CC: So congratulations, what a fantastic ride!
Alex Wrubleski: Thanks, it was a really good day.
CC: So tell us how the race developed leading up to that final climb.
AW: Well, most of the teams want it to come down to the climb, so the big teams like High Road were covering every single move. The only one that got away a bit was [Fabiana] Luperini (Italy); she got about a minute but Cervelo Lifeforce and High Road brought that back. Every team had their climber, so they all wanted to keep it together.
On the second to last climb, I guess, a major split happened in the peloton. Me and Anne both were in the front group, and after that it came down to a scramble to get to the front on the last climb.
CC: And how did it go on the Mur?
AW: Well, I had to almost squirm my way out of the group, to get up there. I was in third for a long time, then I was caught in the last 30 metres. It was really hard to watch ... I was so close.
CC: You've made a big step up this year from last; now you are regularly in the top-10. What has changed, what are you doing differently?
AW: Well, my form is really good right now, and I guess I figured out a lot of things over the winter.
CC: Like what?
AW: Well, recovery was a huge issue last year. I was constantly over training. Now I know better when to stop pushing myself in training.
CC: You also seem to be getting better at strategy and positioning in the races.
AW: Definitely. This trip has been incredible; I'm learning so much every single race. I still didn't position myself perfectly, but I keep getting better. Originally I didn't really want to do this project, but I'm really glad the CCA sent us. I'm getting more used to the Europeans, the way of racing. I know who to watch now, and it's getting easier to move around in the peloton.
CC: So what's next on the schedule?
AW: Well we have a race in Luxembourg on Saturday, and one in Belgium on Sunday, and that's it for the CCA project. Anne and I will go back to [trade team] Webcor then and stay here to do Bern (World Cup) and the Tour de l'Aude.
CC: This must take some pressure off about Olympic selections?
AW: Yes, I'm pretty confident that Canada will get three spots now [for the women's road race]. With this fourth at the World Cup it puts me in a good position for the selection, so I'm really confident that I will go [to Beijing]. I'm just relieved to have the pressure off.
| 1. Marianne Vos (Ned) Team DSB Bank | 2:46:42 |
| 2. Marta Bastianelli (Ita) Italian National Team | 0:01 |
| 3. Judith Arndt (Ger) Team High Road Women | at 0:02 |
| 4. Alex Wrubleski (Can) Canadian National | 0:09 |
| 5. Amber Neben (USA) Team Flexpoint | 0:13 |
| 6. Emma Pooley (GBr) Great Britain | 0:17 |
| 7. Nicole Br?ndli (Sui) Bigla Cycling Team | 0:17 |
| 8. Nicole Cooke (GBr) Great Britain | 0:17 |
| 9. Sofie Goor (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam | 0:20 |
| 10. Lieselot Decroix (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam | 0:22 |
| 25. Anne Samplonious (Can) Canadian National | 0:54 |
| 64. Leigh Hobson (Can) Canadian National | 3:38 |
| 65. Erinne Willock (Can) Canadian National | s.t. |
