Posted by Editoress on 06/22/12
It is a hot and windy day in Lac Megantic as the Elite and U23 women prepare to start their 106.8 road race.
The course involves a neutral start out of town and then a ride 40 km to Mont Morne - that was a KOM of the Tour de Beauce Mont Megantic stage 3. After a couple laps up the Mtn, they will then head back toward Lac Megantic.
As the 66 women entered in today's race women line up, the sky is getting grey.. clouds are moving in.
1:12 pm
Neutral start over, racing begins.
1:15 pm
Clara Hughes and Jasmin Glaesser are at the front of the bunch
1:24 pm
There is a break of 2 that have a 28 sec gap. Rachel Canning and Kristen Worley. At 10 km mark and they have 30 sec
1:29 pm
All back together again at 15 km
1:32 pm
Riders are starting to test their legs..
Julie Beveridge, Jasmin Glaesser and Gabrielle Pilote Fortin are having a go and have 12 seconds on the bunch.
1:35 pm
Pilote Fortin dropped. Gap 30 sec
1:40 pm
Gap now 50 seconds and Joelle Numainville has started to bridge
1:43 pm
Clara Hughes has joined Numainville in the chase. they are 40 sec back
20 km done
1:50 pm
The break: Julie Beveridge (AB) Equipe Vienne Futuroscope, Jasmin Glaesser (BC) Cycling BC are leading. Clara Hughes (QC) Specialized-lululemon, Rhae Shaw (ON) Exergy TWENTY12, Joelle Numainville (QC) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies, Karol-Ann Canuel (QC) Vienne-Futurocope are chasing at 29 sec. The peloton has disintegrated into four sep groups.
1:56 pm
Break caught, now 13 leaders
Clara Hughes (QC) Specialized-lululemon
Rhae Shaw (ON) Exergy TWENTY12
Julie Beveridge (AB) Equipe Vienne Futuroscope
Denise Ramsden (ON) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
Jasmin Glaesser (BC) Cycling BC
Gabrielle Pilote Fortin (QC) Equipe du Québec
Lex Albrecht (QC) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
Annie Ewart (BC) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
Joelle Numainville (QC) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
Véronique Fortin (QC) TIBCO To the Top
Kristine Brynjolfson (BC) Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes
Karol-Ann Canuel (QC) Vienne-Futurocope
2:12 pm
They should be on the climb now. Everyone will be watching Véronique Fortin (QC) TIBCO To the Top, the defending champ and very good climber. She will have to try something on the climb
2:24 pm
Clarification
At the base of the climb the 13 leaders were caught by a chase group, what remains of the peloton.
On the climb Joanie Caron (QC) Colavita-ESPNw and Jenny Lehmann (BC) Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes attacked. - the duo have 2 min on the next rider.
2:32 pm
Over the top of climb first time. Lehmann leading Caron by 40 sec. Hughes leading chasers (12) at 20 sec
Chasers:
Clara Hughes (QC) Specialized-lululemon
Rhae Shaw (ON) Exergy TWENTY12
Julie Beveridge (AB) Equipe Vienne Futuroscope
Jasmin Glaesser (BC) Cycling BC
Lex Albrecht (QC) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
Joelle Numainville (QC) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
Véronique Fortin (QC) TIBCO To the Top
Karol-Ann Canuel (QC) Vienne-Futurocope
Véronique Labonté (QC) CSM Epinay sur Seine
2:45 pm
Lehmann's gap now 1 min. Hughes at front of chase group w. Shaw, Beveridge, Glaesser, Numainville, Fortin, Canuel, Labonte
2:59 pm
Lehmann is being chased by Véronique Labonté @ 45 sec. At 55 sec is the big chase group. Second time on climb
3:02 pm
Labonté and Lehmann together top of climb. Hughes leading chase group of 6 at 20 sec. Fortin has cracked
3:07 pm
CAUGHT- Lead group now Hughes, Shaw, Beveridge, Ramsden, Glaesser, Numainville, Lehmann, Canuel,
3:09 pm
Alizée Brien has joined the lead group, 6 more riders coming back
Lex Albrecht (QC) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies has dropped out
3:13 pm
Attack: Beveridge, Labonte, Numainville have a 15 sec gap, on 6 chasers
3:15
No success, as soon as they are brought back Hughes goes with Numainville on her wheel
3:18 pm
40k to go. Group now 7: Hughes, Shaw, Glaesser, Numainville, Ramsden, Beveridge, O'brien, and Canuel. They now heading back to Lac Megantic . Hughes very aggressive.
The chase group is Worley, Pilote Fortin, Gaudreault, Ewart, Vander Klok, Fortin and Brynjolfson at 43 sec
3:25 pm
35 km to go
3:32 pm
<35 km to go Hughes and Ramsden away with a gap of 12 sec on chase group Shaw Glaesser, Beveridge. 2nd chase group at 1:02
3:38 pm
Hughes and Ramsden 30 sec clear now on the chase group that seems disorganized. Glaesser back in w. chasers after repair
3:42 pm
15 km to go, gap 1:30 for Hughes and Ramsden
3:50 pm
10 km to go. Hughes leading with Ramsden on her wheel chasers well over 1 min back
3:55 pm
7 km to go and the gap is 1:15
4pm ET
5 km to go and the gap is 1:30
4:05 pm
3 km to go, gap 2min. Hughes does not have a great sprint, but she does have a HUGE engine. If she goes, Ramsden in trouble
Hughes does not contest the sprint.
Final UNOFFICIAL
1 Denise Ramsden (ON) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
2 Clara Hughes (QC) Specialized-lululemon
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