Velominati Super Prestige: The Women’s Elite Road Race 2014
This is big. This is the race that decides the arc-en-ciel jersey for the next year. It is the best looking jersey. It carries the most baggage. It also brings the most respect. The World Championship is a circuit race of attrition. In Ponferrada Spain it’s an 182 km loop done seven times, with a total of 2142 m of climbing. Is it a climber’s course, not exactly, nor a sprinter’s course.
I love the tension of trade teams wearing their national team jerseys; personal ambition and teamwork fight to the finish. I’m not jinxing anyone’s chances here, but repeating as World Champion is difficult, unless someone is the dominant rider of her generation. And even for her it will be very hard. But I’m not naming names here.
Here is the start list. If one delgados this, they need to check their priorities in life. We know the prizes are awesome, bragging rights, more awesome.
[vsp_results id=”31126″/]
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Johansson
3. Stevens
4. Armistead
5. Van Dijk
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Armistead
3. Pauline Ferrand-Prevot
4. Johansson, Emma
5. Longo-Borghini
VSP PICKS:
1. Marianne Vos
2. Giorgia Bronzini
3. Lizzie Armitstead
4. Emma Johansson
5. Elisa Longo Borghini
VSP PICKS:
1. M. Vos
2. L. Armitstead
3. P. Ferrand-Prevot
4. E. Johansson
5. E. Stevens
Pedal, girls, pedal.
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Armistead
3. Stevens
4. Cromwell
5. Johansson
Pedal, girls, pedal.
Fight for the stripes girls!
Okay, three times a charm. My picks won’t post… Vos, Armistead, Stevens, Cromwell, johansson.
VSP PICKS:
1. Lizzie Armitstead
2. Pauline Ferrand-Prevot
3. Marianne Vos
4. Emma Johansson
5. Giorgia Bronzini
VSP PICKS:
1. Johansson
2. Ferrand-Prevot
3. Vos
4. Armistead
5. Stevens
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Stevens
3. Armistead
4. Bronzini
5. Ferrand-Prevot
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Armistead
3. Stevens
4. Bronzini
5. Johansson
VSP PICKS:
1. Vos
2. Johansson
3. Armitstead
4. Bronzini
5. Ferrand-Prevot
I’m betting against Vos again, because I can. This should be a good race.
VSP PICKS:
1. Armistead
2. johansson
3. Chantal Blaak
4. Elena Cecchini
5. Tiffany Cromwell
VSP PICKS:
1. ferrand prevot
2. armitstead
3. bronzini
4. johansson
5. vos
Call me Pedro…
@Mikael Liddy To be fair, it was a very narrow window if you live in Europe and like a beer or two on a Friday night.
Nasty crash has taken out many riders. Vos, Bronzini delayed and trying to chase back.
The result:
1. Ferrand-Prevot
2. Brennauer
3. Johansson
4. Bronzini
5. Neylan?
Break of four riders f-ing about at the end let the chasing group get back for a bunch sprint.
@Geraint
5. Cromwell (I think)
Bizarre. Never seen a riders sit up like that in the final K – let alone a group with such strength.
Cromwell 5th not Neylan, sorry.
@Harminator beat me to it, thanks
Agreed, daft tactics by all four of them, I think the Armitstead/Vos face-off blew it.
I think that was the proof that Vos was not on her best form.
If she was she would have gone for it and be damned about dragging the others along.
But the others weren’t going to take the risk of pulling her to the line.
Seemed such a long way to the line from the bottom of the hill for those four. I think a solo attack (like the Junior Mens) over the final climb is the go. Sparty won’t want to be towing anyone.
Nothing like coming home smashed after a Rule #9 slug-fest of a morning ride with the boys to watch the bad ass women tear into each other in the Worlds. Until the 4 of them sat up and let the chasers catch them inside the final k. That was weird. They raced not to lose and lost.
I am amazed we arent talking up the new women’s world champ. 22, french, holds 4 national titles in TT, Road, XC and CX. total bad ass. I love that women riders can kick ass in multiple disciples. Vos is known to mix it up in XC races also.
Woo-Hoo. I received the coveted winners apron for the 2013 season. Well worth the wait and much better than a new frame, wheels, etc. Thanks Keepers. By the way, who won the Woman’s World Road VSP Championship??
@dancollins Best as I can tell, you won, as you were the only person to guess Ferrand-Prevot in first. Plus, you got Johansson in third correct. So that means you took the Elite Road Race double. Nicely done!
Woops – appears there was a miscommunication between us Keepers on who was updating results for what event…Here are the Lady’s results – and yes, @dancollins it appears you won both Worlds RR – nice work!
@RedRanger
Indeed. This woman does not mess around, check the palmeres..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauline_Ferrand-Pr%C3%A9vot
http://www.procyclingstats.com/rider/Pauline_Ferrand_Prevot