Vuelta El Salvador 2013

28.02 - 05.03.2013 Official Site Race Schedules and further details
El Salvador, 7-stage Road Race, 491.2km
UCI 2.1

Stage 5 finishes near to the El Boquerón crater, clearly
seen on the satellite photo

With the Women's Tour Down Under - really a criterium series rather than a stage race like the men's Tour - cancelled this year, we have only three women's stage races from outside Europe before the 2013 season gets into full swing. The first was the Tour of Qatar, won in spectacular style by Argos-Shimano's powerhouse sprinter Kirsten Wild; the second is the Vuelta Femenina a Costa Rica. The third the is the Vuelta El Salvador, and it will not be won by a sprinter.

The El Salvadoran parcours is the absolute opposite of the Qatari route - Qatar is much flatter than the Netherlands and the roads are long and, usually, arrow straight; El Salvador is one of the world's most seismologically active regions, sitting atop two tectonic plates that have created mountains including 22 volcanoes - among them are Izalco, so active until the middle of the 20th Century that it was known as "The Lighthouse of the Pacific," and El Boquerón at San Salvador, which will be climbed in Stage 4.

Stages

1 28.02 LA LIBERTAD - NAHUIZALCO, 95 Km
2 01.03 PASEO DEL CARMEN, SANTA TECLA - CIRCUITO MONSEÑOR ROMERO, SANTA 
TECLA, 11 Km (team time trial)
3 01.03 CIRCUITO MONSEÑOR ROMERO, SANTA TECLA - CAFETALON, 77 Km (criterium)
4 02.03 APOPA – QUEZALTEPEQU 50km
5 03.03 SALVADOR DEL MUNDO - REDONDEL MASFERRER - MULTIPLAZA - ESTADIO FLOR 
BLANCA- REDONDEL OLIMPICO- SALVADOR DEL MUNDO,  53.2 Km
6 04.03 OLOCUILTA - PUENTE DE ORO RETORNO - OLOCUILTA, 115 Km
7 05.03 NUEVA CONCEPCION - NUEVA CALLE LONGITUD DEL NORTE - METAPAN  
SANTA ANA, 90 Km.

Stage Details
Stage 1 95km

Stage 1 - click to enlarge

Most of the riders will have got a taste of the sort of climbing El Salvador has to offer during the Grand Prix de Orient, which took place the day before this stage, but the masseurs had better not pack away their oils just yet because there's plenty more to come - including in this first stage which, following some 70km with only a few small hills (and five tunnels, something that many cyclists detest), ends with a fearsome Category 2 575m ascent in 17km to the finish. That's an average gradient of only around 3.4%, but the climb comes in two sections. Separated by a plateau in between, both are far steeper than the average and there are climbing points on offer at the top.

Stage 1 - click to enlarge

It looks to be a route that will encourage early breakaway attempts, the terrain in the first half, where tunnels carry the riders through headlands that would otherwise have been steep climbs, create a good opportunity for those riders with little chance of contesting the General Classification to get away from the pack, pick up points at the first intermediate sprint and - maybe - even retain a sufficient lead for more at the second intermediate sprint. If this proves to be the case, they'll most likely be caught on the plateau shortly after the first big climb, but it's not impossible that a couple of riders who can keep up a good pace on the flat as well as when climbing could stay out in front - and if that happens, the peloton are going to want to reel them back in as soon as possible, lest they stay away and win the stage.

Stage 2 11km (TTT)

Stage 2 - click to enlarge

Taking place the morning after Stage 1 and prior to the afternoon's Stage 3, Stage 2 is a team time trial - the only time trial in this race, as the organisers have elected to include a criterium stage instead of an individual competition against the clock.

Stage 2 - click to enlarge

It's not a flat parcours, but with total climbing over the 11km no more than 150m it's no knee-breaker. The only point at which riders will need to slow appreciably is at the western end of the course where they make a U-turn to head back the way they came and, as a result, we should see some fast performances - don't expect records to be broken, however; with all the climbing ahead, teams are going to be sending riders they know can get up and over the mountains rather than their out-and-out time trial specialists - there have been climbers who were extremely talented time trial riders, but this race is definitely for the climbing specialists.


Stage 3 77km (criterium)

Stage 3 - click to enlarge

The Stage 3 parcours is immediately familiar, consisting as it does of the same roads that made up the main section of this morning's team time trial. Cutting out the first section heading north reduces the distance to 10km; riders will complete six full laps and one final lap of 7km.

Stage 3 - click to enlarge

Adding a criterium stage seems to be the in-thing at stage races in the western hemisphere these days, with several organisers in the USA and other American nations, north and south, adding them to their events. In Europe, they tend to be stand-alone events, often rather local in nature, and as such can be somewhat overlooked - if you're new to the sport, the format involves a short course, usually in a city centre and raced at high speed. With numerous corners, this leads to a down-and-dirty style of racing with riders fighting hard for good places; not unlike cyclo cross on the road, it's a fantastic spectacle and, as broadcasters are beginning to realise, absolutely ideal for TV. Anything can happen - all it takes is a tiny mistake on a fast corner, allowing a large number of rivals to power past and block off access back to the head of the race, and a rider standing a good chance of overall victory can suddenly lose a huge amount of time in a criterium. The hopefuls know that and are ready to grab what they can. Extra points will be awarded to the first riders to reach the start line at the beginning of laps 2, 4 and 6.

Stage 4 50km

Stage 4 - click to enlarge

After yesterday's time trial and criterium, the Vuelta returns to standard stage race format - albeit it with an unusually short parcours of only 50km. However, only a brief glance at the altimetry profile is required to see that by no definition whatsoever is this an easy route: after a relatively flat 36km, the riders face the Category 1 1,113m ascent of the San Salvador volcano which can clearly be seen in the south of the satellite photo. The average gradient is 7.95%, but it gets steeper 4km before the top with a maximum of 21%.

Stage 4 - click to enlarge

Those first 36km matter little to the eventual outcome of either the stage or the race. There might be a break, aiming to grab the intermediate sprint points 22km into the parcours and perhaps make it to the climb with enough of a lead to stand a chance of making it to the finish line without being left too far behind and failing to make the time cut-off; there might be a battle between the teams to get their climbers to the foot of the volcano before anyone else, ready to point them upwards and light the touchpaper. None of it matters, really, because sometimes tactics will only get you so far - this stage is all about the climber who is strongest on the day.

