Mattis take biggest victory to date

By Paul Verkuylen in Geelong

Katheryn Mattis of the Webcor Builders cycling team took the biggest win of her career after outsprinting Emma Rikards (Cervelo - Lifeforce), her break away companion for five of the eight lap race. The pair broke clear during the third lap after High Road brought back a 12 rider escape which got away towards the end of the first lap, slowly building their lead to 6'50" before ultimately holding off the fast moving peloton; lead home by Ina Teutenberg by 1'08" at the finish.

"It's a great way to kick off the year, I am still speechless," Mattis said shortly after receiving the first leader's jersey in this year's world cup.

With High Road the team expected to set the pace for most of the race, the pair was never expected to hold off the peloton, but as they approached the final lap with over three minutes in hand it became obvious that High Road and the other sprinters teams had left it too late.

Mattis was the first of the pair to attack in the final lap, testing her opponent's legs as they neared the top of the climb. But Rikards was still riding well and was easily able to jump on her wheel. From here the pair rode together to the finish, only starting to play a game of cat and mouse in the final kilometer at one stage coming to a complete stand still. But with two minutes still up there sleeve, even this move was not enough for the peloton to shut the break done, and with 100 meters to go, Mattis opened up her sprint to take her first World Cup race.

"Coming into the roundabout with about a kilometer to go I swung right and got her in front of me and then we were kind of doing a little bit of track standing," Mattis explained of the run into the line.

"I was certainly nervous about the charging peloton but I think we had about two minutes. I haven't been in a match sprint situation before so I just tried to be patient and I jumped with about 200m to go and just held her off.

"This is definitely my top win for me. In 2005 I won the National championship [USA] on the road which at the time was probably the best. I don't think of myself as a one day racer, I love stage racing but this is definitely the biggest win," she said.

Rickard crossed the line, slamming her fist on the handlebar, obviously thinking of what could have been, but after some time to reflect the Australian was gracious in her defeat.

"I am ecstatic that I am on the podium to come second in a World Cup is my best result ever, and definitely coming into the year that is ahead of us," she said.

"It is a great day for me and my team I think I bashed the handlebars because I knew that I could win this race. When you are that close your perspective changes a bit. Afterwards when you think about it you have to say 'hey it's a world cup and in your home country and your on the podium and that is a great achievement."

Rikards was surprised by her break-away companions move on the final lap, expecting them to wait until the final sprint to settle the race after being away together for almost the entire race.

"After she attacked on the climb I just thought that I have to stick with her and wait to have a go at the finish.

"I was a bit surprised, I thought that we would go to the finish first and then we would start this. I wasn't sure how close the bunch was getting in the final lap, but when I heard it was still two minutes I was a bit more relaxed."

For Rikards her move early in the race was more of a tactical move by her Cervelo Lifeforce team, than an attempt to win. "Our game plan was to not finish this race in a sprint. We don't have a sprinter here in out team, but we have six very strong riders."

But as the gap grew, so too did her confidence, "I thought we were in with a very good chance [when the gap was at its maximum of 6'50"]. When we went into the final lap and we still had three minutes, I was more confident that we could stay away," she said.

Shortly after the pair crossed the line, Teutenberg stormed across the line to take third place. The German sprinter was not so happy with how the race had unfolded, expecting other teams to help take control in the final few laps.

"It's a bit frustrating because there are a lot of other sprinters in there and yeah we did win the last two stages but it's a different sprint and bike race. They said that they would help us and there was a little bit of help but not much," she said.

"We did everything that we could, the girls were falling off their bikes after the race, and they did everything that we could ask for. We probably just miscalculated so next time we just have to start a bit earlier."

Photos

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by John Veage

• The race started under blue skies in scenic Geelong.
• The Peloton moves along the waterfront.
• Katie Mactier attacks.
• Bridging up to the break in a hurry.
• The peloton steps it up a notch to not let the break go too far.
• Geelong provided a great backdrop for the racers, though they didn't time to enjoy the views.
• Emma Rickards receives a bottle while American Katheryn Mattis has joined the Australian rider for the attack.
• High Road steps it up and is trying to cut the gap to the leading duo.
• High Road was looking for more help but with their convincing Geelong Tour nobody thought they could match them in the sprint anyway.
• The leading duo arrived at the finish straight together and gave it their all on the slightly uphill run-in to the finish.
• Katheryn Mattis takes the win!
• Mattis and Rickards embrace each other on the podium. A fair gesture after a long day spent side by side.
• The podium from left to right with Rickards in second Mattis, the new WC leader and Teutenberg, who won the field sprint for third.
• The podium was all smiles.
• The field sprint for third. High Road proved they could win the sprint.
• The best shower in the world!

