Soeder demolishes the competition

By Paul Verkuylen in Portarlington

A cool breeze and cold conditions greeted the 89 women who lined up for the opening time trial of the 2008 Geelong Women’s Tour, the warm up event to the first round of the Women’s World Cup to be held on Sunday, also in Geelong. After three days of high temperatures, the unseasonal weather caught a few off guard.

Christiane Soeder (Cervelo-Lifeforce) repeated her fine win in the time trial from two years ago blasting around the eight kilometre coastal circuit in 11.28.03 to put 35.71 seconds into second place, Susanne Ljungskog (Menikini Selle Italia) and a further two seconds into German powerhouse Ina Teutenberg (Team High Road).

“I wasn’t expecting to win by 30 seconds, I expected to win, but not by 30 seconds,” a delighted Soeder said after receiving the first leader’s jersey of the 2008 Tour.

The Austrian national time trial champion has been training in Melbourne for the past four weeks in order to be in good shape for what is an important Olympic year. “I prepared very well this year. I was not sick and had no problems. It was a very good winter; I could skate in Austria and cycle on the track a little. I have been here in Australia for one month. It has been very nice, nice weather to train. But thirty seconds for me is very good.

“This [the tour] is the final preparation for Sunday and (preparation) for the whole season. It is very important for us being the Olympic season. It is very important for us to be in good shape early because we have qualification races. Fleche Wallone, Flanders and all those races,” she said.

Soeder’s team includes American time trial champion, Kristin Armstrong, who along with Soeder, Karin Thurig and Priska Doppmann are aiming to do well later in the season when the squads face a team time trial as part of the world cup.

Top Australian in the prologue was Leonie Burford (NSWIS - CBD - Denagi), who surprised even herself with a fine fourth place.

“[I didn’t expect it] at all, I was thinking top thirty,” a happy Burford said of her ride.

“I just kept thinking that I was late for work, so I will just ride as fast as I can,” she said explaining her race plan.

The 24 year old has been living in Cobar, working as a Geologist since completing her University degree in Wollongong recently, and admits that “getting to races has been a bit tough.”

Her fourth place here will hopefully garner attention from some of the top professional squads in Europe, where she plans on racing for at least five months this season. Sitting in fourth overall also makes her the team’s highest ranked rider and with a flat stage along Portarlington coastal circuit, later today we may well see her make a move to capture the leader’s jersey.

“Hopefully they will work for me now” she said jokingly of her team before adding, “Prologues are a little different than a road race and we have some good sprinters here, so whoever is going good out on the road, I think we will work for, we will tell as we go along.”

Stage 1 - Thursday 21 February: Time Trial Portarlington

Photos

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by John Veage

• Australia's Oenone Wood (Team High Road) on the road to 14th place.
• Austria's Christiane Soeder (Cervelo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team) being chased by her coach.
• Pushing hard: Christiane Soeder (Cervelo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team) was an impressive 36 seconds faster than her nearest rival.
• Christiane Soeder (Cervelo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team) is congratulated after winning the opening stage.
• Susanne Ljungskog (Menikini Selle Italia) took second place but was 36 seconds down on the winner.
• Ina Teutenberg (Team High Road) took a surprise stage placing.
• Australia's Belinda Goss (VIS) passes another competitor on the course.
• Young Australian Rider Tiffany Cromwell (Australian National Team) gives it her all.
• On the collision course.
• Olivia Gollan (Menikini Selle Italia) out of the saddle.
• Podium (L-R): Susanne Ljungskog (Menikini Selle Italia), Christiane Soeder (Cervelo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team) and Ina Teutenberg (Team High Road).

