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1 2 3 4 5 6 7a 7b 8 9 10 11 12 Stage 6, Cascia - Assisi, 99 kms:1. Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Mimosa Sprint 2.25.54 2. Barbara Heeb (Swi) Acca Due O Lorena 0.01 3. Diana Ziliute (Lit) Acca Due O Lorena 0.08 4. Monica Bandini (Ita) Edilsavino 0.09 5. Alessandra Cappellotto (Ita) Acca Due O Lorena 0.14 6. Luisiana Pegoraro (Ita) Fanini Record Brox 0.14 7. Roberta Bonanomi (Ita) Mimosa-Sprint 0.14 8. Edita Pucinskaite (Lit) Acca Due O Lorena 0.16 9. Imelda Chiappa (Ita) Edilsavino 0.17 10. Chevanne Brunelle (Fra) Fanini Record Brox 0.20 11. Linda Jackson (Can) Saeco Timex 0.20 GC after Stage 6
1. Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Mimosa Sprint 13.59.43 2. Barbara Heeb (Swi) Acca Due O Lorena 0.19 3. Linda Jackson (Can) Saeco Timex 0.31 4. Monica Bandini (Ita) Edilsavino 0.43 5. Alessandra Cappellotto (Ita) Acca Due O Lorena 2.05 Anna Wilson Reports Well we are officially halfway through the tour and I don't believe it but we have another hotel with a friendly phone connection. Things can only go downhill from here! Stage 6 started in Cascia and we received a blessing from the local priest before we set off today. True to form it was another hot day. The first 30 km were basically downhill with some scary moments through some of the tunnels here. Then we hit a cat 2 climb and although no one went ballistic the pace was enough to reduce the bunch to 20 odd. I felt pretty good up the climb - especially after I begged some cold water off Chiappa and poured it over myself! The descent down the other side was a lot of fun - fast and just the right amount of twisty. Once we hit the flats again the attacks began. I am in the great position of not having anything much to defend so I can sit back and watch the main teams - Sprint, Edel Savino, Saeco, Dream Team and Fanini - fight it out between themselves. The stage was flat for just over 50 kms and then we went up a 6 km climb, down a 1 or 2 km descent and then up the last 1500 metres to the finish. I sat in and conserved along the flat and consumed about 6 bidons. 3 girls got away along there - Diana Ziluite, Bonanomi, and I think Polkanova. By the base of the climb they had 50 seconds. That was quickly reduced to 10 seconds by the top. We went down the descent and then hit the last climb and it proved to be a beauty. It went straight up little twisty roads with hairpins and 500 metres to go we hit cobbles just to make sure we weren't finding the gradient too easy. Luperini hit the bottom hard. Halfway up I got a bit stuck with Linda Jackson behind a motorbike that had laid it down on a hairpin. I was then able to sit on her to the top and she was pretty desperate to regain contact with the leaders. Luperini won her second stage in a row and Linda and I would have lost probably 20 seconds. But I only lost time on riders I had already lost a heap to the day before and I made up a few GC places on other riders who got shelled today. So I was pretty satisfied with the day. Linda Jackson probably lost her second spot on GC because of the mishap so she would be pretty dark. Tomorrow we have an 80 km flat stage in the morning and then a flat 16 km time trial in the afternoon. I am really looking forward to the time trial and I hope to have a good one. Stage 7a, Novellara - Correggio, 85.2 kms:1. Anna Wilson (Aus) AIS 2.00.11 (41.586) 2. Katia Longhin (Ita) Fanini 3. Sigrid Corneo (Ita) Master 4. Alessandra D’Ettorre (Ita) Vittorio Veneto Sprint 5. Zita Urbonaite (Lit) Acca Due o Lorena 6. Daniela Veronesi (Ita) Vittorio Veneto Sprint 7. Greta Zocca (Ita) Vittorio Veneto Sprint 0.16 8. Nada Cristofoli (Ita) Vittorio Veneto Sprint 9. Sara Felloni (Ita) Edilsavino 10. Regina Schlaicher (Ger) Albatros Lega Filo d’Oro s.t. Official News Release Nica Lewis, Press Officer for the Tour writes: Australian Wilson took the 1st leg of the 7th stage of the Women’s Giro d’Italia on a 83.3 km circuit from Novellara to Correggio. Towards the end of the race, when the riders started to string out on the GPM at Scandiano - won by Canadian Linda Jackson - they launched a series of successive attacks, the last of which included Wilson, Lithuanian Urbonaite (H20 Lorena) as well as Italians Longhin (Fanini Record Brox), D’Ettore (Vittorio Veneto Sprint), Veronesi (Vittorio Veneto Sprint) and Corneo (Master). Meanwhile, behind this group, Luperini, in the pink jersey, and her team controlled the race, blocking numerous attacks. It