May 29/99 10:50 am - Montreal World Cup Preview

Posted by Editor on 05/29/99
 

Montreal World Cup Preview

There will be 53 riders on the starting line for tomorrow's women's Road World Cup race, the 5th in the season-long series. Among the favourites will be World Cup leader Hanka Kupfernagel (Greenery Hawk) of Germany, Australian Anna Wilson (Saturn), who is second overall in the series, and her team mate - Canadian Lyne Bessette.

Bessette is coming off her dominating win of the Tour de l'Aude stage race in France, and the home support from the knowledgable Quebec fans will certainly motivate her. others that are sure to be watched carefully in the pack are Canadian Linda Jackson (Timex), last year's winner (and 1998 overall World Cup champion) Diana Ziliute (Dream Team), her Italian team mate Roberta Bonanomi (3rd in the overall standings), and Canadian climbing specialist Sue Palmer-Komar (Team Elita), who recently returned to road racing after an 18 month foray into mountain biking.

The course is once again the gruelling Mont Royal circuit in the middle of Montreal - considered by many to be one of the toughest one day race circuits in the world. The riders will do 11 laps of the circuit, for a total of just over 90 kilometres. This year the riders will finish at the top of the climb, setting the stage for an interesting finish if there is no breakaway earlier in the race.

Unlike last year, when the riders raced in the cold rain, the forecast is for hot (25 plus Celcius), and sunny conditions, meaning that proper hydration will be critical. The race begins at noon, local time, and we will begin our coverage approximately half an hour before that. During the race, we will be providing updates as the action happens: during the attacks, chases, and lap-by-lap. So be sure to refresh regularly (and empty your cache!), to catch the action live.