WomensCycling.net - race coverage, Preview - Round 5, Tour de Berne, Switzerland UCI road World Cup, 2009

The fifth stage of the 2009 World Cup series is set to be a tough race of attrition as the riders complete the 33.95km circuit. The top of the UCI rankings is a battle of the Northern Europeans, the Swedish talent Emma Johansson (Red Sun Cycling) sits with 210 points ahead of the multi-talented Dutch woman, Marianne Vos (DSB) with 192 points. In third place after a string of victories over the early season, is the German power house sprinter, Ina Yoko Teutenberg (Team Columbia Highroad Women) with 96 points. With Teutenberg missing this round, third place will be up for grabs.

The event is raced over 4 laps and will test the riders right from the start. The first 10.5 km of the race are all up hill, culminating in the 9% climb to Bergpreis at 730m.The course rolls for the next 10km and then the riders complete a tough 22.45km decent to the start/finish area in Lyss.

This race should favour the climbers, but it really depends on the pace during the first halt of the race. In previous years it has gone to a solo win, by someone who breaks away in the final stages. It is likely though unless the local teams, Bigla and Cervelo, have someone in the break, they will be looking for a win, this would be there home race. Nicole Cooke (Vision 1) and two time previous winner Edita Pucinskaite (Team Cmax Dila) should not be discounted.