Stage 5 53.2km (criterium)

Stage 5 - click to enlarge

Another short stage and another criterium, this time following a more typical roughly square format than Stage 3. There are several long, fast, straight sections to allow riders to break away from the peloton, but there are also some tight corners where places can be lost - and where crashes are always possible. Unusually, there's a considerable amount of climbing - with an ascent of around 130m in the first 3km (average gradient approximately 4.3%), riders will climb around 550m over the course of the four 13.3km laps. Extra points will be awarded to the first riders over the start line on the second, third and fourth laps.

Stage 5 - click to enlarge

Stage 6 115km

Stage 6 - click to enlarge

The longest stage of the race, Stage 6 begins with a fast descent of more than 400m from Olocuilta, then begins a small climb to 159m from 18-36km - there's an intermediate sprint at the end of this section. Another descent follows, then from 48km the terrain flattens out all the way to 70km where, having turned back the way it came, it follows a similar route taking in the first climb for a second time, now reaching 204m at 86km. A short but steep 2km descent follows, then the parcours heads gradually downhill to 108km, at which point it arrives back at the foot of the Olocuilta climb and riders have an ascent of 408m to the finish line 7km away. With an average gradient of 5.7%, the first half is considerably steeper than the last; earning it Category 2 status.

Stage 6 - click to enlarge

It's probable that a climber will win again; largely because, as the longest stage, other riders will find the last ascent harder going. However, climbers are frequently not good descenders, lacking the mass and physical strength required to maintain control of the bike on fast descents such as the one at the beginning of the stage, which presents other riders with an opportunity to get ahead. Therefore, teams will need to use some careful tactics and pool their resources, sending chasers out after any breaks that form while also keeping enough riders around their climbers to get them through to the end - and pay close attention to what's happening out in front so that they can respond to changes the moment they happen.

Stage 7 90km

Stage 7 - click to enlarge

Nice easy stage to wind down the race? Not a chance - there are no really big mountains today with the highest point along the parcours being 803m, but there are numerous smaller ones and the total amount of climbing over the 90km is in excess of 1,350m.

The first and biggest climb, Category 2, comes in the 14km immediately after the race begins, rising 477m in 12km with an average gradient of 3.9% and a much steeper section between 6 and 8km, which promises to see the climbers take an early lead. A steep 6km descent follows and ought to even things up a little - however, the "climbers can't descend" rule doesn't always hold true and any that is able to keep up a high speed on the way down will find a massive early advantage here - one that, with all those climbs still to come, could even permit a solo break all the way to the finish. If a General Classification contender managed to pull that one off and if the gaps between the top riders are not too great, this could lead to big changes and even win the race.

Stage 7 - click to enlarge

The next climb begins at 20km and reaches a summit only slightly lower than the first 4km later; as the climb begins at a greater altitude, it's not as long as the first but the gradient is considerably steeper for most of the ascent with an average of around 7.5%. The next 50km is characterised by numerous smaller climbs followed by more descents; if a climber or group of climbers has successfully got away, this section will see a drawn-out game of cat-and-mouse and the climbers extend the gap on the way up and the chasing peloton decreases it on the way down. Where they stand at 80km, when the final climb to 753m begins, will give us some idea of the outcome: if the climbers still have an advantage the race is theirs, but as the last climb flattens out considerably after the first 4km (rated Category 3) it's not impossible that a strong rouleur could stay with them and then have just enough left over for an uphill sprint on the flatter section in the final kilometre. Whether they can do so with enough time to make any difference to the overall standings is another matter entirely.

Jerseys

Red - General Classification leader
Black and gold - Points leader
Dark red and white - Combination leader
Orange with white polka dots - Mountains leader
Light blue and white - Combativity
Grey - leading young rider
Dark blue and white - leading Salvadoran rider

Start List


Brazil
1 FERNANDES Clemilda
2 DA SILVA  Fernanda
3 DE OLIVEIRA Flavia
4 FERNANDES Marcia
5 FERNANDES Uenia
6 FERREIRA Luciene
7
8

Pasta Zara-Geas-Manhattan
11 BORGATO Giada
12 CALLOVI Rossella
13 CILVINAITE Inga
14 GARCIA Evelyn
15 JANELIUNAITE Edita
16 NEBEN Amber
17 PIERCE Amber
18 SILINYTE Agne

Be Pink
21 AMIALIUSIK Alena
22 ALGISI Alice
23 CANTELE Noemi
24 FRAPPORTI Simona
25 MUCCOLI Dalia
26 SCHWEIZER Doris
27 VALSECCHI Silvia
28 ZRIMSEK Petra

Lituania-Gatorade
31 JANKAUSKAITE Milda
32 KUBILIUNAITE Jurgita
33 LATOZAITE Silvija
34 NORVAISAITE Kristina
35 POSKAITE Egle
36 TITENYTE Zavinta
37
38

Bogota-Gatorade
41 GULUMA Wendy
42 ESTRADA Nicole
43 MUNOZ Paola
44 RAMOS Yuleidy
45 ROJAS Gabriela
46 SALCEDO Jannie
47 TOVAR Luz
48 VALLEJOS Karla

Venezuela
51 BRICENO Maria
52 CESAR Jennifer
53 CHACON Lilibeth
54 GARCIA Daniely
55 GONZALEZ Angie
56 MORENO Wilmarys
57
58

Vanderkitten
61 CHILCOTT Kate
62 CUTLER Jessica
63 KUHAJEK Jennie
64 RACHETTO Liza
65 REITHER Jennifer
66 TEDDERGREEN Starla
67 WILLIAMSON Sophie
68 WINDER Ruth

Garrobo Texops
71 ALBERSHARDT Addyson
72 DIAZ Iris
73 ESTRADA Xenia
74 FORTIN Veronique
75 MAJANO Natalia
76 RUZICKOVA Martina
77
78

Iscorp-USA
81 GUIDENS Heylen
82 PANIAGUIA Valentina
83 ROJAS Adriana
84 RUBIANO Marcela
85 SANTOS Patricia
86 TELLADO Marisol
87 VARGAS Lorena
88

Rayvita
91 BERTINE Kathryn
92 CAMACHO Susan
93 CASAS Ana-Teresa
94 CORTES Cristina
95 LOZANO Camila
96 RIOS Julissa
97 ROJAS Fiorella
98 VICENCIO Maria Paz

San Luis
101 ARIAS Andrea
102 GUZMAN Florencia
103 MONSALVO Valentina
104 MAZZOCCA Gisela
105 OLIVERA Lucila
106 SAENZ Silvana
107
108

Colombia-Specialized
111 BUITRAGO Claudia
112 FAGUA Ana
113 GULUMA Serika
114 MORENO Liliana
115 MUNOZ Natalia
116 PENUELA Diana
117 SANABRIA Ana
118 SANABRIA Angie

Costa Rica
121 GUILLEN Edith
122 HERRERA Katherine
123 MARTINEZ Daniela
124 MUNOZ Brenda
125 RUBIANO Marcela
126
127
128

Grand Prix de Orient and Le Samyn des Dames

Women's bike races are a bit like buses - you wait ages through the off-season (thank the Madonna del Ghisallo for cyclo cross, eh?), then two come along at the same time: they are the Grand Prix de Orient and Le Samyn des Dames and they both take place on the 27th of February, on opposite sides of the world.