Results

1 Katheryn Mattis (USA) Webcor Builders Cycling Team             3.04.46
2 Emma Rickards (Aus) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team                
3 Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Ger) Team High Road                               1.08
4 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Menikini Selle Italia                          
5 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                
6 Suzanne De Goede (Ned) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                 
7 Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Australian National Team                       
8 Charlotte Becker (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                 
9 Gina Grain (Can) Webcor Builders Cycling Team                         
10 Sarah Düster (Ger) Cervelo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team                
11 Miho Oki (Jpn) Menikini Selle Italia                                 
12 Peta Mullens (Aus) Australian National Team                          
13 Carly Hibberd (Aus) MB Cycles Womens Cycling Team                    
14 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Cervelo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team             
15 Vicki Whitelaw (Aus) Landlink ACTAS Cycling Team                     
16 Lang Meng (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling                                    
17 Carissa Wilkes (NZl) BikeNZ                                          
18 Carlee Taylor (Aus) QAS                                              
19 Tina Mayolo Pic (USA) Vrienden Van Het Platteland                    
20 Yong Li Liu (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling                                  
21 Leonie Burford (Aus) NSWIS - CBD - Degani                            
22 Lauren Franges (USA) US National Team                                
23 Catherine Cheatley (NZl) BikeNZ                                      
24 Lorian Graham (Aus) Vrienden Van Het Platteland                      
25 Jemma O'brien (Aus) NSWIS - CBD - Degani                             
26 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung               
27 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                   
28 Katie Mactier (Aus) VIS                                              
29 Serena Sheridan (NZl) BikeNZ                                         
30 Alex Wrubleski (Can) Webcor Builders Cycling Team                    
31 Ruth Corset (Aus) QAS                                                
32 Fei Wang (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling                                     
33 Toni Bradshaw (NZl) BikeNZ                                           
34 Amanda Spratt (Aus) Australian National Team                         
35 Carla Ryan (Aus) Australian National Team                            
36 Emma Mackie (Aus) Lotto-Belisol Ladies Team                          
37 Kristin Armstrong Savola (USA) Cervelo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team    
38 Oenone Wood (Aus) Team High Road                                     
39 Alison Powers (USA) US National Team                                 
40 Erinne Willock (Can) Webcor Builders Cycling Team                    
41 Min Gao (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling                                      
42 Natalie Bates (Aus) Menikini Selle Italia                            
43 Christiane Soeder (Aut) Cervelo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team           
44 Christina Ruiter (USA) US National Team                              
45 Christine Thorburn (USA) Webcor Builders Cycling Team                
46 Belinda Goss (Aus) VIS                                           2.51
47 Sara Carrigan (Aus) Lotto-Belisol Ladies Team                        
48 Carmen Mcnellis (USA) US National Team                               
49 Helen Kelly (Aus) VIS                                                
50 Alex Rhodes (Aus) Team High Road Women                               
51 Jaccolien Wallaard (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland             5.34
52 Marina Duvnjak (NZl) BikeNZ                                          
53 Linda Villumsen Serup (Den) Team High Road                           
54 Chantal Beltman (Ned) Team High Road                             7.26
55 Kathryn Watt (Aus) Lotto-Belisol Ladies Team                     7.39
HD Deborah Fagg (Aus) MB Cycles Womens Cycling Team                     
HD Olivia Gollan (Aus) Menikini Selle Italia                            
DNS Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Menikini Selle Italia                       
DNF Judith Arndt (Ger) Team High Road                                   
DNF Eva Lutz (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                       
DNF Marina Riomoli (Ita) Menikini Selle Italia                          
DNF Nikki Egyed (Aus) Vrienden Van Het Platteland                       
DNF Xiao Mei Huang (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling                              
DNF Li Chen (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling                                     
DNF Amy Dombroski (USA) Webcor Builders Cycling Team                    
DNF Kim Schoonbaert (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladies Team                     
DNF Jocelyn Loane (Aus) Australian National Team                        
DNF Bridie O'donnell (Aus) Australian National Team                     
DNF Katharine Carroll (USA) US National Team                            
DNF Brei Gudsell (NZl) BikeNZ                                           
DNF Lisa Friend (Aus) NSWIS - CBD - Degani                              
DNF Kate Finegan (Aus) NSWIS - CBD - Degani                             
DNF Sue Forsyth (Aus) NSWIS - CBD - Degani                              
DNF Louise Kerr (Aus) QAS                                               
DNF Tahlia Paskin (Aus) QAS                                             
DNF Rachel Neylan (Aus) QAS                                             
DNF Nicole Whitburn (Aus) VIS                                           
DNF Katherine O'shea (Aus) VIS                                          
DNF Jessica Berry (Aus) VIS                                             
DNF Jenny Macpherson (Aus) Landlink ACTAS Cycling Team                  
DNF Josephine Tomic (Aus) Landlink ACTAS Cycling Team                   
DNF Liz Young (Aus) MB Cycles Womens Cycling Team                       
DNF Hayley Wright (Aus) MB Cycles Womens Cycling Team                   
DNF Patricia Palmer (Aus) MB Cycles Womens Cycling Team                 
DNF Sheree Mckenzie (Aus) MB Cycles Womens Cycling Team                 
                

ProTour standings

Coming!