Results

1 Christiane Soeder (Aut) Cervelo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team          11.28 (41.858 km/h)
2 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Menikini Selle Italia                        0.36
3 Ina Teutenberg (Ger) Team High Road                                  0.37
4 Leonie Burford (Aus) NSWIS - CBD - Degani                            0.49
5 Katheryn Mattis (USA) Webcor Builders Cycling Team                   0.54
6 Kristin Armstrong Savola (USA) Cervelo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team    0.55
7 Katherine Bates (Aus) Team High Road                                 1.00
8 Judith Arndt (Ger) Team High Road                                    1.00
9 Alex Wrubleski (Can) Webcor Builders Cycling Team                    1.01
10 Linda Villumsen Serup (Den) Team High Road                          1.06
11 Christine Thorburn (USA) Webcor Builders Cycling Team               1.10
12 Vicki Whitelaw (Aus) Landlink ACTAS Cycling Team                    1.13
13 Charlotte Becker (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung               1.14
14 Oenone Wood (Aus) Team High Road                                    1.14
15 Chantal Beltman (Ned) Team High Road                                1.14
16 Alison Powers (USA) US National Team                                1.15
17 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung              1.18
18 Bridie O'donnell (Aus) Australian National Team                     1.20
19 Amanda Spratt (Aus) Australian National Team                        1.21
20 Katharine Carroll (USA) US National Team                            1.21
21 Sara Carrigan (Aus) Lotto-Belisol Ladies Team                       1.22
22 Sarah Düster (Ger) Cervelo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team               1.24
23 Suzanne De Goede (Ned) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung               1.24
24 Sharon Laws (GBr) Landlink ACTAS Cycling Team                       1.26
25 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                  1.27
26 Karin Thurig (Swi) Cervelo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team               1.28
27 Lauren Franges (USA) US National Team                               1.29
28 Lorian Graham (Aus) Vrienden Van Het Platteland                     1.29
29 Natalie Bates (Aus) Menikini Selle Italia                           1.31
30 Peta Mullens (Aus) Australian National Team                         1.31
31 Carla Ryan (Aus) Australian National Team                           1.32
32 Serena Sheridan (NZl) BikeNZ                                        1.32
33 Christina Ruiter (USA) US National Team                             1.33
34 Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Australian National Team                     1.34
35 Miho Oki (Jpn) Menikini Selle Italia                                1.36
36 Felicia Greer-Gomez (Can) Vrienden Van Het Platteland               1.36
37 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Cervelo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team            1.37
38 Ruth Corset (Aus) QAS                                               1.42
39 Jenny Macpherson (Aus) Landlink ACTAS Cycling Team                  1.43
40 Erinne Willock (Can) Webcor Builders Cycling Team                   1.45
41 Louise Kerr (Aus) QAS                                               1.46
42 Kathryn Watt (Aus) Lotto-Belisol Ladies Team                        1.46
43 Carlee Taylor (Aus) QAS                                             1.47
44 Marina Duvnjak (NZl) BikeNZ                                         1.48
45 Fei Wang (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling                                    1.50
46 Eva Lutz (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                       1.55
47 Toni Bradshaw (NZl) BikeNZ                                          2.01
48 Emma Rickards (AUS) Cervelo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team          2.01
49 Catherine Cheatley (NZl) BikeNZ                                     2.03
50 Belinda Goss (Aus) VIS                                              2.03
51 Josephine Tomic (Aus) Landlink ACTAS Cycling Team                   2.04
52 Zoe Appel (Aus) QAS                                              2.04
53 Lang Meng (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling                                   2.05
54 Olivia Gollan (Aus) Menikini Selle Italia                           2.07
55 Carissa Wilkes (NZl) BikeNZ                                         2.07
56 Helen Kelly (Aus) VIS                                               2.08
57 Xiao Mei Huang (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling                              2.09
58 Monique Hanley (Aus) VIS                                            2.11
59 Carmen Mcnellis (USA) US National Team                              2.13
