The women’s race is 24.05km. Commencing at 3:15 on Tuesday the first woman on the road will be Veronica Leal Balderas of Mexico. The remaining 34 contestants will depart sequentially, separated by ninety-second intervals. Reigning World Champion Joane Somarriba, here to defend her title, will be the last racer to start.

A large contingent of Olympic hopefuls will face one another yet again in the race of truth. The 2004 Olympic Gold Medallist Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel will not be racing the Worlds, but Silver medallist Dede Demet-Barry (USA) and Bronze medallist Karin Thuerig (SUI) are here and ready to challenge Somarriba. In addition the US has Christine Thorburn who took 4th in the Olympic TT. Australia has World Cup Champion Oenone Wood who came in 6th at the Olympic Time Trial and Olivia Gollan.

Somarriba also must face challenges from former World Time Trial Champions Zoulfia Zabirova (RUS – 2002) and Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli (FRA - 1995-1997, and 2001). Zabirova placed 8th in the Olympic Time Trial, and has two World Cup wins this year.

Germany’s hopes rest on Judith Arndt, who took Silver in the Olympic Road Race, and Trixi Worrack, fresh off her overall victory in the Giro della Toscana! The Netherlands have sent the UCI’s top ranked woman, Mirjam Melchers to the race. Melchers has 125 points on the second ranked Oenone Wood.

As evidenced by the start list, this race has the finest women racers in the world and they are ready to roll. Tune into the Daily Peloton tomorrow for all the women’s race action LIVE on the DP ticker!

Start List in order of Departure:

35 - Veronica Leal Balderas (MEX)
34 - Blaza Klemencic (SLO)
33 - Bogumila Matusiak (POL)
32 - Natasha Maes (BEL)
31 - Maria Mercedes Cagigas Amedo (SPA)
30 - Trixi Worrack (GER)
29 - Amy Moore (CAN)
28 - Loes Gunnewijk (NED)
27 - Tatiana Shishkova (MDA)
26 - Svetlana Bubnenkova (RUS)
25 - Jolanta Polkeviciute (LTU)
24 - Oenone Wood (AUS)
23 - Tatiana Guderzo (ITA)
22 - Tiina Nieminem (FIN)
21 - Ana Paola Madrinan Villegas (COL)
20 - Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli (FRA)
19 - Dori Ruano Sanchon (SPA)
18 - Natalya Kachalka (UKR)
17 - Christiane Soeder (AUT)
16 - Evy Van Damme (BEL)
15 - Malgorzata Wysocka (POL)
14 - Anita Valen (NOR)
13 - Anna Zugno (ITA)
12 - Christine Thorburn (USA)
11 - Edwige Pitel (FRA)
10 - Priska Doppmann (SUI)
9 - Susan Palmer-Komar (CAN)
8 - Edita Pucinskaite (LTU)
7 - Mirjam Melchers (NED)
6 - Judith Arndt (GER)
5 - Zoulfia Zabirova (RUS)
4 - Olivia Gollan (AUS)
3 - Dede Demet-Barry (USA)
2 - Karin Thurig (SUI)
1 - Joane Somarriba Arrola (SPA)

Former World Time Trial Champions

1994 - Palermo Italy – 30km – Karen Kurreck (USA)
1995 – Tunja Columbia – 26km – Jeannie Longo (FRA)
1996 – Lugano, Suisse – 26.4km - Jeannie Longo (FRA)
1997 – San Sebastian, Spain – 28km - Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli (FRA)
1998 - Valkenburg, Holland – 23 km – Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel (NED)
1999 Treviso, Italy – 25.85km – Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel (NED)
2000 - Plouay, France – 24.5km – Mari Holden (USA)
2001 – Lisboa, Portugal – 19.2km - Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli (FRA)
2002 – Hasselt-Zolder, Belgium – 23.3km – Zoulfia Zabirova (RUS)
2003 – Hamilton, Ontario – 20.8km – Joanne Somarriba (SPA)

Current UCI Road Rankings (9-12-2004)
Rank – Name – Country – Age – Points
(BOLD indicates participating in Worlds TT)

1 MELCHERS Mirjam NED 29 809.5
2 WOOD Oenone AUS 24 684.66
3 ARNDT Judith GER 28 626.1
4 PUCINSKAITE Edita LTU 29 506
5 LJUNGSKOG Susanne SWE 28 404
6 ZABIROVA Zoulfia RUS 31 385.33
7 DEMET-BARRY Deirdre USA 32 349
8 COOKE Nicole GBR 21 341.66
9 ROSSNER Petra GER 38 332.5
10 BRODTKA Angela GER 23 315
10 SOMARRIBA ARROLA Joane ESP 32 315
12 WORRACK Trixi GER 23 310.5
13 VALEN Anita NOR 36 307
14 CARRIGAN Sara AUS 24 281
15 SLYUSAREVA Olga RUS 35 242.33
16 THÜRIG Karin SUI 32 238
17 DOPPMANN Priska SUI 33 232.33
18 BESSETTE Lyne CAN 29 198
19 GOLLAN Olivia AUS 31 188.66
20 ZIJLAARD - VAN MOORSEL Leontien NED 34 187