The race started in Oudenaarde and finished in Meerbeke, taking in 11 categorized climbs and three flat cobbled sectors, covering a total distance of 122 kilometres (76 miles). It was the second event of the 2007 UCI Women's Road World Cup.[2]
Race summary
164 riders started the race in Oudenaarde. The early tempo was high as pre-race favourite Nicole Cooke put her Raleigh-Lifeforce team to work. On the Valkenberg [nl], with 39 km to go, Cooke's teammate Karin Thürig went clear and built a 50-second lead by the foot of the Muur van Geraardsbergen. Nicole Cooke bridged the gap to Thürig on the Muur, at 16 km from the finish before breaking clear on the final climb, the Bosberg, but was caught by the chasing group shortly after. Thürig attacked from the six-strong lead group, but was caught again. As Thürig was caught, Cooke launched the decisive attack, which only Zoulfia Zabirova could follow. Cooke easily beat Zabirova in the sprint; Dutch rider Marianne Vos finished third at five seconds.[1]