GP de Orient profile - click to enlarge

Grand Prix de Orient
27.02.2013 Offical Site
El Salvador, Road Race, One Day, 99km
UCI 1.2

A new event, many people will assume, rather understandably, that the GP de Orient takes place in the Far East rather than its actual location El Salvador in Central America. If any nations could be said to take sport a little too seriously, it's El Salvador and neighouring Honduras - the two countries went to war for four days after Honduras beat El Salvador 1-0 in the FIFA soccer world cup (to be fair it should be pointed out that the war, in which 3,000 people died, came at the end of a long period of tension - it wasn't solely due to the football match that sparked it off). Now, they're getting serious about women's cycling with no fewer than four UCI Elite races in the space of ten days.

Grand Prix de Orient - click to enlarge

Looking at the route profile, we see a big climb of 969m over the last 23km, preceded by a long descent over much of the first 70km;the race seems, therefore, to be one for the climbers and will especially suit a climber who can also descend well - not a common breed, since most climbers lack the weight and strength needed to control a bike on a fast downhill section.

The Grand Prix is a precursor to the Vuelta El Salvador, a stage race beginning on the 28th of February.


Le Samyn des Dames
27.02.2013 Official Site
Belgium, Road Race, One Day, 119.2km
UCI 1.2

Le Samyn, a men's race, will be run for the 44th time this year - Le Samyn des Dames, its women's cycling counterpart, returns to for a second year, taking place once again in Hainaut on the French border. The first edition was one of the most dramatic races of the season with heavy rains and a large start list - 200 riders - leading to many crashes on the wet cobbles. As it's the opening round of the prestigious Lotto Cup, a year-long competition for Belgian teams that has become as prestigious as the National Championships, organisers are expecting 26 teams (14 Elite, 10 regional, 2 national - see below) and around 180 riders this year, so the race looks set to be every bit as difficult. Hmm - hang on a minute: flat route, horrendous weather, bone-shattering cobbles... this is all sounding rather familiar. Could Le Samyn become the women's equivalent to Paris-Roubaix?

Main parcours - click to enlarge

The first part of the parcours looks, on paper, relatively straightforward. However, things are rarely straightforward in professional cycling- the first 5km is mostly downhill, the remainder - except for the hills at 25km and 35km, is flat - breakaway territory, in other words, encouraging big guns and hopefuls to attack hard and try to get out in front, either solo or in groups. Usually, the most likely scenario would be that a small group, perhaps four to fifteen riders, starts putting on the pressure right from the off and succeeds in escaping the peloton either in those first 5km or within the next ten, with the peloton preferring to save its energy for the circuits to come later and thus declining to chase down the escapees until it becomes absolutely necessary. However, 37km is not a long route - to be safe, breaks need to be nipped in the bud, every attack must be immediately met with a counter-attack. This is close-combat, exciting and messy.

Main parcours profile

Cobbled sector, Montignies-sur-Roc View Larger Map

Circuit - click to enlarge

The circuit, beginning at Dour and a little under 20km in length, will be completed five times - approximately 9km from the line on each lap on Trieu Quesnoy at Montignies-sur-Roc are the cobbles, leading up a hill into the village. Note that in many places along the cobbled stretch, there is no flat section along the sides of the road. Add plenty of sign posts, street lighting, signs and other rigid metal objects into the mix and the riders face a section of the parcours that is potentially very dangerous indeed. (Montignies, incidentally, is home to the Brasserie de l'Abbaye des Rocs. Should you ever find a pub selling the extremely fine beers they brew there, you owe it to yourself to try them.)

Another climb awaits at Audregnies, 14.5km before the riders head back into Dour, then the parcours is primarily downhill until the last climb to the finish line. It's a fast route; if a strong break makes it to the circuit with a good gap between themselves and the peloton, they may well have the race in the bag. Five laps are a long way, however, and there's plenty of time for the peloton to step up speed and hunt them down.

Circuit profile - click to enlarge

The 2012 race

Teams

(Rider start list not yet available - please note that the list published on the official site is from 2012)
Autoglas-Wetteren Group Solar
BigMat-Auber 93
Boels-Dolmans
Breast Cancer Care
Cramo Go:Green
CycleLive-Zanatta
De Sprinters Malderen
Endura-LadyForce
Hitec Products-UCK
Jan van Arckel
Keukens Redant
Lotto-Belisol
Napoleon Games St. Martinus Cycling Team Kersken
Orica-AIS
Park Hotel Valkenburg
POLARIS
Polaris
Rusvelo
Sengers
Specialized-Lululemon
Swabo Ladies
Tibco-To The Top
TopSport Vlaanderen-Biorace-Ridley
Vienne-Futuroscope
Wiggle-Honda

National Teams
USA
Belgium

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

23.02.2013 Official Site

Paterberg, max. gradient 20.3%. Sounds tough? Imagine
trying to do it in the rain after more than 60km - and with
an entire peloton trying to do it at the same time

Belgium, Road Race, One-Day Classic, 123.1km
UCI 1.2

The new season is well underway and brings with it the first of the great Flanders Classics - the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. The women's Omloop is of far more recent vintage than the men's race, having begun in 2006 after organisers found themselves in agreement with the idea that one way to promote women's cycling is to run women's races in conjunction with men's races, thus allowing them to benefit from the large crowds, infrastructure and TV crews; that women's cycling is now more popular in Belgium and the Netherlands than anywhere else is proof that the concept works.

