When the inaugural edition of this event was held at the same venue back in 1984, the Women's Cup had not even been conceived, but since its introduction back in 2000 Spain have now won it a record four times.
Having taken the title by just a single mark in Italy last September, the British team of Rebekah Cook - Sherco, Joanne Coles - Gas Gas and Emma Bristow - Gas Gas started this year's competition as slight favourites. Further heavy and extended rain overnight looked like the weather had played into the holders hands, with conditions out on the course being incredibly slippery and muddy, plus typically British. The rain had done damage, with the bankings being void of grip and the small river running through the wood having risen substantially during the hours of darkness.
The battle between the two leading teams could not have been closer or more tense, with Spain holding a single mark lead after the first five sections largely thanks to Sanz's clean in the fifth hazard, which was not matched by anyone else on the opening lap.
Despite this slight initial advantage, Great Britain were back in front by the halfway point, but again by only a single mark. Section five on the second although proved crucial with Sanz and co pulling back two further marks as they turned a single mark deficit, after the first tour, into to a two mark winning margin come the finish.
Although the fight for top honours always looked to be between Spain and Great Britain, the final place on the podium was very much up for grabs amongst a string of teams, with both France and Italy threatening to challenge the more fancied German team for third spot.
In the end the German squad of Rosita Leotta - Gas Gas, Ina Wilde - Sherco and Jessica Wulf - Beta proved too strong for its two European neighbours as they claimed the last rostrum position for the second year in a row.
After two laps of fourteen heavy and difficult sections for the majority of the riders, France's trio of Sandrine Juffet - Gas Gas, Marilyne Journet - Beta and Blandine-Fuggi Guillaud - Gas Gas claimed fourth place ahead of their long time rivals Italy.
With a total score of one hundred and fifteen marks, Italy's Sara Trentini - Beta, Sara Rivera - Beta and Martina Balducchi - Beta eventually came home in fifth spot.
Despite the appalling conditions all ten nations made it to the finish, with Norway completing the top six ahead of Australia and the USA respectively, leaving Sweden and Portugal to round out the top ten. Each Women's team's result is determined by the best two scores in each section, with the worst score being dropped.
A similar system whereby the best three from four riders' scores in each hazard will be used to calculate the winners in tomorrow's men competition, when Spain will start as clear favourites and are looking to emulate their female counterparts as they fight for a seventh straight win.