was clear that the race was to be decided in a decisive final sprint, won by Wilson, already a winner in this year’s Giro at the 4th stage (Civitavecchia-Civitavecchia). "I felt great, really great at the start," said the winner, "I knew that this morning’s race was my kind of race. My team worked hard for me to catch Marsal. When they did, I had a perfect line on the right and the momentum of the group, so I went for it. Of course, other riders followed - mostly Vittorio Veneto Sprint who were trying to control the race. The six of us had about 30 seconds on the others, but it was enough for me to reach the finish first." This afternoon, one of the most anticipated stages of this Women’s Giro d’Italia: the 15.8 km time trial from Rio Saliceto to Correggio. Fabiana Luperini, who has only 19 seconds’ lead on Heeb, 31 seconds on Jackson, and 43 on Bandini, will attempt to limit the damages on a course that certainly doesn’t favor her. Instead, she will concentrate on the stages in Pordoi and Tambre where she can count on her excellent climbing skills. Anna Wilson, 28 year-old from Melbourne, nabbed her first victory ever in Italy in Civitavecchia earlier this week. With today's success, she's up to 6 stage wins for this season. A pro racer since 1993, she won a stage in the HP International Women's Challenge and she took 11th in the second World Cup race in Philadelphia (First Union Liberty Classic) and 5th in Montreal World Cup. She also secured two stage wins and second place in the overall standings at the Tour of Snowy in Australia. In the Tour of New Zealand she had one stage win and was second overall. Stage 7b, Rio Saliceto - Correggio, ITT 15.8 kms:1. Linda Jackson (Can) Saeco Timex 19.52.586 (47.718) 2. Gabriella Pregnolato (Ita) Mimosa Sprint 20.11.944 19.358 3. Anna Wilson (Aus) AIS 20.21.400 28.814 4. Barbara Heeb (Swi) Acca Due O Lorena 20.25.999 33.413 5. Alessandra Cappellotto (Ita) Acca Due O Lorena 20.32.229 39.643 6. Diana Ziliute (Lit) Acca Due O Lorena 20.34.210 41.624 7. Imelda Chiappa (Ita) Edilsavino 20.38.243 45.657 8. Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Mimosa-Sprint 20.38.882 46.296 9. Mari Holden (USA) Saeco-Timex 20.41.648 49.062 10. Edita Pucinskaite (Lit) Acca Due O Lorena 20.59.887 1.07.301 GC after Stage 7b
1. Linda Jackson (Can) Saeco Timex 16.21.33 2. Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Mimosa-Sprin 0.15 3. Barbara Heeb (Swi) Acca Due O Lorena 0.21 4. Monica Bandini (Ita) Edilsavino 1.23 5. Alessandra Cappellotto (Ita) Acca Due O Lorena 2.14 Anna Wilson Reports Hi Bill, well it has been a huge day here at the Giro. Last night we had a 4 hour drive after the stage to our accomodation and today we had two stages, one at 9:30 and one at 3:30, followed by what was meant to be a one hour drive to the hotel. However with a few road works thrown in it turned into a 3 hour car transfer. Oh yeah! So everyone is starting to feel the pinch! Well this morning we had 85 kms predominantly flat. It was a pretty active race - Liz Tadich got in a break with a Saeco rider, Giana Roberge, at about the 28km mark. They stayed away for about 10 kms before the bunch caught up with them. Then Tracey Gaudry, Juanita Feldhahn and Liz all had a few more attacks and counter attacks, but nothing got very far with Luperini's Sprint team being very vigilant. Then with about 15 km to go Catherine Marsal managed to break clear. Liz and Tracey both tried to get across and Liz just about succeeded but the bunch chased her down just as she reached Marsal. I then found myself in the perfect position for a counter attack - coming in down the right hand side of the road with lots of momentum from the chase and with clear road ahead. So I lashed out and was almost surprised when I looked back 500 metres later to see the bunch about 100 metres behind. 