Loes Gunnewijk

Like all the Flemish Classics, the Omloop is all about the climbs and the cobbles. Flanders isn't known for its mountains but, although the hills are low, many are knee-breakingly steep and have earned their positions among the most famous, feted and feared placenames in cycling - Nokereberg (28.1km), Kluisberg (51.4km, gradient average 8%, maximum 13%), Côte de Trieu (58.8km), the frankly inhumane  Paterberg with its slippery cobbles (62.4km, av. 12.9%, max. 20.3%), Edelareberg (72.1km), Kattenberg (79.1km, av. 5.9%, max. 8.2%) and Molenberg (82.2km, av. 7%, max.14.2%). Cobbled sections are at Holleweg (79.9km, 1,500m long), Paddestraat (92.6km, 2,300m), Lippenhovestraat (95.1km, 1,300m), Lange Munte (102.1km, 2,500m) and Steenakker (120.5km, 700m).

Click to enlarge

Depending on who takes part, several riders are well worth watching; especially Argos-Shimano's Kirsten Wild, who won the third edition of this race back in 2008 and earlier this month became the only woman to have won three editions of the Tour of Qatar, and Orica-AIS star Emma Johansson, one of only two women to have won the Omloop twice (2010 and 2011) - she'd no doubt like to have a historic and record-breaking third victory on her palmares. Last year's winner Loes Gunnewijk, whose speciality is cobbled races, has shown every indication that she's on excellent form again this season and would therefore be another one to watch. So too are all the Rabo Women, as well as Lotto-Belisol's tough Marijn de Vries (who, being a journalist, will also publish one of her excellent and witty race reports afterwards. Marijn is excellent value!). Don't forget to keep an eye on the not-so-well-known riders too: anything can and does happen in a race as tough as a Flemish Classic and up-and-coming stars of the future will grab any opportunities that come their way in an effort to please sponsors and make a name for themselves.

Click to enlarge

Start List


ORICA-AIS

1 GUNNEWIJK Loes
2 JOHANSSON Emma
3 MACLEAN Jessie
4 CROMWELL Tiffany
5 SPRATT Amanda
6 ELVIN Gracie
7 EDMONDSON Annette
8 GILLOW Shara

RABO WOMEN

11 BRAND Lucinda
12 GUARNIER Megan
13 DE JONG Thalita
14 KNETEMANN Roxane
15 TALEN Rebecca
16 VAN VLEUTEN Annemiek
17 DE VOCHT Liesbet
18 SLAPPENDEL Iris

SPECIALIZED-LULULEMON

21 COLCLOUGH Katie
22 ROWNEY Loren
23 SMALL Carmen
24 TEUTENBERG Ina
25 VAN DIJK Eleonora
26 WORRACK Trixi
27 BRENNAUER Lisa
28 STEVENS Evelyn

HITEC PRODUCTS-UCK

31 HOSKING Chloe
32 FAHLIN Emilia
33 JOHNSEN Cecilie Gotaas
34 RATTO Rossella
35 NEYLAN Rachel
36 THORSEN Thea
37 BJØRNSRUD Miriam
38 LONGO BORGHINI Elisa

BOELS-DOLMANS

41 ARMITSTEAD Elizabeth
42 BRAS Martine
43 DE BAAT Kim
44 DAAMS Jessie
45 KASPER Romy
46 KESSLER Nina
47 MARTIN Lucy
48 ROOIJAKKERS Pauliena

RUSVELO

51 KUCHINSKAYA Elena
52 BURCHENKOVA Alexandra
53 MISHINA Maria
54 BOCHARNIKOVA Elena
55 JAPAROVA Aijan
56 PANKOVA Larisa
57 BLINDYUK Yulia
58 DOBRYNINA Kseniya

ENDURA LADY FORCE

61 CLAESSEN Marjolein
62 WOERING Henriette
63 GEOGHEGAN Michelle
64 KLOK Ines
65 BOLANGIER Elke
66 NIEUWENHUIZEN Natasja
67 VERSTICHELEN Femke
68 HAERS Carolien

LOTTO-BELISOL

71 DE VRIES Marijn
72 D'HOORE Jolien
73 DUYCK Ann-sophie
74 HANNES Kaat
75 LODEWYKS Steffi
76 ROUSSE Marion
77 SCHOONBAERT Kim
78 VAN SEVEREN Celine

ARGOS-SHIMANO

81 BECKER Charlotte
82 JÖHREND Marlen
83 GARNER Lucy
84 TROMP Esra
85 KANIS Janneke
86 MARKUS Kelly
87 KNOL Willeke
88 WILD Kirsten

WIGGLE-HONDA

91 SCHNITZMEIER Ana Bianca
92 GILMORE Rochelle
93 KITCHEN Lauren
94 COLLINS Emily
95 HAGIWARA Mayuko
96 ROWSELL Joanna
97 ROBERTS Amy
98 KING Dani

SENGERS

101 VAN DER BREGGEN Anna
102 BUYL Kimberly
103 SOEK Julia
104 ARYS Evelyn
105 POLSPOEL Maaike
106 DE VUYST Sofie
107 MAJERUS Christine
108 ROGGEMAN Inge

TIBCO-TO THE TOP

111 BLAAK Chantal
112 HÄUSLER Claudia
113 OLDS Shelley
114 GLAESSER Jasmin
115 BUCHANAN Rushlee
116 SCHNEIDER Samantha
117 KIESANOWSKI Joanne
118 MILLER Meredith

FAREN-LET'S GO FINLAND

121 BASTIANELLI Marta
122 MUSTONEN Sara
123 SAARELAINEN Sari
124 VAN BAARLE Ashlynn
125 ZORZI Susanna
126 ARZUFFI Alice Maria
127 NIEMINEN Jutta
128 RIVERDITI Stella

POLARIS

131 ELZING Karen
132 GERCAMA Alie
133 HOFMANN Sarah-Lena
134 KOSTER Anouska
135 PIJNENBORG Mascha
136 VAN DER KAMP Laura
137 VAN DER MEER Janine
138 VERHOEVEN Aurore

VIENNE FUTUROSCOPE

141 CANUEL Karol-Ann
142 CORDON Audrey
143 ALLEN Jessica
144 BIDEAU Sandrine
145 JEULAND Pascale
146 MERLOT Emmanuelle
147 SOUYRIS Manon
148 CHAUMET Oriane

TOPSPORT VLAADEREN-BIORACER

151 DE CRITS Nel
152 DRUYTS Jessy
153 DRUYTS Kelly
154 CROKET Gilke
155 DE CROOCK Stephanie
156 VEKEMANS Anisha
157 GAFINOVITZ Rotem
158 DE MOYER Tessa

