Highlights 2005

As of the first few kilometres, the succession to France's Sonia Huguet looked wide open. The first half-hour was riden at a very fast pace and at kilometre 15, the first breakaway of the day occurred. France's Béatrice Thomas, joined by Austalian Nathalie bates launched the first attack. Bates made it first at the top of the first climbs while in the Côte de Bellaire, Shishkova caught up with the escapees. The break was however to end a few kilometres later in the climb up the Côte de Bohissau. At the bottom of the Mur de Huy, the pack including all the main favourites remained bunched. Cooke and Wood battled it out in the final part with Great Britain's Nicole Cooke proving to be the fastest in the last 200 metres. The 2004 World champion, Judith Arndt, climbed on the third spot of the podium.