By Marianne Werz O'Brien

Zoulfia Zoulfia Zabirova, last year’s winner of la Primavera Rosa has taken the prize a second time running. Zabirova cleverly played possum this year, stating prior to the race that she had no plans to defend her victory due to some setbacks in training, and that she would be riding for teammate Fabiana Luperini.

As it turns out, Luperini attacked first at Cipressa and was reeled in by the peloton, which gave Zabirova a perfect time to attack on her own. Once more she broke free from the pack and sailed to solo victory, 26 seconds ahead of Mirjam Melchers and the peloton. Oenone Wood placed third.

Race Results – Top 10

1 Zoulfia Zabirova
2 Mirjam Melchers
3 Oenone Wood
4 Regina Schleicher
5 Anita Valen
6 Priska Doppmann
7 Olga Slyusareva
8 Jo Anne Kiesanowsky
9 Katia Longhin
10 Liane Bahler

Current Women’s UCI World Cup Rankings

1 – Oenone Wood
2 – Zoulfia Zabirova
3 – Petra Rossner
4 – Mirjam Melchers
5 – Priska Doppmann
6 – Miho Oki
7 – Alison Wright
8 – Regina Schleicher
9 – Joanne Kiesanowski
10 – Rochelle Gilmore

Be sure to check in next week for the third round of the women’s World Cup - the Gran Premio Castilla y Leon which takes place on March 28.

Castilla y Leon is a relatively new event, having had its inaugural run in 2002. The 108.5 km course is flat on the whole, however there is a climb in the middle of the circuit. The race takes place around the village of Villarcayo (Burgos), on a 15,5 kilometer circuit to be ridden in 7 laps. The climb in the middle of each lap is 1km long at 5% grade with a stretch up to 8%. The official website is here.