CYCLELIVE PLUS-ZANNATA

161 BRULEE Latoya
162 DECROIX Lieselot
163 DEPOORTER Daisy
164 DOM Annelies
165 HATCH Elizabeth
166 OTTEN Marissa
167 VAN DE REE Monique
168 VAN DOORSLAER Annelies

CRAMO GO:GREEN

171 OLSSON Madelene
172 KIHLBOM Jessica
173 SÖDERBERG Isabelle
174 NILSSON Hanna
175 THOMASSON Martina
176 EHRIN Mirella
177 SJÖBLOM Linnea
178 NILSSON Johanna

TOP GIRLS-FASSA BORTOLO

181 BERLATO Elena
182 BITTO Irene
183 CAUZ Francesca
184 CECCHINI Silvia
185 FIORI Jennifer
186 PIEROBON Chiara
187 PALADIN Asja
188 STEFANI Francesca

USA

191 BOOKWALTER Jamie
192 CROWELL Jacquelyn
193 FISCHER Heather
194 HOLCOMB Janel
195 MC GRATH Kristin
196 WILCOXSON Jade
197 JAMES Ashley
198 KACHOREK Emily

BREAST CANCER CARE CYCLING TEAM

201 BROGAN Kayleigh
202 HORNE Ciara
203 ROE Eileen
204 EWING Anne
205 ROWSON Penny
206 THOROGOOD Elinor

AUTOGLAS WETTEREN

211 BREYNE Mariska
212 BLOMME Marieke
213 BORREMANS Sarah
214 CATTRYSSE Melanie
215 COOLENS Kristina
216 DE RIDDER Amy
217 DE VESTELE Adeline
218 VAN DEN STEEN  Kim

KEUKENS REDANT

221 DEBBOUDT Evelien
222 DEBBOUDT Lensy
223 DEMEY Valerie
224 ROBERT Valerie
225 VAN GLABEKE Shana
226 VERCAMER Elien
227 VERCAMMEN Ine
228 VAN DER MEULEN Kaat

WIELERCLUB DE SPRINTERS MALDEREN

231 DERGENT Eveline
232 FREMINEUR Terry
233 HOFFMANN Chantal
234 LAXSON Shoshauna
235 LEEMAN Mieke
236 ROELEN Evy
237 VAN DEN HAUTE Steffy
238 WERNER Laure

PARKHOTEL VALKENBURG

241 ESHUIS Aafke
242 VAN DEN HOEK Bianca
243 KLEP Inge
244 KOSTER Claudia
245 SLIK Rozanne
246 POST Jermaine
247 VAN WESDONK Nathaly
248 MARKUS Riejanne

Weather

More information nearer the race.

2013 Vuelta Internacional Femenina a Costa Rica

21-24.02.2013 Official Site
Costa Rica, Road Race, 5 Stages 
UCI 2.2

"[We have made] a great effort that we make to continue supporting and promoting women's cycling in Costa Rica, and we are delighted to have an event of this magnitude. One of the main objectives of the FECOCI has been supporting women cyclists and we have been working with them to organise this race." - Hernán Solano, President of the Costa Rican Cycling Federation

Stages

Stage 1 (21.02.2013)

Estadio Nacional - Parque de Esparza 89.4km

With an arrow-straight 2.41km leading to the final corner followed by another straight run to the finish, teams will have ample opportunity to get their sprint specialists into pole position for a high-speed assault to the line 590m away - assuming, that is, that the sprinters are in a fit state after the two Category 4 climbs between 42km and 62km, carrying the race to 1,200m above sea level. That rarest of cycling breeds - sprinters who can climb - have the advantage here.

Stage 1 route - click to enlarge

Stage 1 profile - click to enlarge

Stage 2 (22.02.2013)

El Roble - Paseo de los Turistas 16km Individual Time Trial

Downhill for much of the parcours, Stage 2 promises some blisteringly quick performances as the time trial specialists take advantage of the route in an attempt to ensure good early places for their teams.

Stage 2 profile - click to enlarge

Stage 3 (22.02.2013)

Esparza Miramar - Puntarenas 53.51km

After a rolling start, riders face a potentially hair-raising descent of around 250m in 4.7km with a maximum descent gradient of approximately -7.7%. That's a great chance for a breakaway to split off from the peloton and - if they have the nerve! - build up a big lead going into the final, mostly flat, 42.3km; so the stage winner may very well not be a General Classification favourite.

Stage 3 profile - click to enlarge

Stage 4 (23.02.2013)

Heredia San Ramón - Palmares Grecia 84.1km

The race heads back into the mountains with three big climbs - two of Category 2 (36.7km, 56.8km) and a Category 3 to the finish - making the going difficult. After descending for the first 22.4km (expect high speeds as the riders battle for bonuses through the intermediate sprint at 16.59km), much of the remaining route is uphill and ends with the Cat 3 climb through the final 3km. This is not a stage for the sprinters!

Stage 4 - click to enlarge

Stage 4 - click to enlarge

Stage 5 (24.02.2013)

Circuito La Sabana 88.8km (8 laps of 11.1km)

Usually, when a race ends with a stage consisting of laps around a circuit, it'll be a flat parcours designed to create lots of opportunities for photographers to snap the peloton. They don't do it like that in Costa Rica, preferring instead to chuck in eight climbs of 125m just for the fun of it - that's equivalent to a 1,000m mountain, and as if the climbs aren't enough of a test the riders will be fighting one another for intermediate sprint bonuses the second, fourth and sixth times they reach the summit. All it takes is a race favourite to be on slightly poorer form than usual or a strong breakaway and the General Classification at the end of Stage 5 could look very different indeed to how it was at the start.

Stage 5 map - click to enlarge

Stage 5 profile - click to enlarge

Start List

Not yet available

Energiewacht Tour 2013

03 - 07.04.2013 Official Site
Netherlands, Road Race, 5 stages, 543.6km (Elite), 214.4km (Juniors)
UCI 2.2

2012 winner Ina-Yoko Teutenberg 

Last year the Energiewacht Tour, previously not especially well known outside the Netherlands, finally got the attention it deserves thanks to a first rate start list and a beautiful parcours that encouraged attacks on almost every kilometre leading to some top-notch racing - for many fans, including this one, it was one of the highlights of the 2012 women's cycling calendar. The newly-revealed 2013 parcours looks set to offer more of the same - it's as flat as last year, so expect plenty of high-speed stage finishes in what promises to be the best edition of the race yet.