5 riders came with me and the only one I actually knew the name of was Zita Urbonaite from the Dream Team. There were 2 Sprint riders, a Fanini rider, an Edel Savino rider and a rider from another team that shall remain nameless. By this time it was only about 7 kms to go so I had a bit of time trial practise for about 6 kms. By this time we had about 30 seconds on the bunch so I started to think about the sprint. One of the Sprint riders had been going for all the intermediate sprints so I was a bit worried about her. I was second wheel with 500 to go and then Urbonaite jumped down the left. I went after her and tried to time my run at her to come off the wheel at about 200 to go. It was a fast finish - no problems winding up the 12. This time I had enough room to put my hands in the air across the finish line - stage win number 2 - Yippee! After presentations it was a dash back to the hotel for showers before we shot off to the start of the second stage for the day - a 16 km flat time trial. Thunderstorms threatened and for a while we thought we would be riding the course wet but in the end the sun came back and we had dry conditions. It was a fairly technical course - lots of twists and turns - which suited me just fine. I had a good ride and finished 3rd. The talk of the day though was Linda Jackson - she won the time trial in a time of 19:52 I think, which is a pretty wicked average. She beat Luperini by 40 seconds so she now has the leader's jersey. Only by about 10 seconds though and we have another hill top finish to come in 2 days so I am sure Luperini will be out for revenge up there. Well then we were meant to have an easy one hour car transfer but it turned into 3 so we are all ready to crash big time tonight. 5 days to go! Official News Release Nica Lewis, Press Officer for the Tour writes: There are those who call her "grandma", but for Linda Jackson, the 40-year old Canadian, the years don’t weigh heavy on her. In the second leg of the 7th day of the Women’s Giro d’Italia, the Canadian emerged as the star in an exceptional race, flying across the 15.8 km course from Rio Saliceto to Correggio. She finished in 19 minutes 52 seconds with an extraordinary average speed of 47.718 km/h. In doing so, Jackson snagged the pink jersey from Fabiana Luperini who did well in spite of a course that doesn’t play to her strengths. Luperini finished 8th, 46 seconds behind the Canadian and is now 15 seconds behind in the overall standings. Barbara Heeb (Swiss, H20 Lorena), fourth today at 33 seconds, is now third in the overall standings and 21 seconds behind the leader. "At the beginning of the race, I hit a bump and my bars dropped," said Jackson, glowing in her pink jersey, "but I didn’t let it get to me. I was frustrated by the time I lost yesterday in Assisi, and just kept saying to myself 'maglia rosa, maglia rosa’. My coach Mike Neel was cheering me on from the car saying I had the fastest time. So I pushed into a bigger gear (55x14) and just cranked. I was flying!" Added Jackson, "I’m proud to wear the pink jersey, especially since I’ve never taken a jersey from the leader in any of the big races I’ve done, and now that I have it, it will be hard to let go. I’m going to take each day one at a time, but will do my best to keep this beautiful pink jersey." Hometown favorite Gabriella Pregnolato of Mimosa Sprint, born in Correggio, clocked an excellent time of 20’11"94, at an average speed of almost 47 km/h and clinched second place. In the morning stage, Australian Anna Wilson nabbed her second victory of this year’s Giro d’Italia -- the 83.3 km Novellara-Correggio - by fending off a group of six riders at the finish with a 16-second margin. Her first victory came on Saturday at the 4th stage (Civitavecchia-Civitavecchia). Tomorrow’s race - Casalecchio di Reno-Imola (116 km) - also promises to be a good one with three closing circuits before the finish. These are the very same streets where Vittorio Adorni captured the World Championship title in 1968. Fabiana Luperini has already declared that the Imola stage presents strong possibilities for her to gain a few more seconds’ lead before the Giro heads north to the mountains - her forte. Linda Jackson was born in Montreal (Canada) on November 13, 1958. She was a swimmer at the amateur level until she was 16. After graduating with a degree in economics, Jackson started working in an investment bank. At 35, although happy with her career, she decided to leave her job and dedicate herself completely to cycling. Many are her successes in the past few years, among them, the Tour de l’Aude, the Killington Stage Race and the National Championships - road and time trial. In 1996 in Lugano, she won the bronze medal in the race for the rainbow jersey. This year, Jackson has focused her training on the HP International Women’s Challenge and the Women’s Giro d’Italia. In the HP Challenge she won the prologue and a stage, and captured the overall title. This season, in addition to today’s stage win and the HP victories, she won several other races in California. Among her hobbies, she counts gardening and her two dogs. Stage 8, Casalecchio di Reno - Imola, 116 kms:1. Luisiana Pegoraro (Ita) Fanini Record Rox 3.14.42 (36.055) 2. Edita Pucinskaite (Lit) Acca Due O Lorena 1.15 3. Pia Sundsted (Fin) Mimosa Sprint 4. Roberta Bonanomi (Ita) Mimosa Sprint 5. Valentina Polkhanova (Rus) Edilsavino 1.28 6. Anna Wilson (Aus) AIS 1.42 7. Alessandra Cappellotto (Ita) Acca Deue O Lorena 2.01 8. Barbara Heeb (Swi) Acca Due O Lorena 9. Monica Bandini (Ita) Edilsavino 10. Imelda Chiappa (Ita) Edilsavino s.t. GC after Stage 8