Back to Top

Provisional Start List

1	Ljungskog	Susanne	Team Flexpoint
2	Melchers Van Poppel	Mirjam	Team Flexpoint
3	Gunnewijk	Loes	Team Flexpoint
4	van der Breggen	Anna	Team Flexpoint
5	Slappendel	Iris	Team Flexpoint
6	Schmidt	Trine	Team Flexpoint
7	Elemans	Saskia	Team Flexpoint
8	Braam	Elisabeth	Team Flexpoint
9	Kanis	Jacobien	Team Flexpoint
11
12	Beltman	Chantal	Team Columbia Highroad Women
13	Anderson	Kim	Team Columbia Highroad Women
14	Keller	Luise	Team Columbia Highroad Women
15	Villumsen	Linda	Team Columbia Highroad Women
16	Wrublesik	Alex	Team Columbia Highroad Women
17
18
19
21	Bruins	Regina	Cervélo Test Team
22	Häusler	Claudia	Cervélo Test Team
23	Pooley	Emma	Cervélo Test Team
24
25	Schwager	Patricia	Cervélo Test Team
26	Schnider	Pascale	Cervélo Test Team
27	Decroix	Lieselot	Cervélo Test Team
28	Düster	Sarah	Cervélo Test Team
29	Wild	Kirsten	Cervélo Test Team
30
31	Vos	Marianne	DSB
32	Gebhardt	Elke	DSB
33	Hennig	Angela	DSB
34	Liebig	Tina	DSB
35	Tabak	Noortje	DSB
36	van Vleuten	Annemiek	DSB
37	de Vocht	Liesbet	DSB
38	van Wanroij	Marieke	DSB
39	Visser	Adrie	DSB
40
41	Becker	Charlotte	Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung
42	de Goede	Suzanne	Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung
43	Lutz	Eva	Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung
44	Neben	Amber	Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung
45	Purath	Bianca	Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung
46	Worrack	Trixi	Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung
47
48
49
50
51	Brändli	Nicole	Bigla Cycling Team
52	Cantele	Noemi	Bigla Cycling Team
53	Hohl	Jennifer	Bigla Cycling Team
54	Andréasson	Veronica	Bigla Cycling Team
55	Holler	Monica	Bigla Cycling Team
56	Vzesniauskaite	Modesta	Bigla Cycling Team
57	Graus	Andrea	Bigla Cycling Team
58	Bettina	Kuhn	Bigla Cycling Team
59
60
61	Luperini	Fabiana	Selle Italia Ghezzi
62	Kozonchuk	Oxana	Selle Italia Ghezzi
63	Boyd	Kaytee	Selle Italia Ghezzi
64	Bras	Martine	Selle Italia Ghezzi
65	Corneo	Sigrid	Selle Italia Ghezzi
66	Bozzolo	Laura	Selle Italia Ghezzi
67	Bastianelli	Marta	Selle Italia Ghezzi
68	Tamanini	Luisa	Selle Italia Ghezzi
69	Foresi	Lorena	Selle Italia Ghezzi
70
71	Antoshina	Tatiana	Gauss RDZ ORUM Colnago
72	Martisova	Julia	Gauss RDZ ORUM Colnago
73	Lechner	Eva	Gauss RDZ ORUM Colnago
74	Belvederesi	Tania	Gauss RDZ ORUM Colnago
75	Bortolus	Chiara	Gauss RDZ ORUM Colnago
76	Corazza	Martina	Gauss RDZ ORUM Colnago
77	Bastianelli	Valentina	Gauss RDZ ORUM Colnago
78	Azzini	Emanuela	Gauss RDZ ORUM Colnago
79	Suelotto	Eleonora	Gauss RDZ ORUM Colnago
80
81	Johansson	Emma	Red Sun Cycling Team
82	Dijkman	Petra	Red Sun Cycling Team
83	Henrion	Ludivine	Red Sun Cycling Team
84	Pijnenborg	Mascha	Red Sun Cycling Team
85	Brzezna	Paulina	Red Sun Cycling Team
86	Werner	Laure	Red Sun Cycling Team
87	Arnouts	Anne	Red Sun Cycling Team
88	Brulée	Latoya	Red Sun Cycling Team
89	Klep	Inge	Red Sun Cycling Team
90
91	Borchi	Alessandra	SAFI-Pasta Zara Titanedi
92	Bronzini	Giorgia	SAFI-Pasta Zara Titanedi
93	Iturriagaechevarria	Eneritz	SAFI-Pasta Zara Titanedi
94	Patuzzo	Eleonora	SAFI-Pasta Zara Titanedi
95	Sanchis-Chafer	Anna	SAFI-Pasta Zara Titanedi
96	Ziliute	Diana	SAFI-Pasta Zara Titanedi
97	Berlato	Elena	SAFI-Pasta Zara Titanedi
98	Cilvinaite	Inga	SAFI-Pasta Zara Titanedi
99	Leleivyte	Rasa	SAFI-Pasta Zara Titanedi
100
101	Cooke	Nicole	Vision 1
102	Withelaw	Victoria	Vision 1
103	Wyman	Helen	Vision 1
104	van den Berg	Debby	Vision 1
105	Ferrier-Bruneau	Christel	Vision 1
106	Verhoeven	Aurore	Vision 1
107	Curtis	Katie	Vision 1
108	Day	Gabriella	Vision 1
109	King	Dani	Vision 1
110
111	Armitstead	Elizabeth	Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam
112	Delfosse	Catherine	Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam
113	Depoorter	Elise	Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam
114	Gilmore	Rochelle	Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam
115	Schoonbaert	Kim	Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam
116	Verbeke	Grace	Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam
117	Lanssens	Lien	Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam
118	Silversides	Emma	Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam
119	van Doorslaer	Annelies	Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam
120
121	Pucinskaite	Edita	Team Cmax Dilà
122	Vilajosana Andreu	Marta	Team Cmax Dilà
123	Faustini	Francesca	Team Cmax Dilà
124	Gazzi	Laura	Team Cmax Dilà
125	Donadoni	Alice	Team Cmax Dilà
126	Torsius	Arien	Team Cmax Dilà
127	Biagi	Saneila	Team Cmax Dilà
128	Tirado Marquez	Silvia	Team Cmax Dilà
129	Bertolin	Odette	Team Cmax Dilà
130
131	Unguryte	Edita	Chirio Forno d'Asolo
132	Fernandes	Clemilda	Chirio Forno d'Asolo
133	Fernandes	Venia	Chirio Forno d'Asolo
134	Kolmann	Cristine	Chirio Forno d'Asolo
135	Zablokyte	Egle	Chirio Forno d'Asolo
136	Tuslaite	Daiwa	Chirio Forno d'Asolo
137	Janeliunaite	Edita	Chirio Forno d'Asolo
138	Frapporti	Simon	Chirio Forno d'Asolo
139	Borile	Silvia	Chirio Forno d'Asolo
140
141	Aune	Karin	Fenixs
142	Boyarskaya	Natalia	Fenixs
143	Godart	Suzie	Fenixs
144	Hare	Catherine	Fenixs
145	Hierckens	Corinne	Fenixs
146	Marmorini	Alissia	Fenixs
147	Bubnenkova	Svetlana	Fenixs
148	Juodvalkyte	Urte	Fenixs
149	Stiajkina	Tatiana	Fenixs
150
151	Vilunaite	Erika	S.C Michela Fanini Record Rox
152	Kirch	Rosane	S.C Michela Fanini Record Rox
153	Olivira Flavia	M.	S.C Michela Fanini Record Rox
154	Mc Nellis	Carmen	S.C Michela Fanini Record Rox
155	Hibberd	Carly	S.C Michela Fanini Record Rox
156	Lazzernini	Giulia	S.C Michela Fanini Record Rox
157	Quarta	Alessia	S.C Michela Fanini Record Rox
158	Mensa	Serena	S.C Michela Fanini Record Rox
159	Soldo	Eleonora	S.C Michela Fanini Record Rox
160
161	Carreta	Valentina	Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line
162	Danesi	Serena	Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line
163	D'Ettorre	Alessandra	Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line
164	Fiori	Jennifer	Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line
165	Pisaneschi	Laura	Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line
166	Rozzini	Chiara	Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line
167	Dinato	Maddalena	Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line
168
169
170
171	Hennig	Virginia	German National Team
172	Zuckermandel	Denise	German National Team
173	Schnitzmeier	Anna	German National Team
174	Schweizer	Sabrina	German National Team
175	Merten	Franziska	German National Team
176	Kupfernagel	Hanka	German National Team
177	Schemmer	Jana	German National Team
178	Amend	Hanna	German National Team
179	Dittmann	Laura	German National Team
180
181	Grünzweil	Manuela	Austrian National Team
182	Pintarelli	Daniela	Austrian National Team
183	Schachl	Monika	Austrian National Team
184	Schober	Bernadette	Austrian National Team
185	Schrattenecker	Silke	Austrian National Team
186	Ruso	Karin	Austrian National Team
187	Langer	Catherine	Austrian National Team
188	Cizgin	Pelin	Austrian National Team
189	Berger	Victoria	Austrian National Team
190
191	Beveridge	Julie	Canadian National Team
192	Trew	Jrnny	Canadian National Team
193	Cartmill	Carrie	Canadian National Team
194	Logan	Heather	Canadian National Team
195	Willock	Erinne	Canadian National Team
196	Stewart	Sarah	Canadian National Team
197	McGregor	Moriah	Canadian National Team
198	Guloien	Leah	Canadian National Team
199	Numainville	Joelle	Canadian National Team
200
201	Hoffmann	Chantal	Luxembourg National Team
202	Lamborelle	Nathalie	Luxembourg National Team
203	Ludovicy	Monique	Luxembourg National Team
204	Majerus	Christine	Luxembourg National Team
205	Schmitt	Anne-Marie	Luxembourg National Team
206	Kovelter	Christine	Luxembourg National Team
207
208
209

