Road World Cup 2008

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Judith Arndt (High Road) took victory over exhausted breakaway companion, Fabiana Luperini (Menikini Selle Italia) on a rain-soaked day in Montreal, Canada on Saturday. The current World Cup leader beat the 2007 winner of this event to the line to win, Canadian, Leigh Hobson won a small bunch sprint just over half a minute later to take third place. 

The rain which had fallen for most of the night continued through the morning and into the afternoon. As the rain eased over the race, which began at noon, the climb, Mont Royal, was cloaked in fog, creating a surreal atmosphere on the 10 kilometre circuit.  

An early breakaway by Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (High Road) split the race. The German was away solo for most of the first half of the race, with a maximum gap approaching 2 minutes. The break caused several groups to form and it became clear that the winner would come from the front group as time gaps increased back through the chasers. 

With 40km remaining, Teutenberg was caught by what was left of the bunch, but Team High Road were keen to assist Judith Arndt in her defence of the World Cup leader’s jersey. Kim Anderson was sent to attack with three laps to go and although she didn’t stay away for long, her job was done.  

Coming into the final 20 kilometres, there was a flurry of activity from, amongst others, several Canadians. Anne Samplonius (Canada) and Leigh Hobson (Canada) were in the front group. So too was Erinne Willock (Webcor Builders). Australian, Sara Carrigan, who rode herself into form in the recent Tour de l’Aude and World Cup, round 2 winner, Emma Pooley (Team Specialized Designs for Women) were also in the mix. There was attack and counter-attack as the lead changed repeatedly. Riders managed to create small gaps alone or in pairs.  

As the leaders passed through the start / finish line for the final time, the leaders were Judith Arndt and Leigh Hobson. A few seconds behind, the group were chasing them strongly. It was Fabiana Luperini who managed to bridge across to Arndt as Hobson fell back, off the pace. The pair of Arndt and Luperini, certainly World Class powerhouses, stayed away from the chasers over the closing kilometres. Luperini helped to drive the pair forwards initially, then tired, unable to come to the front again. Arndt took over the workload and led the pair down the finishing straight, around the U-turn with 250 metres to go and up the hill in the closing metres. Then the German opened up her sprint, staying to the right-hand side of the road and making sure that any response from Luperini could only come around her left side. The diminutive Italian offered nothing and Arndt was able to savour a second World Cup victory in 2008 (the first was in Flanders in April). Crossing the line in the World Cup leader’s jersey, which she was wearing for the first time in her career, Arndt celebrated with a cheer and raised her arms. 

Leigh Hobson led the sprint up the hill for third place and held on to take it. She was followed over the line by Sara Carrigan and then Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo Lifeforce).

The win cements Judith Arndt’s lead in the World Cup. She is now on 242 points, 90 ahead of Marianne Vos (DSB Bank), who did not ride and 109 ahead of Suzanne de Goede (Équipe Nürnberger), who finished 29^th and scored no further points in this round.