Helen Wyman on the start line
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This weekend, Team FBUK riders Gabby Day and Helen Wyman travelled to Pijnaker in Holland for the 3rd round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup.
With winter really setting in Belgium and Holland, it was sure to be a 'real' cross compared to the sunshine and hard packed courses in recent weeks.
Having ridden the event several times before, in all different kinds of conditions, Helen Wyman was again confident she could get a good result and keep herself in contention for the overall World Cup crown and also ensure she kept the pressure on the early leaders in the UCI rankings.
The race started very quickly on a road section, and dived straight into a very short sand bank across a drainage ditch. These ditches are one of the main features of the flat windy course in Pijnaker.
Helen, starting from the front row lead the race across this first technical section and onto the open grassland sections, before a very determined Hanka Kupfernagel took to the lead and set about putting time into the chasing riders.
World Champion, Marianne Vos made an error on the first lap from which she struggled to recover and ended up well down the field, finishing in 9th place.
The chase group was formed of Helen, Birgit Hollman (3rd in the last round of the world cup in Italy) and former world champion, Daphny van den Brand. Despite their best efforts, they were unable to regain contact with Hanka, and Helen eventually finished in 4th place. With Vos only coming in 9th, the World Cup lead now sits with Hanka Kupfenagel who has had a sensational start to the season.
Helen Wyman leading across the first drainage ditch
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FBUK rider Gabby Day had a fantastic start and took her place in a good group of riders competing for 12th place. However in such trying condition, when riders at the front of the group make errors, the knock on effect for those in the wheels can mean constantly chasing gaps. This took its toll on Gabby who finished in a very impressive 24th place in good company.
This weekend, Gabby will return to England to defend her lead in the National Trophy series in England, while Helen will travel to Italy for a UCI race north of Milan.
For further Information go to:
www.teamfbuk.com
www.helenwyman.com
www.gabbyday.com
Full Results
1 KUPFERNAGEL, Hanka Germany 43.39
2 VAN DEN BRAND, Daphny Holland 44.20
3 HOLLMANN, Birgit Germany 44.50
4 WYMAN, Helen Team FBUK 45.02
5 INGELS, Veerle 45.30
6 HORMES, Reza 46.14
7 LEBOUCER, Laurence 46.38
8 TRIQUET-CLAUDE, Nadia 46.46
9 VOS, Marianne 47.14
10 JURANEK, Susanne 47.14
11 GUNNEWIJK, Loes 47.29
12 FERRIER-BRUNEAU,Christel 47.29
13 GRIMBERG, Arenda 47.05
14 CANT, Sanne 48.04
15 INGELS, Kathy 48.19
16 VANDERBEKEN, Joyce 48.29
17 NOBUS, Anja 48.50
18 VARDAROS, Christine 49.16
19 VAN RIJEN, Linda 49.35
20 QUINTENS, Hilde 49.58
21 BRAVO SOBA, Rosa Maria 50.08
22 BOLLANSEE, Nancy 50.10
23 CUCCINIELLO, Francesca 50.15
24 DAY, Gabriella Team FBUK 50.18
25 CAVANI, Milena 50.20
26 KAMPETER, Nicole 51.15
27 BRESCIANI, Nicoletta 52.04
28 VAN PAASSEN, Sanne 52.07
29 ROSSI, Vania 52.53
30 FATATO, Alessandra 52.59
31 GODART, Suzie Team FBUK 53.09
32 JOCHEMS, Britt 52.12
33 AERTS, Katrien 53.14
34 RIEDL, Elke 54.00
35 NUNO PAPACIO, Aida 1 Lap
36 OGISHIMA, Mika Japan 1 Lap
Maria David
