Van Vleuten beats Antoshina in two-up sprint
Vos takes third
Annemiek van Vleuten (Nederland Bloeit) measured her effort to perfection to win the women’s Tour of Flanders in Meerbeke on Sunday. In the finishing straight, she allowed Tatiana Antoshina (Gauss) to lead out the sprint, before clinically jumping around the Russian champion to take the win.
“I sat on and did not take over,” van Vleuten said afterwards. “At about 250 metres from the line, I jumped off her wheel.”
Van Vleuten’s teammate Marianne Vos won the sprint for third place among the select group of chasers that came home 10 seconds behind. Indeed, the Nederland Bloeit team was the dominant force in the race’s finale. Sarah Düster launched a solo bid for glory that forced the other teams to chase and allowed Vos and van Vleuten to sit on and conserve their energy.
The German was joined for a time by Ludovine Henrion (Lotto Honda), but when the lead group of chasers nullified the move with 2km to go, Antoshina seized the opportunity to make her move, and powered clear of the break. However, the ever-alert van Vleuten was quick to spot the danger and she jumped across to the Russian’s wheel.
With the trump card of Vos waiting in the wings to unleash her rapid finish, van Vleuten knew that she could afford to let Antoshina do the lion’s share of work on the approach the finish, and the Russian duly obliged, with her pace-making opening up a 10-second gap.
Then on the slightly rise to the finishing line, van Vleuten simply had too much for Antoshina, and sprinted to victory. The Dutchwoman, who finished third in last weekend’s Trofeo Binda, now inherits the overall lead in the World Cup from Emma Pooley (Garmin-Cervélo), but she was delighted to focus on her Flanders triumph – for now.
“After the World Cup, this is the most beautiful rostrum on which you can stand,” van Vleuten said.
On a course not suited to her talents Pooley admitted that she was always going to be hard pressed to repeat her heroics from the Trofeo Binda. “This course didn’t suit me as well as last week’s one did, I really have to try hard on the cobbles not to get dropped,” she told Cyclingnews on crossing the line in 10th place as part of the chasing group.
Nonetheless, Pooley attacked over the top of the Eikenberg but found herself shut down by a number of teams with an eye on the World Cup standings.
“Anyone wearing our team kit is marked because everyone on our team is very strong,” Pooley said. “The girls who are going for the overall in the World Cup aren’t going to let anyone dangerous go, so that makes it a bit tougher.”
Pooley had her teammate Noemi Cantele for company in the 12 rider break that formed over the hellingen, but on the fast and flat approach to Meerbeke, it was increasingly difficult to make an impact.
“We were just trying to get away, but it was hard because it was already really quick,” Pooley said.
Instead, it was Nederland Bloeit’s strength in depth that won out. After Loes Gunnewijk had worked hard over the climbs, Sarah Düster made her solo effort in order to allow Vos and van Vleuten to save themselves for the finale
Full Results
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned) Nederland Bloeit | 3:36:03 |
2 | Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Gauss | 0:00:01 |
3 | Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit | 0:00:10 |
4 | Emma Johansson (Swe) Hitec Products - UCK | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
5 | Judith Arndt (Ger) HTC Highroad Women | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
6 | Joelle Numainville (Can) TIBCO - To The Top | Row 5 - Cell 2 |
7 | Grace Verbeke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 2012 - Ridley Team | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
8 | Ludivine Henrion (Bel) Lotto Honda Team | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
