October 2/04 5:28 am - Willock in Break

Posted by Editor on 10/2/04
 

Road Worlds - Verona, Italy

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**With a little less than 3 laps to go, Canadian Erinne Willock is part of a three rider breakaway that has just over 45 seconds on the peloton. Willock bridged up to Swiss rider Sarah Grab on the main descent on lap six, and the pair were then joined by Dori Ruano (Spain). The field is chasing, but not completely organized, since three strong teams are represented at the front. Italy is doing most of the work chasing.

**As the race enters lap 8 (ie, 2 laps to go), the peloton has been gradually closing the gap to the break containing Erinne Willock. The time split is down to 18 seconds, but there may be a new lease on life to the break with Australian Margaret Hemsley bridging up and the gap edging up to 28 seconds. Even if the break is caught, it sets up Bessette or Palmer-Komar for a counter-attack.

** The big guns are coming to the front of the peloton as the race approaches the main climb for the second last time. Jeannie Longo (France) and Mirjam Melchers (Netherlands) are both setting the pace, with the rest of the Dutch team also near the front. The gap to the four leaders has shrunk to 18 seconds.

** The break has been caught on the Torricelle climb and the peloton split as the top riders chase Zoulfia Zabirova (Russia). Zabirova was caught on the descent and the front group is down to about 25 riders. Bessette, Palmer-Komar and Willock are in this group.

** Svetlana Bubnenkova (Russia) has attacked as the race enters the final lap. She has quickly established a gap of 20-plus seconds, as the favourites look at each other to lead the chase. The final climb is going to be the decider it looks like. Nicole Demars is out of the race (after lap 7), but all other Canadians are still in the race.

** Svetlana Bubnenkova was caught by Tatiana Guderzo (Italy), and the duo were caught by a group of six near the top of the climb: Judith Arndt (Germany), Joane Somarriba Arrola (Spain), Edita Pucinskaite (Lithuania) and Nicole Brandli (Switzerland). There is a group of eight behind, but it looks like the race is down to these 8 riders.

** Arndt has attacked! She has a slight gap (less than 10 seconds), with Guderzo chasing, while the remainder of the break looks at each other. If Arndt wins will she do her one finger salute again?

** Arndt takes the title, with Guderzo holding on for silver and Anita Valen of Norway winning the sprint for bronze.

** Unofficial top-10

1 Judith Arndt (Germany) 3:4:38
2 Tatiana Guderzo (Italy) at 0:10
3 Anita Valen (Norway) 0:12
4 Trixi Worrack (Germany)
5 Modesta Vzesniauskaite (Lithuania)
6 Nicole Brandli (Switzerland)
7 Joane Somarriba (Spain)
8 Svetlana Bubnenkova (Russia)
9 Mirjam Melchers (Netherlands)
10 Edita Pucinskaite (Lithuania) all s.t.