By Mitch Friedman The women's World Cup series crosses the Atlantic to Canada this weekend for its...
The battle for the finish in 2004 (Image credit: Rob Karman)
By Mitch Friedman
The women's World Cup series crosses the Atlantic to Canada this weekend for its seventh round in Montréal on May 28. It is followed by the four-day Tour du Grand Montréal stage race, the combination guaranteeing that plenty of the world's top female racers will make the trip across.
The Montréal World Cup, now considered a classic, is known as a course to be reckoned with. The parcours is unchanged since 1999, and so the start and finish line will once again be located at the top of the Camilien-Houde climb, which concludes at the summit of the magnificent Mont-Royal course. The race will take in a grueling 12 circuits of the 8.35 km lap for 100 km total.
Australian sprinter Oenone Wood (Nurnberger Versicherung) currently leads the women's world cup by a nine-point margin over the Netherlands' Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel (Buitenpoort - Flexpoint). While Wood will be in Montréal to defend her lead, the hilly course may not suit her and victory seems more likely to go to a climbing specialist. American Amber Neben demonstrated her climbing prowess at the recent Tour de l'Aude and is a rider to watch, as is local heroine and defending champion Genevieve Jeanson (ACDA-Rona) who also won here in 2003.
Tour du Grand Montréal stages
Stage 1a - May 30: Lachine ITT, 3.5km Stage 1b - May 30: Petite Italie criterium, 50km Stage 2 - May 31: Rigaud road race, 120.2km Stage 3 - June 1: Terrebonne circuit race, 80km Stage 4 - June 2: Mont-St-Hilaire, 114.55km
Teams and Riders
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Not all riders and teams will ride both events.
ACDA-Rona: Genevieve Jeanson, Magen Long, Kelly Benjamin, Cathrine Walberg Buitenpoort-Flexpoint Team: Suzanne Ljungskog, Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel, Linda Serup, Amber Neben Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung: Oenone Wood, Judith Arndt, Olivia Gollan, Madeleine Lindberg, Regina Schleicher, Anke Wichmann Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan: Rochelle Gilmore, Alessandre Grassi, Miyoko Karami, Gessica Turato Nobili Rubinetterie-Menikini Cogeas: Joanne Kiesanowski, Edita Pucinskaite, Olga Slyusareva, Sigrid Corneo, Daniella Fusar Poli, Anna Gusmini Team S.A.T.S: Rachel Heal, Trine Hansen, Melissa Holt, Dorte Lohse Rasmussen ELK Haus-Tirol Noe: Andrea Graus, Christine Mueller, Patricia Hempel, Monika Schachl Colombian national team: Ana Paola Madrinan Villegas, Milerlandy Agudelo, Monica Lorena Mendes Ortiz, Maroa Luisa Calle Williams Canadian national team: Kristen Robbin, Anna Tratnyek, Kylie Case, Jenny Trew, Suzanne Macht, Lisa Sweeney Quark: Annette Beutler, Helen Kelly, Grace Fleury, Audrey Lemieux, Kate Sherwin, Amy Moore Ellicyle Sport Expert-Louis Garneau: Lyne Bessette, Joanie Caron, Genevieve Gagnon, Lisa Sweeney, Jacqueline Mourao Velo Bella: Gabriella Gonzalez-Ferrat, Jennifer Chapman, Jill McLaughlin, Barbara Howe, Hiroko Shimada, Melodie Metzger Colavita-Cooking Light: Susan Palmer-Komar, Kim Anderson, Michelle Beltran, Dotsie Cowden, Rebecca Larson, Christina Peick Diet Cheerwine: Juile Belanger, Julia Farell, Tara Ross, Leigh Hobson, Rhonda Stickle, Merrill Collins, Heather Lamson Subway: Melissa Sanborn, Sima Trapp, Susan Weldon, Nocole Wangsgard Biovail: Jennifer Stephenson, Rebecca Nelson, Lynn Gaggioli, Amanda Shaw, Anna Garnett, Jennifer Magur Equipe du Quebec: Stephanie Bourbeau, Caroline Montigny, Elisa Gagnon, Marie-Pier Bedard, Carline Theberge, Kathy St-Laurent, Julie Hutsebault Composite International: Helena Coney, Dulce Pliego Moreno, Ashley Robenson, Marielle Aunave