60 Yong Li Liu (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling                                 2.15
61 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Menikini Selle Italia                        2.17
62 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung              2.18
63 Brei Gudsell (NZl) BikeNZ                                               
64 Tina Mayolo Pic (USA) Vrienden Van Het Platteland                   2.20
65 Katherine O'shea (Aus) VIS                                          2.22
66 Liz Young (Aus) MB Cycles Womens Cycling Team                       2.23
67 Amy Dombroski (USA) Webcor Builders Cycling Team                    2.23
68 Sheree Mckenzie (Aus) MB Cycles Womens Cycling Team                 2.23
69 Carly Hibberd (Aus) MB Cycles Womens Cycling Team                   2.25
70 Nicole Whitburn (Aus) VIS                                           2.28
71 Rachel Neylan (Aus) QAS                                             2.28
72 Emma Mackie (Aus) Lotto-Belisol Ladies Team                         2.29
73 Jaccolien Wallaard (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland                2.30
74 Tahlia Paskin (Aus) QAS                                             2.31
75 Lauren Kitchen (Aus) NSWIS - CBD - Degani                           2.31
76 Min Gao (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling                                     2.34
77 Ashleee Ankudinoff (Aus) NSWIS - CBD - Degani                       2.35
78 Theresa Cliff-Ryan (USA) Landlink ACTAS Cycling Team                2.35
79 Kerryn Charman (Aus) VIS                                            2.39
80 Lisa Friend (Aus) NSWIS - CBD - Degani                              2.40
81 Jemma O'brien (Aus) NSWIS - CBD - Degani                            2.41
82 Michelle Mewing (Aus) MB Cycles Womens Cycling Team                 2.44
83 Li Chen (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling                                     2.48
84 Patricia Palmer (Aus) MB Cycles Womens Cycling Team                 2.51
85 Hayley Wright (Aus) MB Cycles Womens Cycling Team                   2.54
86 Linn Torp (Nor) Lotto-Belisol Ladies Team                           2.54
87 Marina Riomoli (Ita) Menikini Selle Italia                          2.57
88 Sasha Harvey (Aus) Lotto-Belisol Ladies Team                        3.00
89 Kim Schoonbaert (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladies Team                     3.00
DNS Jocelyn Loane (Aus) Australian National Team                           
General Classification after Stage 1
1 Christiane Soeder (Aut) Cervelo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team          11.28
2 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Menikini Selle Italia                        0.36
3 Ina Teutenberg (Ger) Team High Road                                  0.37
4 Leonie Burford (Aus) NSWIS - CBD - Degani                            0.49
5 Katheryn Mattis (USA) Webcor Builders Cycling Team                   0.54
6 Kristin Armstrong Savola (USA) Cervelo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team    0.55
7 Katherine Bates (Aus) Team High Road                                 1.00
8 Judith Arndt (Ger) Team High Road                                    1.00
9 Alex Wrubleski (Can) Webcor Builders Cycling Team                    1.01
10 Linda Villumsen Serup (Den) Team High Road                          1.06
11 Christine Thorburn (USA) Webcor Builders Cycling Team               1.10
12 Vicki Whitelaw (Aus) Landlink ACTAS Cycling Team                    1.13
13 Charlotte Becker (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung               1.14
14 Oenone Wood (Aus) Team High Road                                    1.14
15 Chantal Beltman (Ned) Team High Road                                1.14
16 Alison Powers (USA) US National Team                                1.15
17 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung              1.18
18 Bridie O'donnell (Aus) Australian National Team                     1.20
19 Amanda Spratt (Aus) Australian National Team                        1.21
20 Katharine Carroll (USA) US National Team                            1.21
21 Sara Carrigan (Aus) Lotto-Belisol Ladies Team                       1.22
22 Sarah Düster (Ger) Cervelo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team               1.24
23 Suzanne De Goede (Ned) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung               1.24
24 Sharon Laws (GBr) Landlink ACTAS Cycling Team                       1.26
25 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                  1.27
26 Karin Thurig (Swi) Cervelo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team               1.28
27 Lauren Franges (USA) US National Team                               1.29
28 Lorian Graham (Aus) Vrienden Van Het Platteland                     1.29
29 Natalie Bates (Aus) Menikini Selle Italia                           1.31
