chantal Beltman went, Duester and Elodie Touffet (GDZ Gauss) were able to go with her and stay away.

The three worked together and stayed out in front for the rest of the day. The bunch, meanwhile, was suffering in the cross winds and it splintered. The three breakaways gained an advantage of over 3 minutes, before being reigned back to a minute in the closing 30km.

Although chasing hard, the bunch was unable to gain much. A group of four favoured contenders: Marianne Vos (DSB Bank), Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (High Road), Kirsten Wild (AA Drink) and World Cup Leader, Suzanne De Goede (Nürnberger), managed to get within 20 seconds before they were caught by the bunch. With 10 km to go, High Road and Cervélo sent their riders to front of the bunch. On the narrow roads leading into the finish in Hoogeveen, they were able to slow the bunch. One rider managed to outfox them - Amber Neben (Flexpoint) jumped clear and could not quite manage to bridge the gap.

So, with 5km to go, the three leaders had a 17 seconds advantage. It was here that Chantal Beltman made a brave move. She went clear and kept going. Her progress into the wider streets of Hoogeveen was painful to watch, for the effort she was making. Her 20 seconds gap was being steadily reduced by the bunch. But, the Dutchwoman held on and took the victory - the second in a row in both Drenthe (Teutenberg, Dwingeloo, click here for coverage) and Flanders (Arndt, World Cup round 3, click here for coverage)

Beltman made it to the line with 5 seconds to spare over the bunch, which had now come together and there was a sprint for second. Vos and Teutenberg were at the front, with De Goede fighting to finish high in the order to protect her World Cup lead.

Teutenberg, perhaps beaten, sat up and gave a victory salute for her team-mate. Vos, unaware of the German's actions carried on sprinting and made sure of second. De Goede was fourth.

The World Cup stays with De Goede (128 points), 46 points ahead of Judith Arndt (82 points) and now Chantal Beltman (81 points).

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Post Race Comments

For the winner, Chantal Beltman, this victory was particularly sweet. Her home town is just 8km from Hoogeveen and her parents and sister, Ghita were in the grandstand with other family and friends to watch the victory. “Its another nice victory for the team, I think”, she said, referring to Arndt’s victory in round 3 in Flanders, “I could just go because I knew they were so close and all [her team-mates] were still there. I could go, I had nothing to lose and I knew Ina would be ready for the sprint if they caught me.” About winning on home ground, she said “Its so cool, so many people, so many fans along the road. It gives extra motivation.”

Directeur Sportif, Ronny Lauke, explained the team’s tactics “It was part of the plan that we’d create an early breakaway on the cobblestone section and that we’d try not be at a disadvantage in the race, we didn’t want to chase other people today, he continued, “Chantal was the one we wanted to take it to the front. It is very important for her to win to help towards selection for the Olympics.” About back-to-back victories, Lauke was naturally pleased “To win a World Cup is always something special. We’re having such a nice run at the moment, everything is working out quite well and its nice. Two in a row is special. Vlaanderen and then Drenthe are both big, specialist races. Drenthe is kind of Paris Roubaix for the women and to win that one after Vlaanderen is just awesome.”

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Results - Top 10 - click here to see full result

Position	Rider	Team	Time	Gap
1.	BELTMAN, Chantal	TEAM HIGH ROAD WOMEN	3.32'01"
2.	VOS, Marianne	TEAM DSB BANK	3.32'07"	6"
3.	TEUTENBERG, Ina	TEAM HIGH ROAD WOMEN	3.32'07"	6"
4.	DE GOEDE, Suzanne	EQUIPE NÜRNBERGER VERSICHERUNG	3.32'07"	6"
5.	GILMORE, Rochelle	MENIKINI - SELLE ITALIA	3.32'07"	6"
6.	WRUBLESKI, Alex	CANADA	3.32'07"	6"
7.	DE VOCHT, Liesbeth	VRIENDEN VAN HET PLATTELAND	3.32'07"	6"
8.	WILD, Kirsten	AA-DRINK CYCLING TEAM	3.32'07"	6"
9.	MARTISOVA, Julia	GAUSS RDZ ORMU	3.32'07"	6"
10.	ARMSTRONG, Kristin	CERVELO LIFEFORCE PRO CYCLING TEAM	3.32'07"	6"

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Standings Top 10 - click here to see full list

Rank	Name		Team	Points
1	DE GOEDE	Suzanne	NUR	128
2	ARNDT	Judith	TMP	82
3	BELTMAN	Chantal	TMP	81
4	VOS	Marianne	DSB	77
5	POOLEY	Emma	TSW	75
6	CURI MATTIS	Katheryn	WEB	75
7	TEUTENBERG	Ina	TMP	70
8	ARMSTRONG	Kristin	RLT	61
9	WOOD	Oenone	TMP	61
10	MARTISOVA	Julia	GAU	60

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