Luperini wins Plouay World Cup

Fabiana Luperini (Menikini-Selle Italia-Master Colors) outsprints Luise Keller (Columbia) for the win (CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net)

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Fabiana Luperini (Menikini-Selle Italia-Master Colors) won the Grand Prix Plouay World Cup in a two-up sprint with Luise Keller (Columbia). The Italian and German champions broke away from the peloton mid-way through the fourth of six laps and stayed clear to finish 31 seconds clear of Suzanne De Goede (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung).

"I am very happy because it is a very important race and I am without races for a month," said Luperini.

After winning the Giro d'Italia in July, Luperini has only raced in the previous World Cup round in Sweden, while others were at the Olympic Games in Beijing and the recent Route de France.

"I am very happy because I didn't think [I could win the sprint], I think it's very beautiful, the victory today," she said. "It is a very important race for this year. I am very happy to [get to the finish], to win because I am very tired."

Luperini's breakaway companion Keller adds this result to her victory in the Route de France last week. Despite having won the recent stage race though, the German champion was still feeling fresh.

"Yeah, I feel pretty good," she said. "Our tactic was in general to ride really aggressive today because always when we are doing this we are successful, so the whole team tried to escape today."

Despite having the build of a lightweight climbing specialist, Keller has shown in the past that she can produce a fast finish. Despite being unable to drop the Italian champion in the final half lap, she felt confident of victory. However, when Luperini decided to sit on in the closing stages and Keller found herself stuck on the front.

"I thought I could beat her in the sprint," she said. "But in the last three kilometres she wouldn't work any more."

Results

For full results, report & photos, see Cyclingnews' GP Plouay coverage.

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