9 | Noemi Cantele (Ita) Garmin - Cervelo | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
10 | Emma Pooley (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
11 | Olga Zabelinskaya (Rus) Diadora - Pasta Zara | Row 10 - Cell 2 |
12 | Sarah Düster (Ger) Nederland Bloeit | Row 11 - Cell 2 |
13 | Ina Teutenberg (Ger) HTC Highroad Women | 0:01:10 |
14 | Martine Bras (Ned) Dolmans Landscaping Team | Row 13 - Cell 2 |
15 | Shelley Olds (USA) Diadora - Pasta Zara | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
16 | Monia Baccaille (Ita) SC MCipollini Giordana | Row 15 - Cell 2 |
17 | Kirsten Wild (Ned) AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling Team | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
18 | Christine Majerus (Lux) Team GSD Gestion | Row 17 - Cell 2 |
19 | Elena Berlato (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo | Row 18 - Cell 2 |
20 | Ruth Corset (Aus) Australia | Row 19 - Cell 2 |
21 | Adrie Visser (Ned) HTC Highroad Women | Row 20 - Cell 2 |
22 | Trixi Worrack (Ger) AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling Team | Row 21 - Cell 2 |
23 | Lieselot Decroix (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 2012 - Ridley Team | Row 22 - Cell 2 |
24 | Chantal Blaak (Ned) AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling Team | 0:01:22 |
25 | Sjoukje Dufoer (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 2012 - Ridley Team | 0:03:50 |
26 | Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Nederland Bloeit | Row 25 - Cell 2 |
27 | Malgorzta Jasinska (Pol) S.C. Michela Fanini Rox | Row 26 - Cell 2 |
28 | Marie Lindberg (Swe) Abus Nutrixxion | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
29 | Julia Martisova (Rus) Gauss | Row 28 - Cell 2 |
30 | Madeleine Olsson (Swe) Alriksson Go:Green | Row 29 - Cell 2 |
31 | Shara Gillow (Aus) Australia | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
32 | Andrea Bosman (Ned) Netherlands | 0:04:00 |
33 | Emilia Fahlin (Swe) HTC Highroad Women | Row 32 - Cell 2 |
34 | Isabelle Söderberg (Swe) Alriksson Go:Green | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
35 | Nathalie Lamborelle (Lux) Abus Nutrixxion | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
36 | Laure Werner (Bel) Lotto Honda Team | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
37 | Leah Kirchmann (Can) Canada | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
38 | Lucy Martin (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo | Row 37 - Cell 2 |
39 | Janneke Kanis (Ned) Nederland Bloeit | Row 38 - Cell 2 |
40 | Rasa Leleivyte (Ltu) Vaiano Solaristech | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
41 | Laura Van Der Kamp (Ned) Dolmans Landscaping Team | Row 40 - Cell 2 |
42 | Roxane Kneteman (Ned) Netherlands | Row 41 - Cell 2 |
43 | Emma Mackie (Aus) TIBCO - To The Top | Row 42 - Cell 2 |
44 | Davina Summers (Aus) Bizkaia-Durango | Row 43 - Cell 2 |
45 | Sara Mustonen (Swe) Hitec Products - UCK | Row 44 - Cell 2 |
46 | Ine Beyen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 2012 - Ridley Team | Row 45 - Cell 2 |
47 | Lise Nöstvold (Nor) Hitec Products - UCK | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
48 | Sophie Creux (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
49 | Trine Schmidt (Den) Garmin - Cervelo | Row 48 - Cell 2 |
50 | Alison Testroete (Can) Canada | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
51 | Catherine Delfosse (Bel) Lotto Honda Team | Row 50 - Cell 2 |
52 | Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
53 | Ana Bianca Schnitzmeier (Ger) Abus Nutrixxion | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
54 | Marit Huisman (Ned) Netherlands | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
55 | Marijn De Vries (Ned) AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling Team | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
56 | Alessandra Borchi (Ita) Gauss | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