As was the case for the first time last year, the race will once again run over five days; this year there'll also be a three-stage race for women in the Junior category, to run on the final three days of the Elite event and using part of the Elite parcours. This is excellent news in times when even races as big as the Giro Donne have faced uncertainties and provides evidence that, given sufficient determination on the part of advertisers and faith from sponsors, women's cycling can survive and even grow in a difficult economic climate. Race organisers applied for and were granted UCI 2.1 status for the Junior event; 25 teams - including national squads from both Great Britain and Wales - have signed up.

The Stages
Stage 1 (03.04.2013)

Stage 1 - click to enlarge

The Elite race began on the 3rd of April at Oldambt with Stage 1, started by local mayor Pieter Smit, taking the form of a figure of eight around which the riders completed three laps, totaling 107.9km. With numerous tight bends followed by long, fast straights, it looked to be an ideal opportunity for the neo-pros and new signings to strut their stuff, knowing that they're in women's cycling's heartland where press cameras would be trained on them for sponsor-pleasing photos; in fact, the established names that took the points at the two intermediate bonification sprints (1st sprint: 1. Lisa Brennauer (Specialized-Lululemon), 2. Ellen van Dijk (Specialized-Lululemon), 3. Adrie Visser (Boels-Dolmans); 2nd sprint: Visser, 2. Trixi Worrack (Specialized-Lululemon), 3. Annemiek van Vleuten (Rabobank)) indicate that the big names were in full control all the way.

Kirsten Wild wins Stage 1

The race didn't go exactly according to plan: first off, wrong directions sent the lead group off the course, resulting in the race being temporarily neutralised. News of the neutralisation apparently didn't reach police and marshalls further ahead and so when riders got there, they found that vehicles including a large truck had been permitted access to the course and stopped riding until the roads could be cleared; some time later they had to stop again and wait for a bridge that had been raised to allow a boat to pass underneath. Unhappy riders staged a protest by stopping at the beginning of the fourth lap with some stating that they were considering abandoning the race altogether; following an apology from organisers and, presumably, realisation that events following the misdirections were the result of circumstance rather than mistakes that could be blamed on someone, all riders decided to continue.

Once the race was restarted van Dijk,  Loes Gunnewijk (Orica-AIS), Iris Slappendel (Rabobank) and Kirsten Wild (Argos-Shimano) escaped the pack, maintaining a healthy lead through the final lap; then as the finish came into view van Dijk and Wild called a duel and powered away together. Wild, aged 30 to van Dijk's 26, is proof that women maintain their athletic peak for longer than men and seems to get faster and faster with every season that passes; she held off her rival all the way. Van Dijk recorded the same time for second place, with Slappendel and Gunnewijk 3" slower for third and fourth.

Stage 1 Top Ten
1 Kirsten WILD (Argos-Shimano) 3h10'02"
2 Ellen VAN DIJK (Specialized-Lululemon) ST
3 Iris SLAPPENDEL (Rabobank) +03"
4 Loes GUNNEWIJK (Orica-AIS) ST
5 Adrie VISSER (Boels-Dolmans) +10"
6 Anna VAN DER BREGGEN (Sengers) ST
7 Lisa BRENNAUER (Specialized-Lululemon) ST
8 Annemiek VAN VLEUTEN (Rabobank) ST
9 Christine MAJERUS (Sengers) ST
10 Dani KINGm (Wiggle-Honda) ST
Full result and GC standings here


Stage 2 (04.04.2013)

Stage 2

Starting in freezing conditions at Oude Pekela, Stage 2 made its way out of the town and headed initially south into a short loop, then returned to the start line where the riders embarked upon a series of fast straight sections that looked guaranteed to encouraged breakaway attempts en route for Veendam; however, as was the case yesterday the GC contenders remained at the head of the race and the first sprint went to Adrie Visser (Boels-Dolmans) with Orica-AIS team mates Loes Gunnewijk and Annette Edmondson taking second and third.

A superb effort earned Chloe Hosking
second place

A group of thirteen riders was well away in the lead by the second sprint where Kirsten Wild (Argos-Shimano) was first through, hotly pursued by Ellen van Dijk and Lisa Brennauer of Specialized-Lululemon. When a lead group includes most of the GC contenders - in addition to Wild, van Dijk and Brennauer, it included Trixi Worrack (Specialized-Lululemon), Adrie Visser and Lizzie Armitstead (Boels-Dolmans), Iris Slappendel (Rabobank-Liv/Giant) and Loes Gunnewijk (Orica-AIS), as well some serious up-and-coming talent in the shape of Chloe Hosking (Hitec Products-UCK; a rider who is already well on her way to the very top of the sport) - gets a significant advantage so late in the race, there's only so much the pack can do about it and there was therefore no surprise that the stage ended with a thirteen-strong sprint. Neither did it come as a shock that Wild again was strongest, crossing the line just ahead of Hosking and Visser to end the day with a 13" GC advantage over second place van Dijk.

Stage 2 Top Ten
1 Kirsten WILD (Argos-Shimano) 2h39'37"
2 Chloe HOSKING (Hitec Products-UCK) ST
3 Adrie VISSER (Boels-Dolmans) ST
4 Lisa BRENNAUER (Specialized-Lululemon) ST
5 Ellen VAN DIJK (Specialized-Lululemon) ST
6 Anna VAN DER BREGGEN (Sengers) ST
7 Jolanda NEFF (Rabobank-Liv/Giant) ST
8 Trixi WORRACK (Specialized-Lululemon) ST
9 Loes GUNNEWIJK (Orica-AIS) ST
10 Iris SLAPPENDEL (Rabobank) ST
Full result and GC standings here


Stages 3a and 3b (05.04.2013)

Stage 3a

Stage 3b

Stage 3a winner Ellen van Dijk

Stage 3a, an individual time trial on a testing 21.1km route, started and ended at Winsum - an interesting parcours for the Dutch riders as it's thought likely to also be used in June's National Time Trial Championships; Winsum having been given the honour of hosting the event largely as a result of the success of last year's Energiewacht Tour.

With several sharp corners and fast straights riders needed to be able to keep up a high average speed in order to avoid losing serious time to the time trial specialists here. On the other hand, a fast time trial specialist would be able to make up significant time, perhaps even move into the overall lead. Someone such as, for example, Specialized-Lululemon's Ellen van Dijk, who was widely expected to be the fastest rider today; she didn't disappoint, blasting around the parcours in a winning 28'12", giving her overall control of the General Classification with an advantage over team mate Lisa Brennauer of 1'07". Kirsten Wild (Argos-Shimano), previous GC leader after winning Stages 1 and 2, was ninth with 30'06"; putting her into fifth place overall with a deficit of 1'41" to van Dijk.