30 Peta Mullens (Aus) Australian National Team                         1.31
31 Carla Ryan (Aus) Australian National Team                           1.32
32 Serena Sheridan (NZl) BikeNZ                                        1.32
33 Christina Ruiter (USA) US National Team                             1.33
34 Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Australian National Team                     1.34
35 Miho Oki (Jpn) Menikini Selle Italia                                1.36
36 Felicia Greer-Gomez (Can) Vrienden Van Het Platteland               1.36
37 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Cervelo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team            1.37
38 Ruth Corset (Aus) QAS                                               1.42
39 Jenny Macpherson (Aus) Landlink ACTAS Cycling Team                  1.43
40 Erinne Willock (Can) Webcor Builders Cycling Team                   1.45
41 Louise Kerr (Aus) QAS                                               1.46
42 Kathryn Watt (Aus) Lotto-Belisol Ladies Team                        1.46
43 Carlee Taylor (Aus) QAS                                             1.47
44 Marina Duvnjak (NZl) BikeNZ                                         1.48
45 Fei Wang (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling                                    1.50
46 Eva Lutz (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                       1.55
47 Toni Bradshaw (NZl) BikeNZ                                          2.01
48 Emma Rickards (AUS) Cervelo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team          2.01
49 Catherine Cheatley (NZl) BikeNZ                                     2.03
50 Belinda Goss (Aus) VIS                                              2.03
51 Josephine Tomic (Aus) Landlink ACTAS Cycling Team                   2.04
52 Kirsty Broun (Aus) QAS                                              2.04
53 Lang Meng (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling                                   2.05
54 Olivia Gollan (Aus) Menikini Selle Italia                           2.07
55 Carissa Wilkes (NZl) BikeNZ                                         2.07
56 Helen Kelly (Aus) VIS                                               2.08
57 Xiao Mei Huang (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling                              2.09
58 Monique Hanley (Aus) VIS                                            2.11
59 Carmen Mcnellis (USA) US National Team                              2.13
60 Yong Li Liu (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling                                 2.15
61 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Menikini Selle Italia                        2.17
62 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung              2.18
63 Brei Gudsell (NZl) BikeNZ                                               
64 Tina Mayolo Pic (USA) Vrienden Van Het Platteland                   2.20
65 Katherine O'shea (Aus) VIS                                          2.22
66 Liz Young (Aus) MB Cycles Womens Cycling Team                       2.23
67 Amy Dombroski (USA) Webcor Builders Cycling Team                    2.23
68 Sheree Mckenzie (Aus) MB Cycles Womens Cycling Team                 2.23
69 Carly Hibberd (Aus) MB Cycles Womens Cycling Team                   2.25
70 Nicole Whitburn (Aus) VIS                                           2.28
71 Rachel Neylan (Aus) QAS                                             2.28
72 Emma Mackie (Aus) Lotto-Belisol Ladies Team                         2.29
73 Jaccolien Wallaard (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland                2.30
74 Tahlia Paskin (Aus) QAS                                             2.31
75 Lauren Kitchen (Aus) NSWIS - CBD - Degani                           2.31
76 Min Gao (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling                                     2.34
77 Ashleee Ankudinoff (Aus) NSWIS - CBD - Degani                       2.35
78 Theresa Cliff-Ryan (USA) Landlink ACTAS Cycling Team                2.35
79 Kerryn Charman (Aus) VIS                                            2.39
80 Lisa Friend (Aus) NSWIS - CBD - Degani                              2.40
81 Jemma O'brien (Aus) NSWIS - CBD - Degani                            2.41
82 Michelle Mewing (Aus) MB Cycles Womens Cycling Team                 2.44
83 Li Chen (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling                                     2.48
84 Patricia Palmer (Aus) MB Cycles Womens Cycling Team                 2.51
85 Hayley Wright (Aus) MB Cycles Womens Cycling Team                   2.54
86 Linn Torp (Nor) Lotto-Belisol Ladies Team                           2.54
87 Marina Riomoli (Ita) Menikini Selle Italia                          2.57
88 Sasha Harvey (Aus) Lotto-Belisol Ladies Team                        3.00
89 Kim Schoonbaert (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladies Team                     3.00