World Cup Glory for Pooley

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

[quote]World Cup Glory for Pooley



Trofeo Alfredo Binda, 23 March 2008



Britain's Emma Pooley has pulled off the biggest win of her career by taking the Trofeo Alfredo Binda, the second round of the 2008 UCI Women's Road World Cup. She was in a three rider break which develop some 25 miles from the finish of the race and managed to drop her companions and soloed to the finish.


Pooley relaxing at last year's worlds


The World Champion Bastianelli attacked with around 8k to go and was joined by Team Halfords Bikehut rider Nicole Cooke who was policing moves behind Emma. After a few kilometres with the World Champion, Nicole attacked her and managed to open gap of a few seconds but was swallowed up with around three kilometres to go and Nicole finished the race in the group, happy with her opening race of the season.



Talking to Team Halfords Bikehut director sportif Julian Winn, he was pleased with how the girls performed in their first race together at this level. "Nicole played a waiting game today and did exactly what was asked of her. She rode a very calm race and was feeling very good. At one point, I thought Britain was going to get first and second."



Of the other Team Halford Bikehut riders, Catherine Hare came in with Nicole whilst 18 year old, Jess Allen, finished the race a few minutes down on the front group in her first race at this level. The other Halfords Bikehut rider Emma Trott failed to finish after feeling unwell during the race.



The team now prepare for races in Belgium with the Tour of Flanders and Fleche Wallone where they will be joined by new signing Sharon Laws.



Pooley, who rides for Specialized Designs for Women, had an excellent 2007, culminating with top ten rides in both Time Trial and Road Race at the World Championships. However, this win puts those performances in the shade and emphasise that she is now moving into the top flight of women's road racing. She is only the second British woman to win a Road World Cup event after Nicole Cooke.

There's a full and detailed report of the event on cyclingnews.com (http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/ma ... id=results)



Results

1 Emma Pooley (GBr) Team Specialized Designs For Women 3.11.12 (37.65 km/h)
2 Suzanne De Goede (Ned) Equipe N?ger Versicherung 1.07
3 Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Safi - Pasta Zara Manhattan
4 Miho Oki (Jpn) Menikini - Selle Italia
5 Oenone Wood (Aus) Team High Road Women
6 Julia Martisova (Rus) Gauss RDZ Ormu
7 Emma Johansson (Swe) AA-Drink Cycling Team
8 Marta Bastianelli (Ita) Safi - Pasta Zara Manhattan
9 Lorian Graham (Aus) Vrienden Van Het Platteland
10 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe N?ger Versicherung
11 Nicole Brandli (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team
12 Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team
13 Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu) USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo
14 Noemi Cantele (Ita) Bigla Cycling Team
15 Regina Bruins (Ned) Dutch National Team
16 Alison Powers (USA) US National team
17 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Equipe N?ger Versicherung
18 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team
19 Sofie Goor (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam
20 Nicole Cooke (GBr) Team Halfords Bikehut