Three riders arrived 1'24" later; then a group of four including Les Déesses favourite Emily Kachorek came in 7'05" after Wild. The Swiss National Team's Doris Schweizer did not finish.

Stage 3a Top Ten
1 Ellen VAN DIJK (Specialized-Lululemon) 28'12"
2 Lisa BRENNAUER (Specialized-Lululemon) +51"
3 Shara GILLOW (Orica-AIS) +1'03"
4 Loes GUNNEWIJK (Orica-AIS) +1'07"
5 Trixi WORRACK (Specialized-Lululemon) +1'22"
6 Carmen SMALL (Specialized-Lululemon) +1'38"
7 Gracie ELVIN (Orica-AIS) +1'44"
8 Marijn DE VRIES (Lotto-Belisol) +1'52"
9 Kirsten WILD (Argos-Shimano) +1'54"
10 Kristin MCGRATH (USA National Team) +1'57"
Full result here

Stage 3b bore many similarities to last year's Stage 1, only this time the riders traveled in the opposite direction. The start was in Appingedam, followed by a long and straight blast alongside the canal and past some grand country houses to Garrelsweer where the teams crossed a bridge over the water ready for an even straighter, faster ride on the south bank of the canal back to Appingedam. This route was completed six times for a total distance of 77.3km; it also formed Stage 1 of the Junior race with the Junior riders also completing six laps.

Belgian sprinter Jolien d'Hoore
was second fastest to the line
behind Kirsten Wild

An in-and-home race over a short distance such as that seemed certain to end in a sprint and no fewer than 98 riders came in together, completing the route in a shared time of 1h57'52". Not one of them could match Kirsten Wild (Argos-Shimano), who wasn't going to pass up an opportunity to claw back some of the time she lost earlier in the day. However, van Dijk also finished in 1h57'52", so Wild climbs only one place and has a disadvantage reduced by only 9" to 1'32", including three bonification seconds picked up when she won the first intermediate sprint. With only two stages left, she'll have to work hard if she wants to win this race.

Stage 3b Top Ten
1 Kirsten WILD (Argos-Shimano) 1:57:52
2 Jolien D'HOORE (Lotto-Belisol) ST
3 Chloe HOSKING (Hitec Products-UCK) ST
4 Annette EDMONDSON (Orica-AIS) ST
5 Laura TROTT (Wiggle Honda) ST
6 Emily COLLINS (Wiggle Honda) ST
7 Danielle KING (Wiggle Honda) ST
8 Emilie MOBERG (Hitec Products-UCK) ST
9 Christine MAJERUS (Sengers) ST
10 Jessy DRUYTS (Belgian National Team) ST
Full result here


Stage 4 (06.04.2013)

Stage 4

Corinne Smit, post-dunking!
(image used c/o @crazycyclefan)

Stage 4 started in Uithizen and took a winding 35km route around the little villages that dot the flat countryside, crossing several canals (Water, Land en Dijken rider Corinne Smit fell into one of them - @crazycyclefan was there to get a photo) before arriving back at Uithizen. Four laps make up a total of 134.6km for the Elite riders; two laps make 67.1km for the Juniors.

Before the race began, it looked to be the decisive stage if no single rider had emerged as likely victor following yesterday's Individual Time Trial - or at the very least is likely to whittle down the number of General Classification contenders. Since Specialized-Lululemon time trial specialist Ellen van Dijk's superb Stage 3a peformance, it's looked very much as though she'll be crowned overall winner - but this is a sprinters' race, and sprinter Kirsten Wild (Argos-Shimano) is going to do what she can to take back the lead she had when she won the first two stages.

A five-rider break shook things up on the road; its members Lizzie Armitstead (Boels-Dolmans), Jolien d'Hoore (Lotto-Belisol), Annette Edmondson (Orica-AIS), Lucinda Brand (Rabobank) and Charlotte Becker (Argos-Shimano) all being ideally placed and more than capable of completely rearranging the Top Ten . As a result, the group that went after them (a selection of chasers and helpers) was equally as impressive: van Dijk, Wild, Loes Gunnewijk (Orica-AIS) and Adrie Visser (Boels-Dolmans); the two groups eventually combining to become one.

Annette Edmondson took a hiatus from racing after
losing her passion for the sport. She's evidently
got it back - and will become a household name among
women's cycling fans with consistent performances
like those she's achieved in this race

As the finish drew closer, individuals and team mate partnerships began attacking one another but found themselves too evenly matched and nobody could get away, setting the scene for yet another bunch sprint - and for another Wild victory: the powerful Dutch rider once again proved just too strong and too fast for anyone to get past her, winning with a time of 3h36'43" and climbing one more place in the General Classification to third place overall. However, with van Dijk still 1'25 ahead of her and 1'22" ahead of second place Gunnewijk, it seems the outcome of the race has already been decided.

Stage 4 Top Ten
1 Kirsten WILD (Argos-Shimano) 3h36'43"
2 Ellen VAN DIJK (Specialized-Lululemon) ST
3 Adrie VISSER (Boels-Dolmans) ST
4 Jolien D'HOORE (Lotto-Belisol) ST
5 Lucinda BRAND (Rabobank) ST
6 Loes GUNNEWIJK (Orica-AIS) ST
7 Tatiana ANTOSHINA (MCipollini Giordana) +03"
8 Elizabeth ARMITSTEAD (Boels-Dolmans) ST
9 Charlotte BECKER (Argos-Shimano) +13"
10 Anna VAN DER BREGGEN (Sengers) +38"
Full result and GC here


Stage 5 (07.04.2013)

Stage 5

Energiwacht Tour stages always promise to end in one of two ways - either a bunch sprint made up of the GC contenders, or a breakaway group that's managed to hold off the peloton and preserve a small advantage at the line. Because of the fast parcours and wind, it almost invariably takes the first option - but not on the finishing stage this year.

Stage 5's long straight sections made it an ideal place for breakaways and attacks in search of second and third place - a really powerful effort could have enabled a rider to jump several places up the final classifications. The start was in Groningen and followed the city streets for 3km, then traveled through Haren before passing first south and then west of Paterswoldsmeer, a large lake and wetland area that makes this stage perhaps the most beautiful of the race. After 12km the riders arrived back at Groningen with the last 2km on city streets and a very tight right-hand corner just before the finish line. The Elite riders completed seven laps of 14.3km for a total distance of 99.9km; the Juniors completed five laps for 70km.

