Two wins for Cooke in Emakumeen Biro

Story updated June 15, 2009
Source: Gayle Howells, Vision 1 Racing; Photo:  William Meertens

Cooke Finishes Fourth in Emakumeen-Bira Stage Race

Final Day


Above: Nicole gets a winning run going in Spain. Photo:  William Meertens

The last day of the Emakumeen-Bira women’s stage race, which was won by Germany's Judith Arndt, saw British World and Olympic Champion Nicole Cooke in 4th on the stage and finishing the race in 4th overall. On a hard and rainy stage on the final day of the five stage event, Vision 1 riders showed their strength in-depth with Christel Ferrier-Bruneau finishing a place behind Nicole in 5th and Vicki Whitelaw was 10th.

Vision 1 was second in the team classification in this high level race in front of a lot of well established teams and afterwards Nicole who had won two stages, (stage 2 & 3b) said “I crested the final climb with the leaders but on the wet roads I was not ready to take any risks on the last downhill stretch towards the finish and I dropped back a little. The results we have had in this stage race show that we are on the way up and going in the right direction. All the riders are motivated and getting great results -- having three riders in the top 10 overall is fantastic.”

Team Manager Andy Walser said “I am really impressed by the performance of the whole team and I am proud that all our riders stayed in the race to the end and showed great character. Even our youngest rider, Aurore Verhoeven, managed to be in some breakaway groups during the stages without being intimidated alongside some big names in women’s cycling. She had a great race like all the others in the team -- now we want to see if we can repeat this success in our next races.”
 
Other news from Vision 1 Racing is the signing of the 19 year old Welsh talent Jackie Garner who will begin her activities with Vision 1 at our next training camp in July. 

Double Stage and another Victory
The morning began with a 2km short uphill Time Trial where race leader, Nicole Cooke, finished 12th after losing 20 seconds and with that, the leaders jersey she had won the day  before. It was a better afternoon however when the Welsh rider won her second stage of the race.

The afternoon stage included two long climbs and then finished with a steep climb similar to that encountered in the classic, Fleche Wallone. It proved to be exactly the right terrain for Nicole and her team to strike back after the morning's disappointment.

The race began with lots of different attacks and at the foot of the crucial climb to the finish, there was only a group of 29 riders left. The finishing climb had a real sting in the tail as well where the road ramped up for 300 metres at 20% and it was here that Nicole showed just who was the best by getting those rainbow stripes across the line first, beating Judith Arndt (Ger) and Noemi Cantele (It) in a tough sprint. Her stage victory lifted herself up to 4th in the overall and leading the points  classification.

The Vision 1 team in Spain who finished second in the team rankings at the end of the race.

Cooke Wins Stage 2
Friday's Stage 2 was an 84 kilometre loop starting and finishing in Amurrio. It was a rolling stage with one Category 2 climb that came about halfway through over some roads that were very narrow and difficult. It was another great day for Vision 1 Racing as  Nicole took her first win of the season, winning the sprint in  a bunch gallop with about 40 riders after a technical one kilometre run-in filled with roundabouts before an uphill surge to the line.

Nicole win saw her hold the lead on GC going into Stage 3. Christel, Debby and Vicki also finished in the front bunch so Vision 1 have defended their lead in the team competition. A delighted Cooke said, "I am really pleased with how Vision 1 Racing are riding as a team and the girls are working really hard for me. It's great to get my first stage win of the season and I am looking forward to today's racing!"

Stage 1
On Thursday 11th of June, Vision 1 Racing were riding the first stage of the Emakumeen Biro which is a 4 day, 5 stage race in Spain. The first stage was 76 km long with two Category 3 climbs and Vision 1 Racing had a great day with three riders finishing in the front bunch. Christel Ferrier Bruneau and Vicki Whitelaw were aggressive and worked hard to set Nicole up for the sprint finish.

Christel attacked 3km from the finish and Vicki and Christel both rode to bring Nicole up for the sprint but the World and Olympic champion was just pipped at the post by German rider Judith Arndt and the Welsh rider finished second. Vicki came 10th and Christel 13th. Aurore Verhoeven and Debby van den Berg were in the second group behind and they came 66th and 67th.

Vision 1 Racing are now in a strong position with three riders up there in the classification and are now leading the team overall. Stage 2 is a 84km race and finishes in Amurrio and has a second category climb about half way through.

Stage 1 result
1. Judith Arndt (Ger) Columbia Highroad Women        1.59.40 (38.105 km/h)
2. Nicole Cooke (GBr) Vision 1 Racing                      
3. Emma Johansson (Swe) Red Sun Cycling Team               

10. Vicki Whitelaw (Aus) Vision 1 Racing                   
13. Christelle Ferrier (Fra) Vision 1 Racing               
66. Aurore Verhoeven (Fra) Vision 1 Racing                 
67. Debby Van Den Gerg (Ned) Vision 1 Racing