Mary McConneloug (second from left) finished fifth. Photos by Rob Jones.

Heat was expected to be the primary factor in the races and with the temperature climbing to the low 30's (Celsius); the men's race was shortened from seven laps to six.  Many riders spoke of experiencing goose bumps (an early indication of overheating), and most were trying to drink at least a bottle per lap.

The 6.8 kilometer circuit took the riders along a winding figure-eight route.  The loose surface and volcanic outcroppings added extra difficulties, forcing the riders to concentrate closely, or risk going off course and either crashing or flatting.

Women

Dahle was one of a number of riders who had been sick in the week leading up to the race, but it did not seem to slow her much once the race started.  The Norwegian, who is world and Olympic champion, rode away from her competitors shortly after the start loop.  Dahle, however, did not display her usual dominating style with Sabine Spitz (Specialized) keeping the gap to under 30 seconds for the first few laps of the five-lap race.

Spitz, despite having suffered from the flu the week before, rode a strong steady race for second place. 

 "I'm pretty happy, and a little surprised at how good it went,” she said. “ I said to myself before the start that it was important to get a good start and stay close to Gunn-Rita, but not push myself too hard."

Behind the front two there was a bit of a battle developing.  Maja Wloszczowska (Lotto) was sitting third going into the single track on the first lap, with Alison Sydor (Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) fourth.  Sydor was knocked from the course in the single track by Marga Fullana (Spiuk Illes Balears) and flatted, eventually finishing 11^th. Fullana finished third.

Meanwhile, McConneloug and Canadian Marie-Helene Premont were having their own difficulties. 

"I got caught up in it on the first lap with Marie-Helene when a rider took some of us down and delayed us, so it made it hard in the single track,” McConneloug said. “ I caught up to Maja (Wloszczowska Lotto) at the end of the second lap, and I could see Marie-Helene was suffering and slowing, so I was able to catch up to her until she dropped me on the final lap."

Men

In the men's race there were any number of riders in the running for victory, including world and Olympic champion Julien Absalon (Bianchi Agos), Liam Killeen (Specialized), fresh off winning the Commonwealth Games title in Melbourne, Australia a week earlier, his new team mate (and last year's World Cup champion) Christoph Sauser, Roel Paulissen (Giant), and the Multivan Merida duo of Jose Hermida and Ralph Naf.  Adam Craig (Giant), wearing the number 7 plate from his performance last year, was expected to be the top U.S. contender.

Brentjens, a former world champion and Olympic champion, designed the course. He has spent considerable time in Curacao over the past few years, so may have had some slight 'home field' advantage.  While that may be true, the Dutch rider put on an impressive display of power, riding to the front on the first lap and holding off a charge by Absalon in the middle of the race.  Killeen took third, followed by Paulissen and Sauser to complete the podium.

Michael Broderick (Seven Cycles) was the top American rider with an 18^th-place finish, just ahead of Adam Craig (Giant) in 21st.  While Broderick had a higher placing in Mont Ste Anne, Quebec last year, he considers this to be his best career placing. 

"There's more pride in doing well here, because all the top guys were here; no one missing,” he said. “It was a fun, technical course, and I just rode it smooth and conservative to avoid crashing."

Craig admitted that he came into the race lacking form.