Local star Julia Soek

Specialized-Lululemon's Ellen van Dijk began the day with an advantage following her spectacular ride in the time trial that seemed insurmountable, even had lightning-fast Kirsten Wild (Argos-Shimano) gone for a fourth stage; but it would be a mistake and even something of an insult to claim that this was the sole reason for the break's success because the not-so-well-known riders that led for much of the race put in a stirling performance. Following a slow start to the race, Senger's Julia Soek was the first rider to attack. She didn't get far but it didn't matter much - she's a native of Groningen and doubtless delighted friends and family among the spectators. Lauren Hall (USA National Team) had a go a little further up the road too, but got no further and the pack remained together going into Lap 2, during which she teamed up with Aafke Eshuis (Parkhotel Valkenburg), Cecilie Gotaas Johnsen (Hitec Products-UCK) and Nicole Hanselmann (Bigla), working together to form a lead group before being caught and passed just before the first intermediate sprint. Wild moved into pole position to take the bonification points with Adrie Visser of Boels-Dolmans and Orica-AIS' Loes Gunnewijk coming through right after her.

The USA National Team women were evidently aiming to make sure everybody knew they'd been in the race during this stage, because Ruth Winder was the next to attack and managed to build a lead of 30" before being joined by Sanne van Paassen (Rabobank), Emilie Moberg (Hitec-UCK), Amy Pieters (Argos-Shimano), Romy Kasper (Boels-Dolmans), Gu Sung Eun (Orica-AIS) and Valentina Carretta (MCipollini-Girodana). Maaike Polspoel (Sengers) joined them soon afterwards; meanwhile, the lack of Specialized-Lululemon chasers was indication that as the highest-ranked rider in the break, van Paassen, was 6'57" down in 19th place in the GC, the team didn't have any worries regarding van Dijk's overall lead - though it was seen when the Dutch rider spent time conferring with team mates that they were closely monitoring the situation, ready to take matters in hand should it become necessary to do so. Noticing that Lululemon's attention was diverted, Marijn de Vries (Lotto-Belisol), Tone Hatteland Lima (Hitec-UCK), Monike Tenniglo (ARC Jan van Arckel) and Kristin McGrath (USA) sprang into action with an attack, but were rapidly swept up just as Best Young Rider Jolanda Neff (Rabobank) got a puncture; fortunately, she had a new wheel and was on her way before losing too much time and retains the white jersey.

At the second intermediate sprint, Carretta led with Sung Eun and Kasper taking second and third. The lead group now had two minutes on the peloton and it looked certain that one of their number would win the stage, but they refused to sit on their laurels and quickly added another 20", then another 20" to lead a second group headed by Judith Bloem (Restore) by 2'40" and the peloton by 3'25". Then, with 9km still to go, Carretta attacked sufficiently hard to get herself 35" up the road - and then kept going, making it 40" with only 5km to the line. After looking for several minutes as though they were going to let her do whatever she pleased, the other riders in the lead group finally gave chase and managed to reduce the gap to 18" with 3km to go. However, at such a late point in the race, the majority of them seemed to decide the outcome was settled; except, that is, for Sung Eun and Kasper, who kept working away in pursuit of podium placings.

A superb stage win for Valentina
Carretta of MCipollini

A final effort in front of the crowds saw Carretta finish with a 22" advantage - a good win by a rider who, having taken eighth place overall at the Trophée d'Or Féminin last year, is emerging as a force to be reckoned with in women's cycling. Sung Eun took second place while Kasper shared her time of +22" for third place; Pieters, Polspoel, Winder, Moberg and van Paassen (who jumped ten places in the GC from 19th after Stage 4 to 9th today) were next at +32" before Bloem arrived 2'37" later, then Andrea Grauss (Bigla) crossed the line 16" after her. The remaining 85 riders, including this year's General Classification winner Ellen van Dijk, finished 3'35" after Carretta.

Stage 5 Top Ten
1 Valentina CARRETTA(MCipollini-Girodana) 2h33'08"
2 Gu SUNG EUN(Orica-AIS) +22"
3 Romy KASPER(Boels-Dolmans) ST
4 Amy PIETERS(Argos-Shimano) +32"
5 Maaike POLSPOEL (Sengers) ST
6 Ruth WINDER (USA National Team) ST
7 Emilie MOBERG(Hitec Products-UCK) ST
8 Sanne VAN PAASSEN (Rabobank) ST
9 Judith BLOEM (Restore) +3'09"
10 Andrea GRAUS (Bigla) +3'25"
Full result here

General Classification Top Ten
1 Ellen VAN DIJK (Specialized-Lululemon) 14h28'53"
2 Loes GUNNEWIJK (Orica-AIS) +1:21
3 Kirsten WILD (Argos-Shimano) +1:22
4 Lisa BRENNAUER (Specialized-Lululemon) +1:51
5 Adrie VISSER (Boels-Dolmans) +2:44
6 Gracie ELVIN (Orica-AIS) +2:48
7 Elizabeth ARMITSTEAD (Boels-Dolmans) +3:09
8 Iris SLAPPENDEL (Rabobank) +3:40
9 Sanne VAN PAASSEN (Rabobank) +3:54
10 Anna VAN DER BREGGEN (Sengers) +4:08
Full result here

Another victory for Specialized-Lululemon (pictured at the Brainwash Tour; van Dijk on the left)

Video
Compared to the rest of the world, women's cycling enjoys considerable popularity in Groningen and the rest of the Netherlands, receiving an admirable amount of TV and newspaper coverage as a result. Regional TV station RTL7 has been broadcasting highlights each day and making non-geo-restricted video available on their website.

New women's cycling websites

A sure sign of the increasing popularity of women's cycling - and fans' determination to make sure it gets the coverage and exposure it deserves and has for so long been denied in the established media - is the number of websites devoted to the sport that have sprung up recently.

Two that look especially promising are VeloFocus and Total Women's Cycling. Velofocus, in operation since late August in 2012, has really come together with a superb selection of race previews and news; it was, I believe, the first English-language site to publish the parcours for the 2013 Ladies' Tour of Qatar and the donwloadable race calendar knocks the spots off the UCI's own, official, calendar. TWC looks slick right from the front page - with a very professional and well-thought-out design, it's a site that could give the cycling magazine websites a run for their money. With a mix of news, interviews, reviews and how-tos, it has content to match - this is a site that I fully expect to become one of the first-call choices for women's cycling news.