All classifications
| 1 | Nicole COOKE |
| 2 | Judith ARNDT |
| 3 | Trixi WORRACK |
| 4 | Oenone WOOD |
| 5 | Amber NEBEN |
| » overall rankings |
The race
Wednesday 19 April 2006Huy > Huy - 106 km
Cooke claims third victory
Today, Nicole Cooke won the 9th Flèche Wallonne just ahead of Judith Arndt and Trixi Worrack. It is the third time she wins this race.
The film of the stage
Jaunâtre the first !
The official start time for the 9th Flèche Wallonne was 12.03. The bunch remained together until kilometre 10 when several riders were dropped. At the top of the first climb, Brodtka (AAD) led the peloton ahead of Rodriguez Gomez (ESP) and the reigning World Cup leqder, Teutenberg (TMP). Marina Jaunâtre (FUT) was the first to launch a significant attack. She began her move just after the Côte de Pailhe and stayed away on her own until 43km.
And then comes Zabelinskaya…
In the first metres of the Côte de Hautebisse, more riders were dropped. Meanwhile, Bubnenkova (FEN) led the bunch with a slight advantage over her team-mate Zabelinskaya and Zabirova (BCT). But at the summit the bunch was still together. At 65km, on a descent, Zabelinskaya launched an attack which prompted a big reaction and caused the bunch to split into many little groups.
Zabelinskaya resists…
When climbing the first metres of the Côte de Bohisseau, Zabelinskaya increased her advantage. At the top, the gap was 40’’. Rasmussen (ALI) and Haüssler (NUR) were the first to respond and they pulled the Russian back to 25’’ at 81km. Only 47 riders made up the chasing group. Shortly after this group grew to 62.
28 Make The Lead Group
Approaching the côte de Ahin there were about 60 riders 35’’ behind Zabelinskaya but this dropped rapidly and she was caught just before the summit. Cooke (UPT), Wood (NUR), Brändli (BCT) et Zabirova (BCT) tried to split the bunch with several strong attacks. Their aggression split the group to just 28 riders on the approach to the mur de Huy.
Cooke Claims Her Third Victory
On the final ascent a duel between Cooke and Wood (NUR) began. The Australian double World Cup winner raced into the lead at the midway point of the mur de Huy but she was reeled in by Cooke within the last 400m. Cooke, the defending champion, held onto her advantage and held off a late charge by the 2004 and 2005 world champions, Arndt (TMP) and Worrack (NUR) to claim her third victory in la Flèche Wallonne.