2008 Review

Click here for full 2008 Berne coverage

Susanne Ljungskog escaped from an elite group of breakaway companions to win the Tour of Berne / Berner Rundfahrt by eight seconds ahead of the sprinting group. Winner of the sprint for second was Judith Arndt, which gave her enough points to take over the World Cup series lead. Perhaps surprisingly, the German former World Champion and multiple previous World Cup round winner has never worn the Leader’s jersey before in her illustrious career.

The front group carved out a lead over the following bunch after the first climb which was unassailable, meaning that the winner would come from within this selection of less than half the starters. Within this group, there were multiple representatives from several teams, including Cervelo Lifeforce; Kristin Armstrong, Karin Thürig, Priska Doppmann, Équipe Nurnberger; (2007 winner) Edita Puckinskaite, Claudia Hausler, Team Bigla; Nicole Brändli, Noemi Cantele, Zoulfia Zabirova, and Team Flexpoint; Mirjam Melchers van Poppel and Amber Neben.

On the final lap, Susanne Ljungskog (Manikin Selle Italia) made an attempt to break away on the climb. She gained a 15 second lead, but was brought back by World Champion, Marta Bastianelli (Italian National). The Italian effectively towed the group back to Ljungskog, who regained her breath and sat in the group on the descent. Then, with about 15 kilometres to go, the Swede whose last World Cup win was the inaugural World Cup in Vårgarda (Sweden) in 2006, attacked again.

In the closing kilometres, it became clear that this race would once again be taken by a solo rider just ahead of the sprinting bunch. Ljungskog held on to her slender lead and was able to celebrate in the final 50 metres with several happy punches into the air before a double-handed victory salute.

Back to Top

Previous Winners - Tour de Berne

Year	1st
2001	Vera Holfeld (GER)
2002	Priska Doppman (SWI)
2003	Olivia Gollan (AUS)
2004	Fabinia Luperini (ITA)
2005	Edita Pucinskaite (LTU)
2006	Zoulfia Zabirova (RUS)
2007	Edita Pucinskaite (LTU)
2008	Susanne Ljunskog (SWE)

Back to Top

Want to contact WomensCycling.net?

The WomensCycling.net email address is

To contact the webmaster, the address is :

Type this address into the "To" line of a new email message in your email programme.

The WomensCycling.net email address is displayed as a graphic in order to reduce the amount of 'spam' email received from programmes which 'crawl' the internet for sites with addresses displayed in text and then overwhelm that address with junk, or even forge the address in junk messages that they generate and send to others. Sorry for any inconvenience this approach causes you.

Back to Top