57 | Annelies Visser (Ned) Netherlands | Row 56 - Cell 2 |
58 | Nina Ovcharenko (Ukr) S.C. Michela Fanini Rox | Row 57 - Cell 2 |
59 | Annelies Van Doorslaer (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 2012 - Ridley Team | Row 58 - Cell 2 |
60 | Liesbet De Vocht (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 2012 - Ridley Team | Row 59 - Cell 2 |
61 | Alexis Rhodes (Aus) Garmin - Cervelo | Row 60 - Cell 2 |
62 | Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) TIBCO - To The Top | Row 61 - Cell 2 |
63 | Susanna Zorzi (Ita) Gauss | Row 62 - Cell 2 |
64 | Maria Grandt Petersen (Den) Abus Nutrixxion | Row 63 - Cell 2 |
65 | Serena Sheridan (NZl) TIBCO - To The Top | Row 64 - Cell 2 |
66 | Karol-Ann Canuel (Can) Vienne Futuroscope | Row 65 - Cell 2 |
67 | Audrey Cordon (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope | Row 66 - Cell 2 |
68 | Alona Andruk (Ukr) Diadora - Pasta Zara | Row 67 - Cell 2 |
69 | Amber Pierce (USA) Diadora - Pasta Zara | Row 68 - Cell 2 |
70 | Bianca Purath (Ger) Kuota Speed Kueens | Row 69 - Cell 2 |
71 | Leah Guloien (Can) Canada | Row 70 - Cell 2 |
72 | Lauren Kitchen (Aus) Australia | Row 71 - Cell 2 |
73 | Bridie O'donnell (Aus) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo | Row 72 - Cell 2 |
74 | Edwige Pitel (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope | Row 73 - Cell 2 |
75 | Verónica Leal Balderas (Mex) S.C. Michela Fanini Rox | Row 74 - Cell 2 |
76 | Marta Bastianelli (Ita) SC MCipollini Giordana | Row 75 - Cell 2 |
77 | Alexandra Carle (Aus) Australia | Row 76 - Cell 2 |
78 | Martina Ruzickova (Cze) S.C. Michela Fanini Rox | Row 77 - Cell 2 |
79 | Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Colavita Forno d'Asolo | Row 78 - Cell 2 |
80 | Luisa Tamanini (Ita) Gauss | Row 79 - Cell 2 |
81 | Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) SC MCipollini Giordana | Row 80 - Cell 2 |
82 | Charlotte Becker (Ger) HTC Highroad Women | Row 81 - Cell 2 |
83 | Irene Van Den Broek (Ned) AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling Team | Row 82 - Cell 2 |
84 | Daniela Pintarelli (Aut) Kuota Speed Kueens | 0:06:20 |
85 | Kendall Ryan (USA) TIBCO - To The Top | Row 84 - Cell 2 |
86 | Alessandra D'ettorre (Ita) Colavita Forno d'Asolo | Row 85 - Cell 2 |
87 | Claudia Häusler (Ger) Diadora - Pasta Zara | Row 86 - Cell 2 |
88 | Marie Voreland (Nor) Hitec Products - UCK | 0:08:41 |
HD | Eleonora Van Dijk (Ned) HTC Highroad Women | 0:11:12 |
HD | Lucinda Brand (Ned) AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling Team | 0:11:49 |
HD | Polona Batagelj (Slo) Bizkaia-Durango | Row 90 - Cell 2 |
HD | Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (Fra) Gauss | Row 91 - Cell 2 |
HD | Petra Dijkman (Ned) Dolmans Landscaping Team | Row 92 - Cell 2 |
HD | Barbara Guarischi (Ita) Colavita Forno d'Asolo | 0:12:59 |
HD | Magrieth Kloppenburg (Den) Denmark | Row 94 - Cell 2 |
HD | Alie Gercama (Ned) Dolmans Landscaping Team | 0:13:10 |
HD | Nina Kessler (Ned) Dolmans Landscaping Team | Row 96 - Cell 2 |
HD | Gabriela Slamova (Cze) Vienne Futuroscope | Row 97 - Cell 2 |
HD | Modesta Vzesniauskaite (Ltu) Colavita Forno d'Asolo | 0:17:12 |
HD | Oksana Kashchishina (Ukr) S.C. Michela Fanini Rox | 0:17:25 |
HD | Gloria Presti (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo | 0:17:41 |
HD | Jennifer Hohl (Swi) SC MCipollini Giordana | Row 101 - Cell 2 |
HD | Lotte Van Hoek (Ned) Netherlands | Row 102 - Cell 2 |
HD | Eleonora Patuzzo (Ita) Diadora - Pasta Zara | Row 103 - Cell 2 |
HD | Yulia Blindyuk (Rus) SC MCipollini Giordana | Row 104 - Cell 2 |
HD | Simona Frapporti (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo | Row 105 - Cell 2 |
HD | Lisa Pleyer (Aut) Kuota Speed Kueens | Row 106 - Cell 2 |
HD | Fabienne Schauss (Lux) Team GSD Gestion | Row 107 - Cell 2 |
HD | Rossella Callovi (Ita) SC MCipollini Giordana | Row 108 - Cell 2 |
