Race Report:

Weather conditions were brilliant and I felt rather confident at start even if an 11% climb is not my favorite playground!

The first attacks fused in the first of four laps after only 8kms, just before the steepest part of the climb. And there it was where I couldn't follow the first group, wondering how easily the others turned their legs and mine moved hard, even if I was on the last gear.

After the bunch was split, and I found myself in one of the small chasing groups between the cars. The group didn't work at it's best, so Canadian champ Gina Grain, the dutch champion Monique van der Ree and myself went away chasing down some other riders of the group in front of us. But after three laps we were 15 Minutes back of the front group and stopped the race (over time limit 5% of winner time).

My team-mate Monia Bacaille (who won a week ago in Luxembourg) finished at the 17th place in the first group behind the winner Suzanne Ljunskog and Tatiana Antoshina in the main bunch. Samantha Galassi and Nadeja Vlasova stopped after the first lap, both feeling a bit sick.

After arrival I explained my problems in the climbs to my husband, as he prepared normally my bike, and he discover that he put the wrong wheel on my bike. There was 11-23 on place but I needed the 11-25 teeth!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Team presentation: Tatiana Antoshina, Monia Bacaille, Samantha Gallasi, Nadeja Vlasova ans me.

Signing in for the race

The bunch in the climb near the feeding zone.