May 28/05 10:15 am - Montreal Women's World Cup: Preview and start list

Posted by Editoress on 05/28/05
 

Montreal World Cup

Today will be the 8th running of the Montreal Women's World Cup.

All seems to be in place for some great racing. On the start list are: Judith Arndt, Olympic silver medalist and reigning World champion; Suzanne Ljungskog, 2002-2003 World Champion and the current World cup leader; Amber Neben, winner of the 2005 Tour de L'Aude; Oenone Wood, World cup winner 2004; and Edita Pucinskaite, always a force to be reckoned with.

As Montreal prepares for the 8th edition of the Women's Worlds Cup, Quebec's two best know women again show that their long rivalry still burns. Lyne Bessette did not hide her animosity at yesterday's press conference. When asked to pose with Genevieve Jeanson (winner 2001, 2003 and 2004) and for a photo, Bessette refused.

So, while the rivalry between Jeanson and Bessette adds some passion and drama to the day, the fact that there are some strong teams: Nurnberger Versicherung (Arndt & Wood), Buitenpoort-Flexpoint (Ljungskog & Melchers) and Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan supporting the top riders will make Jeanson's attempt at a 4th win and Bessette's desire for her first win a real challenge.

Jeanson has been living and racing (sporadically) in the US, and her form for 2005 is really unknown. Bessette started her early season on the mountain bike with a strong showing at the Sea Otter Classic. Recently returned from the Tour de L'Aude where she started slow but came on form at the end to finish 4th overall.

Both Bessette and Jeanson are both riding without teams for 2005. Today they will be riding with composites, assembled specifically for today's race and for the 4 stage Tour de Grand Montreal that starts on Monday.

Racing starts at 2:30 pm EDT and CBC TV will be broadcasting live starting at 4pm. Tune is as possibly the best ever Montreal World Cup ever takes place on a course that sees the riders climb Mont Royal 12 times and cover nealrly 100km.

Weather forecast is for overcast, 20 degrees, with a 40% chance of thunder showers late in the day and a very light (5km/h) wind.

Start List

ACDA -Rona (CAN)
- Geneviève Jeanson (CAN)
- Magan Long (USA)
- Kelly Benjamin (USA)
- Cathrine Walberg (USA)
- André Aubut: Directeur sportif

Buitenpoort - Flexpoint Team (BFL) (NED)
- Suzanne Ljungskog (SWE)
- Mirjam Melchers-Van poppel (NED)
- Linda Serup (DEN)
- Amber Neben (USA)
- Jean-Paul Van poppel: Directeur sportif

Équipe Nurnberger Versicherung (NUR) (GER)
- Oenone Wood (AUS)
- Judith Arndt (GER)
- Olivia Gollan (AUS)
- Madeleine Lindberg (SWE)
- Regina Schleicher (GER)
- Anke Wichmann (GER)
- Petra Rossner: Directeur sportif

Safi-Pasta Zara Manhatta n(SAF) (ITA)
- Rochelle Gilmore (AUS)
- Alessandra Grassi (ITA)
- Miyoko Karami (JPN)
- Gessica Turato (ITA)
- Maurizio Fabretto: Directeur sportif

Nobili Rubinetterie - Menikini Cogeas (NMC) (ITA)
- Joanne Kiesanowski (NZL)
- Edita Pucinskaite (LTU)
- Olga Slyusareva (RUS)
- Sigrid Corneo (ITA)
- Daniella Fusar Poli (ITA)
- Anna Gusmini (ITA)
- Walter Ricci Petitoni: Directeur sportif

Ellicyle Sport expert Louis Garneau - Lyne Bessette (CAN)
- Lyne Bessette (CAN)
- Joanie Caron (CAN)
- Geneviève Gagnon (CAN)
- Lisa Sweeney (CAN)

Velo Bella (USA)
- Gabriella Gonzalez-Ferrat (MEX)
- Jennifer Chapman (USA)
- Jill McLaughlin (USA)
- Barbara Howe (USA)
- Hiroko Shimada (JPN)
- Melodie Metzger (USA)
- Rene Ferrat: Directeur sportif

Webcor Builders Women's Cycling Team (USA)
- Christine Thornburn (USA)
- Erinne Willock (CAN)
- Betina Hold (CAN)
- Stefanie Graeter (USA)
- Felicia Greer (CAN)
- Katheryn Curi (USA)
- Carmen D'Aluisio: Directeur sportif

Colavita/Cooking Light (USA)
- Susan Palmer-Komar (CAN)
- Kim Anderson (USA)
- Michelle Beltran (USA)
- Dotsie Cowden (USA)
- Rebecca Larson (CAN)
- Christina Peick (DEN)
- John Alsedek: Directeur sportif

Team S.A.T.S (TSA) (DEN)
- Rachel Heal (GBR)
- Trine Hansen (DEN)
- Melissa Holt (NZL)
- Dorte Lohse Rasmussen (DEN)
- Catherine Marsal: Directeur sportif

ELK Haus - Tirol Noe (RCE) (AUT)
- Andrea Graus (AUT)
- Christine Mueller (GER)
- Patricia Hempel (GER)
- Monika Schachl (AUT)
- Heribert Springnagel: Directeur sportif

Federacion Colombiana de Ciclismo (COL)
- Ana Paola Madrinan Villegas (COL)
- Millerlandy Agudelo (COL)
- Monica Lorena Mendes Ortiz (COL)
- Maria Luisa Calle Williams (COL)
- Jose Julian Velasquez: Directeur sportif

Équipe Nationale du Canada (CAN)
- Kirsten Robbins (CAN)
- Anna Tratnyek (CAN)
- Kylie Case (CAN)
- Jenny Trew (CAN)
- Suzanne Macht (CAN)
- Lisa Sweeney (CAN)
- Kris Westwood: Directeur sportif

QUARK (USA)
- Annette Beutler (SUI)
- Helen Kelly (AUS)
- Grace Fleury (USA)
- Audrey Lemieux (CAN)
- Kate Sherwin (USA)
- Amy Moore (CAN)
- Jim Williams: Directeur sportif

Diet Cheerwine (CAN)
- Julie Bélanger (CAN)
- Julia Farell (CAN)
- Tara Ross (CAN)
- Leigh Hobson (CAN)
- Rhonda Stickle (CAN)
- Merrill Collins (CAN)
- Neil Ross: Directeur sportif

Subway (USA)
- Melissa Sanborn (USA)
- Sima Trapp (USA)
- Susan Weldon (USA)
- Nicole Wangsgard (USA)
- Anne Samplonius: Directeur sportif

>Biovail (CAN)
- Jennifer Stephenson (CAN)
- Rebecca Nelson (CAN)
- Lynn Gaggioli (USA)
- Amanda Shaw (CAN)
- Anna Garnett (CAN)
- Jennifer Magur (USA)
- Claudine Labelle: Directeur sportif

Équipe du Québec (CAN)
- Stéphanie Bourbeau (CAN)
- Caroline Montigny (CAN)
- Élisa Gagnon (CAN)
- Marie-Pier Bédard (CAN)
- Caroline Théberge (CAN)
- Vincent Jourdain: Directeur sportif

Composite international
- Helena Coney (CAN)
- Dulce Pliego Moreno (MEX)
- Ashley Robinson (BER)
- Marielle Aunave (FRA)