HD | Annalisa Cucinotta (Ita) Kleo Ladies Team | Row 109 - Cell 2 |
HD | Julie Leth (Den) Denmark | Row 110 - Cell 2 |
HD | Chiara Nadalutti (Ita) Kleo Ladies Team | Row 111 - Cell 2 |
HD | Tina Nielsen (Den) Denmark | Row 112 - Cell 2 |
HD | Chiara Bortolus (Ita) Kleo Ladies Team | Row 113 - Cell 2 |
HD | Francesca Tognali (Ita) Kleo Ladies Team | Row 114 - Cell 2 |
HD | Michelle Lauge (Den) Denmark | 0:20:06 |
HD | Amanda Spratt (Aus) Australia | 0:20:20 |
HD | Tone Hatteland (Nor) Hitec Products - UCK | 0:20:42 |
HD | Cecilie Johansen (Nor) Hitec Products - UCK | Row 118 - Cell 2 |
HD | Winanda Spoor (Ned) Dolmans Landscaping Team | Row 119 - Cell 2 |
HD | Jessica Kihlbom (Swe) Alriksson Go:Green | Row 120 - Cell 2 |
HD | Henriette Frederiksen (Den) Denmark | 0:22:44 |
1 | Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned) Nederland Bloeit | 110 | pts |
2 | Emma Pooley (GBr) Garmin - Cervelo | 86 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | Emma Johansson (Swe) Hitec Products - UCK | 80 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
4 | Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Gauss | 58 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
5 | Judith Arndt (Ger) HTC Highroad Women | 48 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
6 | Grace Verbeke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 2012 - Ridley Team | 39 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
7 | Martine Bras (Ned) Dolmans Landscaping Team | 37 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
8 | Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit | 35 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
9 | Shelley Olds (USA) Diadora - Pasta Zara | 33 | Row 8 - Cell 3 |
10 | Joelle Numainville (Can) TIBCO - To The Top | 24 | Row 9 - Cell 3 |
11 | Chantal Blaak (Ned) AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling Team | 24 | Row 10 - Cell 3 |
12 | Ludivine Henrion (Bel) Lotto Honda Team | 18 | Row 11 - Cell 3 |
13 | Noemi Cantele (Ita) Garmin - Cervelo | 15 | Row 12 - Cell 3 |
14 | Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Fra) | 15 | Row 13 - Cell 3 |
15 | Olga Zabelinskaya (Rus) Diadora - Pasta Zara | 15 | Row 14 - Cell 3 |
16 | Lucinda Brand (Ned) AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling Team | 11 | Row 15 - Cell 3 |
17 | Elena Berlato (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo | 11 | Row 16 - Cell 3 |
18 | Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (Fra) Gauss | 10 | Row 17 - Cell 3 |
19 | Sarah Düster (Ger) Nederland Bloeit | 9 | Row 18 - Cell 3 |
20 | Ina Teutenberg (Ger) HTC Highroad Women | 8 | Row 19 - Cell 3 |
21 | Noortje Tabak (Ned) Nederland Bloeit | 7 | Row 20 - Cell 3 |
22 | Aude Biannic (Fra) | 6 | Row 21 - Cell 3 |
23 | Monia Baccaille (Ita) SC MCipollini Giordana | 5 | Row 22 - Cell 3 |
24 | Kirsten Wild (Ned) AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling Team | 4 | Row 23 - Cell 3 |
25 | Polona Batagelj (Slo) Bizkaia-Durango | 4 | Row 24 - Cell 3 |
26 | Christine Majerus (Lux) Team GSD Gestion | 3 | Row 25 - Cell 3 |
27 | Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Nederland Bloeit | 3 | Row 26 - Cell 3 |
28 | Ruth Corset (Aus) | 2 | Row 27 - Cell 3 |
29 | Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) SC MCipollini Giordana | 2 | Row 28 - Cell 3 |
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Barry Ryan is Head of Features at Cyclingnews. He has covered professional cycling since 2010, reporting from the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and events from Argentina to Japan. His writing has appeared in The Independent, Procycling and Cycling Plus. He is the author of The Ascent: Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche and the Rise of Irish Cycling’s Golden Generation, published by Gill Books.
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