World time trial champion outsprints Kristen Armstrong in identical one-two to 2008 race
Judith Arndt (GreenEdge-AIS) has won her second Ronde van Vlaanderen, four years after her first, in an identical two-up sprint with Kristin Armstrong (United States). The two riders escaped on the long, cobbled climb of the Oude Kwaremont, after an acceleration from Armstrong pulled them clear, and rode together to contest the finish.
As the World time trial champion and Olympic time trial champion respectively, Arndt and Armstrong managed to pull out more than a minute on the large chasing peloton. As they entered the final kilometre they began to look at one another; Armstrong launched her sprint first, but Arndt easily overcame her to take a repeat of her 2008 victory.
"Our plan had been to put riders up the road beginning after 40 kilometers," she said afterwards, explaining the team tactics. "We're all pretty good from a break, so we can be aggressive. My teammates did this, and I saved myself for the last three climbs.
"We came into the final kilometer, and I thought to myself 'OK, I have a 50/50 chance here.' I'm usually a little bit better than Armstrong in a normal sprint, but after a hard race with only two riders, it can be a little difficult. She jumped at 350 meters, and I saw her acceleration immediately. I matched it and passed her. She conceded."
As the duo escaped they were pursued initially by Evie Stevens (Specialized-lululemon) and Andrea Dvorak (United States) - who had been in a break together shortly before - along with Emma Johansson (Hitec Products-Mistral Home). The trio was reeled in by the chasing peloton, however, as the AA Drink-Leontien.nl team tried to set up Dutch sprinter Kirsten Wild.
At the finish however, Joelle Numainville (Canada) managed to overcome Wild, with Adrie Visser (Skil-1t4i) in fifth.
Arndt's victory was hailed after the race by her directeur sportif, Dave McPartland. "This is an unbelievable win," he said, savouring the achievement. "We've had a hugely successful run this year, and this is our biggest victory to date. Happy is an understatement.
"We had five girls in the front bunch when the race hit the Oude Kwaremont. With 27 kilometers left, we had the strongest presence at the front of the race when Judith went away with Kristin."
He added that any of the team's five riders in the front group could have won the race. "Today was Judith's day. We're extremely thrilled by our first Tour of Flanders."
More reactions to follow
Under near-perfect weather conditions, the race started very fast, and the peloton was more or less together for the 45km, with only a few riders losing contact before the first climbs of the Rekelberg, Berendries and Valkenberg.
On the Haaghoek cobbled section however, accelerations at the front, from British champion Lizzie Armitstead (AA Drink-Leontien.nl), and Tiffany Cromwell (GreenEdge-AIS) among others, saw the peloton splint into three. Among those to miss the front group were defending champion Annemiek van Vleuten (Rabobank), who was just coming back from a puncture, and 2007 winner Nicole Cooke (Faren Honda).
Over the Kaperij and Kanarieberg climbs the peloton began to split further, with a group of seven riders pulling away from the rest. As Dvorak and Stevens escaped on the Kruisberg however, the selection began to be made.
The two Americans were 20 seconds clear as they hit the foot of the Oude Kwaremont, but this was where Armstrong made her own move. The Olympic time trial champion jumped clear of the chasing group, taking Arndt with her, and they quickly caught and passed Dvorak and Stevens; Johansson followed them across, but was unable to go with the two new leaders.
Arndt and Armstrong were nine seconds clear over the top of the long climb, which had increased to 30 seconds as they rode over the top of the Paterberg.
The rest of the front peloton was gaining on the three chasers however, catching them just before the summit of the Hoogberg; the final climb of the day.
Up front, the two riders that finished one-two in the 2008 edition of the race were putting their combined time trialling strengths to good use and, with just over 10km to go had managed to increase their lead to 1’37”. Despite the chase from AA Drink-Leontien.nl behind, who wanted to bring the race back together for Wild, the gap was only closing very slowly as Arndt and Armstrong began the flat 9km run to the finish.
With 5km to go, the two leaders still had 1’15” on the chasing group, which now numbered 33, and they had plenty of time to battle out the result between themselves. Into the final kilometre they were both still working hard however, until finally, with around 500 metres to go, they began to look at one another.
Arndt was on the front, close to the right hand barrier and inviting Armstrong to go left; with 350 metres to go, the American did just that. Arndt was on her in a flash however, and, once the former World champion had begun her sprint, a repeat of 2008 was the only result possible.
After her 11th in the ronde van Drenthe, and fourth in the Trofeo Binda, Arndt’s victory lifts her to second overall in the World Cup standings, with 115 points. The German is now just 35 points behind Marianne Vos (Rabobank), who won both Drenthe and Binda, but who missed the Ronde van Vlaanderen through illness.
World Cup standings after three rounds
1. Marianne Vos (Ned) Stichting Rabo Women 150 pts
2. Judith Arndt (Ger) GreenEdge-AIS 115
3. Kirsten Wild (Ned) AA Drink-Leontien.nl 80
4. Emma Johansson (Swe) Hitec Products-Mistral Home 71
5. Trixi Worrack (Ger) Specialized-lululemon 62
6. Adrie Visser (Ned) Skil-Argos 56
7. Kristin Armstrong (USA) USA 50
8. Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) MCipollini-Giambenini 50
9. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Fra) Stichting Rabo Women 42
10. Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Diadora-Pasta Zara 39