1. Linda Jackson (Can) Saeco-Timex 19.38.06 2. Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Mimosa Sprint 0.15 3. Barbara Heeb (Swi) Acca Due O Lorena 0.21 4. Monica Bandini (Ita) Edilsavino 1.23 5. Edita Pucinskaite (Lit) Acca Due O Lorena 1.57 6. Alessandra Cappellotto (Ita) Acca Due O Lorena 2.24 7. Pia Sundstedt (Fin) Mimosa-Sprint 2.17 8. Imelda Chiappa (Ita) Edilsavino 2.23 9. Joane Somarriba (Spa) Vittorio veneto Sprint 3.02 10. Valentina Polkhanova (Rus) Edilsavino 4.16 Anna Wilson Reports Hi Bill, Well today has been one epic day at the Giro! 15 kms into the stage we went up a hill of 16% gradient and I was actually within sight when Luperini dropped Jackson. Soon after that I was reduced to a grovelling mess as the hill went on and on and on and on. Well it was only a couple of k but it felt like about 10! So I crested and set about chasing the leaders. I got a bit carried away and went a touch fast round a hairpin and laid it down and slid under the barricades. So I picked myself up and Juanita Feldhahn comes round the corner and sees me and pulls up. I realise my back wheel is badly buckled so I take Juanita's wheel by which time the rest of the Aussies have appeared as well and so they all wait for me and we set about doing a team time trial to catch the now distant leaders. Juanita has to wait for the team car to get a wheel and then I can hear on the radio James encouraging her and motorpacing her when there are no commissaires looking. Juanita gets back on in pretty good time and we go over another bastard climb and down the other side and then the team time trial begins in earnest. Meanwhile a thunder storm is beginning and huge raindrops are starting up. I think the bad weather was in our favour because it meant the bunch was pretty happy to cruise along for a bit and after 30 odd k's we caught them. By this time I was a jibbering mess. With the shock of the fall and the rain and cold weather I think I got a touch of hypothermia. I went back to the car and asked for some clothes and got a vest and a plastic bag to put up my jersey. Then James started sending all sorts of concoctions up to me via Kristy Scrymgeour. She appeared with warm coffee in a bidon and Power Gel after Power Gel and lots of sports drink and clear lens glasses and after about the 15th Power Gel I started to get myself together again. Lucky we had a lot of flat road in the middle of the stage for me to jibber on. The finish of the stage was 3 laps of a 12 k circuit which contained a 5 k climb. At first I thought I had absolutely no hope of staying with anyone up the climb but as I gradually was nursed back to sensibility I finally managed to work my way up to the front part of the bunch - with lots of encouragement from Tracey and Liz - and I grew more optimistic. The first time up the climb the bunch was thinned to about 25 I think and I made the cut. The second time up the climb the climbers put the hammer down and a group of 7 broke clear of the rest of us. I was in the chasing bunch which was now only 11 strong and we got on on the descent. Bonanomi and Pegoraro (I think that is the right name) were with me and as soon as we got on they went right through the bunch and broke away. I should have followed them but at the time I was thanking my lucky stars I was back in contact with the leaders. The third time up the climb Edita Pukinskaite and Pia Sundstedt broke away and soon after Polkanova set out after them. Pegoraro dropped Bonanomi and went on to win. Bonanomi was caught by Edita and Pia and they finished 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Polkanova got 5th and I broke clear on the descent to finish 6th. I gained enough points from that finish to take over the points jersey. Tomorrow is a very ugly day - we finish up a 12 k climb that goes to 2000 metres. So I think Jackson will have her work cut out for her keeping the jersey on her back tomorrow. Luperini will definitely be out for a big one. As for us Australians - well anything better than 20th will be legendary!
