Road World Cup 2009

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Emma Johansson (Red Sun Cycling) maintained her grip on the World Cup series lead with a calculated second place in the finale on the Mur in Huy. The winner, Marianne Vos (DSB Bank) equalled history by taking her third Fleche Wallone. She joined the elite club of those who have done so in style, with a solo win after an attack on the fierce climb with 150 metres to go. Vos’ performance is, in fact, historic in itself. She is the only rider to have won three times in a row. The other riders to have won three times were competitive in the race today, Nicole Cooke (Vision 1 Racing) finished sixth and Fabiana Luperini (Selle Italia Ghezzo) finished fifteenth.

The race was hard, with continual breakaway attempts. Four riders eventually managed to create a gap when the bunch reached the climbs. Noemi Cantele (Bigla Cycling Team), Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team Columbia Women), Trixi Worrack (Equipe Nurnberger) and Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (Vision 1 Racing) broke away towards the climb of Cote de Haut Bois. Their move gained some time, but  was split up by the summit, which was at kilometre 44, around half-distance of the 98 kilometre race. A counter-attack, containing thirteen riders escaped, but were unable to gain any real advantage. By the Cote de Thon (53 kilometres), they were back with the bunch.

The race’s significant move came before the Cote de Bohisseau. Luise Keller (Team Columbia Women) and Claudia Hausler (Cervelo Test Team) broke away together. They worked well and quickly built up a gap of twenty seconds. Hausler was too strong, though on the Cote de Bohisseau and rode away on her own. With 25 kilometres to go, she was looking strong and maintaining a 40 seconds gap.

The bunch reacted on the straight, wide roads which lead back to Huy before the penultimate climb. Equipe Nurnberger were instrumental in the chase and Hausler was caught with around 15kilometres to go in the race. The major contenders were left to fight it out towards the finish. With the favourites all at the front of the bunch, there were no further escapes allowed. The 2009 Fleche Wallone would come down to a fight of the strongest on the Mur de Huy.

Claudia Hausler (Cervelo Test Team) made the first move on the Mur. She was marked by Marianne Vos (DSB Bank) and Emma Johansson (Red Sun Cycling), with Amber Neben (Equipe Nurnberger) and Noemi Cantele (Bigla Cycling Team) also in contention. Hausler went first, attacking early on the climb. She was strong, but not strong enough. Vos made her move with 150 metres to go, overtook Hausler and crossed the line with a safe, six second, advantage over Emma Johansson, who had marked her move, but been unable to respond to it.

Emma Johansson had done enough to keep the World Cup leader’s jersey. She admitted that she had marked Vos, knowing that if Vos won, she would have to gain a place on the podium to stay in the lead. “I always try to race for the win, but a climb like this is totally one for Marianne. I stayed with her as long as I could, I couldn’t do any more, so I tried to keep the jersey.” explained an excited Johansson before the podium presentation.

Marianne Vos was understated about her win. “The course suited me”, she commented. “To win one time is great, to win two times is even better, to win three times……it feels great. Its great to win three times and be on the list with Luperini and Cooke, they’ve won three times and now I’ve done the same.” Asked which was the best win, she said “I don’t know, they’re all tough. With that climb, they’re all hard. Last year, I had to sprint to the finish and this year, the last hundred metres were not easy, but better.”

Vos will not be targeting the World Cup in 2009. Despite doing enough to keep herself in contention for the overall World Cup victory. “It’s not really a target but when you’re in the top of the ranking, I will try to be up there, but I won’t be riding in Montreal, so that makes it difficult at the end. I want to be in good shape for all of the World Cups. We’ll see at the end of the season what happens.”