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 Cooke’s the boss
Great Britain’s Nicole Cooke clinched a very impressive victory in the final climb ahead of Australia’s Oenone Wood to claim the 8th edition of the women’s Flèche Wallonne. German rider Judith Arndt finished third. Wood captures the UCI World Cup leadership.
20th of April 2005 – Women’s Flèche Wallonne – 8th edition – 105 km
Difficulties: côte de Pailhe, côte de Coutisse, côte de Bellaire, côte de Bohissan and côte de Ahin.
141 riders at the start.
Thomas and Bates, first leaders!
The official start was given at 12h03. The pack took off at a rather fast pace. At km 15,4, Béatrice Thomas (FRA) took off for the first breakaway of the day. She was quickly caught by Nathalie Bates (BAA). At the top of the côte de Pailhe, Bates led ahead of Thomas. In the leading positions of the peloton was Russian Zemlyanskaya (RUS). At kilometre 55, Anke Wichmann followed by Sabrina Emmasi (TBG) and Katia Longhin (MIC) managed to break away and catch up with the leading riders. In the climb up the côte de Coutisse, only two riders lead the race: Emmasi leading in front of Bates.
 Courageous Bates
In the climb up the côte de Bellaire, Tatiana Shishkova (FEN) caught the two leading girls. Once again, Emassi made it first at the top ahead of Bates and Shishkova. Under the influence of the team led by Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel (BFL), the three escapees were eventually caught in the climb up the côte de Bohissou. Amber Neben (BFL) made it first at the top, closely followed by Trixi Worrack (NUR) and Annette Beutler (SUI). At that precise place, only around 40 riders were still bunched. Behind, quite a few groups tried to keep up with the pace. One last time, Karin Thüring (UPT) alongside Adrie Visser (BAA) tried to take off but were rapidly caught by the peloton, halfway up the côte de Ahin. A bunched pack eventually made it at the bottom of the final climb up the mur de Huy.
A Cooke-Wood duel
Melchers-Van Poppel was the first to try attack, followed by Oenone Wood and Nicole Cooke. In the toughest part of the climb, Wood and Cooke fight it out together for the win with 200 metres to go. Britain’s Cooke eventually made it first on the finish line, beating Wood while Arndt had to settle for third spot.
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