Speak to you later
Official News Release Nica Lewis, Press Officer for the Tour writes: Luisiana Pegoraro won the 8th stage of the Women’s Giro d’Italia (Casalecchio di Reno-Imola, 116 km), crossing the finish line alone. The Fanini Record Rox rider attacked at the end of the second of three loops on the final circuit, designed on the same course where, in 1968, Italian Vittorio Adorni was crowned World Champion. Following her, at the finish on Paddock 1 of Imola’s Autodrome, with a gap of 1’15", were Pucinskhaite, Sunstedt and Bonanomi, who finished the stage 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively. These riders counter-attacked in the last kilometer and tried to bridge the gap with Pegoraro. "Luperini was very active and launched an impressive series of attacks," said Pegoraro, who won the Trofeo F.lli Gavazzi this year. "I chose the right moment and took off anticipating her umpteenth attack at the top of the climb. I gained ground right away, because I’m strong on the descents. On the last climb of Monte Frassineto, I was able to hold on. I wish to dedicate my stage-win to my team-mates and to our president: Fanini has been quite unlucky this year. I hope my success will change this trend!" Jackson, Luperini, Heeb and Bandini (all the favourites) attacked the whole stage through, especially on the climbs. Luperini was the most aggressive, showing that she didn’t stomach yesterday’s transfer of the pink jersey to Jackson. The rider from Pisa was active in the beginning of the stage with an escape after only 15 km. (She was caught at 21 km.) Tomorrow, one of the most important stages of this Women’s Giro d’Italia: the 95-km Predazzo-Pordoi with a difficult, final climb of 12 km on the road from Canazei to Pordoi Pass. Luperini’s performance is anxiously awaited, as she has declared that she plans to attack against her most dangerous adversaries in this very stage and also on Saturday’s stage between Longarone and Tambre. Thus, the battle cry on the Pordoi is heard, where the weather doesn’t promise to be favorable for riding (it snowed there today!). Luisiana Pegoraro (SC Fanini Record Rox) was born in Bassano del Grappa on August 18, 1972. She lives in Cartigliano (Vicenza) and this past season she placed at Cavriè, Gorla Minore, San Maurizio al Lambro, the Giro del Piave that finished in Mel, Montecalvoli and in the overall standings for the Monte e Colline Pisane. This year she won the Fratella Gavazzi Cup at San Maurizio al Lambro. Today was her first stage win in the Giro D’Italia. She has a degree in interior design from the Art Institute and works with her parents in the family’s design store. She doesn’t have time for many other hobbies, since cycling is her main interest. Stage 9, Predazzo - Passo Pordoi, 95 kms:1. Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Mimosa-Sprint 2.50.38 (35.057) 2. Linda Jackson (Can) Saeco-Timex 0.01 3. Barbara Heeb (Swi) Acca Due O Lorena) 2.21 4. Joana Somarriba (Spa) Vittorio Veneto Sprint 2.27 5. Edita Pucinskaite (Lit) Acca Due O Lorena 6. Allesandra Cappellotto (Ita) Acca Due O Lorena 2.49 7. Valentina Polkanova (Rus) Edilsavino 3.47 8. Barbara Bandini (Ita) Edilsavino 3.51 9. Imelda Chiappa (Ita) Edilsavino 3.59 10. Pia Sundstedt (Fin) Mimosa Sprint s.t. GC after Stage 9
1. Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Mimosa-Sprint 22.28.09 2. Linda Jackson (Can) Saeco-Timex 0.45 3. Barbara Heeb (Swi) Acca Due O Lorena 2.27 4. Edita Pucinskaite (Lit) Acca Due O 4.09 5. Allesandra Cappellotto (Ita) Acca Due O Lorena 4.48 6. Barbara Bandini (Ita) Edilsavino 4.59 7. Joana Somarriba (Spa) Vittorio Veneto Sprint 5.14 8. Pia Sundstedt (Fin) Mimosa Sprint 6.01 9. Imelda Chiappa (Ita) Edilsavino 6.07 10. Valentina Polkanova (Rus) Edilsavino 7.48 Official News Release Nica Lewis, Press Officer for the Tour writes: Today on the steep climb that wends up to Pordoi Pass in the scenic Dolomites, Italian Fabiana Luperini wrote one of the most beautiful pages in the history of women's cycling, already rich with other memorable stories. The Tuscan champion, winner of the last three editions of the race for the pink jersey, dominated the 95 km Predazzo-Pordoi, 9th stage of the Women's Giro d'Italia. The athlete from the GS Mimosa Sprint "Energia della Frutta" launched an attack at the beginning of the final 12km climb from Canazei to Pordoi Pass - a difficult climb that rises 794m (almost 2400 feet) to the 2239m summit (more than 6700 feet). Luperini's progress on the 25 switchbacks that led to Pordoi was truly impressive, especially considering Jackson's admirable resistance. Jackson arrived second with only one minute delay. Right afterwards, the Canadian congratulated Luperini on an incredible performance. On the heels of these two regents of this year's Giro, Heeb, Somarriba and Pucinskaite arrived at 2'21". "My team mates did a great job and prepared the best route for me. I started in a really tough gear when the road was steep because I wanted to get an immediate advantage," said Luperini. "With each kilometer, I gained precious seconds. I was truly impressed with Jackson, who I already admired as a cyclist, but now also for her great loyalty. As soon as she crossed the finish line, she came to congratulate me. To tell the truth, I'm not used to such gracious gestures." Tomorrow's 97.5 km course will be completely flat -- perfect for the sprinters in the group -- with start and finish in Bibione, on the Adriatic coast near Venice. The stage is preparation for the much-awaited and very demanding 11th stage, Longarone-Tambre, scheduled for Saturday, July 11th. It will probably paint a clearer picture of the overall standings for the race for the pink jersey in the epilogue on Sunday July 12th (the 116km Conegliano-Vittorio Veneto). Born in Pontedara (Pi) on 14/01/1974 Fabiana Luperini lives in Cascine di Buti. The best rider that Italian womens' cycling has ever known already won the Giro and the Tour in '95, '96 and 97. The Mimosa Sprint Energia dalla Frutta athlete won 13 races in 1998 (and also currently has 13 stage-wins in the Giro): GP Lugano, GP Mib Travel, 2 stages and overall winner in the Tour de l'Aude, The Trofeo Foto Due in Florence and three stages in the Giro del Trentino. Her most brilliant success was the Flèche Wallonne. Linda Jackson's Statement: " I felt really strong today till the first meters of the Pordoi!. My team-mates did a great job today. They all the time cared for me in order to bring me in the first positions before beginning to climb. As far, it was my job to stay in Fabiana Luperini's wheel. But she attacked immediately ! I knew I had to catch her as soon as possible. I was in the pack with Barbara Heeb and Alessandra Capellotto. They asked me to stay with them and make the tempo. I answered "no way! I need to attack and attack again. The pink jersey is right over there!" The margin was never that big but at two kilometers from the finish Luperini attacked again. I did my best but I knew it was too late to catch her up anyway! So my legs became weaker!" The Giro is not over and Linda Jackson knows there is still a chance for her to win the race. "We will see what happen in the next stages. Saturday's final climb seems to be there for Fabiana but you know there are so many places where you can attack, not just when the road begins to climb! I really like that race. 45 seconds: yes! But why not? I will try till the end." Results from Andrea Mandiroli, our reporter in Italy and reports from Nica Lewis, Press Officer for the Giro |