Women's Elite World Cup, Round 6
First Union Liberty Classic

USA, June 6, 1999

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The World Cup Schedule

  • Round 1, March 7, Canberra (Australia)
  • Round 2, March 14, Hamilton City World Cup (NZ)
  • Round 3, March 20, Primavera Rosa (Ita)
  • Round 4, April 14, La Fleche Wallonne (Bel)
  • Round 5, May 30, Montreal (Can)
  • Round 6, June 6, First Union Liberty Classic (USA)
  • Round 7, August 8, Trophee International (Fra)
  • Round 8, September 9, Ladies Tour Benedon-Maas (Ned)
  • Round 9, September 26, UCI Welcupfinale Embrach (Swi)

Giana Roberge Reports:

This is probably the only race of the year that makes me nervous. Almost every woman in the world anticipates the First Union race for many months prior to the event. In fact, many training programs are designed to have the rider peak on June 6th. There is more than the ten thousand dollars for first place at stake; the prestige, honor and glory of winning this race is unparalleled.

And this may explain why I woke this morning with butterflies in my stomach much too nervous to eat breakfast. As we rode over to the course I could see the helicopters in the sky preparing to send live feed to the TV stations in the area. People were already lined up along the streets cheering for us as we rolled up to sign in, making our entry into the race official.

After a few efforts to get the legs ready we returned to van to get our bottles and to be "wired." Today, Kim, Sarah, Cybil and myself all raced with talk back radios. This enables us to communicate with each other as well as maintain contact with our manager. Our team communicates extremely well and I have found the radios to be beneficial.

The officials called us to the line and immediately the pushing and shoving for position began. Jeff Roak, the race announcer, did an excellent job pronouncing all 139 women's names correctly; a challenging job as many names are Russian, Lithuanian, German, South African, Dutch, Italian, and French. Of course even mine is not an easy one. I looked behind me at the mass of colors on the jerseys, glasses, bikes, and shorts, and in the sea of it all I saw my teammates' faces tense with concentration and determination. I admired every woman standing on that start line, but at that moment I was overwhelmed by the honor of riding for Team Elita.

looked up at the jumbo-TRON (a gigantic TV screen) placed over the start/finish line showing the men's race heading out of the city. Soon, the thousands of spectators would be seeing us out on the 13.8 mile course. The race was 5 laps, little did I know that we would complete the race in three hours exactly.

The pistol was shot off and we were on our way. I had goosebumps for the first of many times today as I led the field out toward the Manayunk wall. The infamous wall is about 1000 meters long, but with grades varying up to 16 percent. There are two other climbs on the course; in an effort to challenge the world class field of women cyclists the promoters added sprints at the top of, not only the wall, but also Lemon Hill - every lap!

As we approached the wall for the first time the roar of the estimated 35,000 people just in that 1 kilometer alone was deafening. People were lined up four deep straining to get a good look at the agony sketched across our faces as we made our way up the climb.

The field did not split until the third time up the climb. Almost every big team but ours was keen to see the race come down to a field sprint.

Sarah is an excellent sprinter but David was not confident that she could beat Petra Rossner (the best female sprinter in the world). Our best chance at a win was to go on the attack and try to get a small group of riders off the front of the field. With this end in mind, I attacked on the last lap about 5 or 6 kilometers out from the bottom of the climb. The Germans were riding a good hard tempo at the front in an effort to reduce attacks. The pace was about 43 kilometers an hour when I attacked and as soon as I hit the wind I began to feel the effort. As I opened the gap I looked back to see three red Elita jerseys at the front of the peleton, protecting my chances of staying away.

I came into the town of Manayunk with 20 seconds on the field and thousands of people were screaming for me. There had not been an individual break all day and all the fans were cheering for my bravery (or fool hardiness). I was gambling; if I could keep my gap over the top of the wall I could possibly stay away for the win.

Ipounded my way over the small section of cobbles and left onto the climb by myself and began the arduous climb. The noise from the crowd was absolutely overpowering. I had goosebumps from the top of my head to the bottoms of my feet. These people were cheering for me!

Unfortunately about two-thirds of the way up the climb I heard the click of gears and a group of women passed me. Struggling to stay focused on the race and not the pain in my legs I tried to stay with the front group. Cybil went charging by and gave me a brief "you can do it!" That was what I needed; soon I was over the top and making the run for home. There was a break up the road. As the group I was with caught it I attacked again. I was caught, went with the counter, attacked again, went with the counter attack, attacked again, had a gap, was caught, went with the front group, and tried to attack again. I was not going to give up until I "detonated."

The other teams would have none of it and the field came into the last kilometer together. Annie, Kim, Sophie and Sarah were all making their way to the front as I was doing all I could to stay with the main group. I watched the sprint from the back and was amazed at the agility with which Petra moved through the pack. The German team did a superb job of riding for her; and it was with the grace and power of a two time winner of The Liberty Classic that she sprinted for home. Saturn had an impressive train leading Anna Wilson out for the win, but Petra, Karen Dunne (Celestial Seasonings) and Hanka Kuffenagle (Greenery Hawk) all managed to get by. Sarah saved the day for us ending up ninth.

Philadelphia, Round 6, June 6, 1999, 115.87 kms

 1. Petra Rossner (Ger) German National Team 		     3.01.23 (38.330 km/h)
 2. Karen Dunne (USA) Celestial Seasonings 
 3. Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) The Greenery Hawk 
 4. Anna Wilson (Aus) Saturn 
 5. Viola Muller-Paulitz (Ger) Nurnburger-Emmi 
 6. Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Dutch National Team 
 7. Sara Feloni (Ita) Acca Due O-Dream Team 
 8. Laura Van Gilder (USA) Potomac Racing 
 9. Sarah Ulmer (NZ) Team Elita 
10. Chantal Beltman (Ned) Dutch National Team 
11. Greata Zocca (Ita) Edilsavino 
12. Heidi Van de Vijver (Bel) Belgian National Team 
13. Silvia Zoller (Swi) Nurnburger-Emmi 
14. Marie Holjer (Swe) Viner-Lotus 
15. Nicole Reinhart (USA) Saturn 
16. Pia Sundstedt (Fin) Edilsavino 
17. Gulnara Ivanoa (Rus) Acca Due O-Dream Team 
18. Diana Zilute (Ltu) Lithuanian National Team 
19. Anne Samplonius (Can) Intersports 
20. Tina Liebig (Ger) German National Team 
21. Leigh Hobson (Can) Viner-Lotus 
22. Elizabeth Emery (USA) Celestial Seasonings 
23. Mari Holden (USA) Acca Due O-Dream Team 
24. Sanna Lehtimaki (Fin) The Greenery Hawk 
25. Kathleen Gleason (USA) Jog Mate 
26. Tina Mayolo (USA) Celestial Seasonings 
27. Roz Reekie (NZ) Celestial Seasonings 
28. Tracy Timms (USA) Fuji Racing Team 
29. Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu) Lithuanian National Team 
30. Janncke Vos (Ned) Dutch National Team 
31. Marcia Eicher-Vouets (Swi) Master Aut 
32. Jennifer Dial (USA) Proteus 
33. Jamie Nicholson (USA) Proteus 
34. Anne Gariepy (Can) Team Elita 
35. Kendra Wenzel (USA) Timex Team 
36. Susy Pryde (NZ) Saturn 
37. Pam Schuster (USA) Timex Team 
38. Nada Cristofoli (Ita) Edilsavino 
39. Angela Hunter (GB) British National Team 
40. Catherine Marsal (Fra) Edilsavino 
41. Sandra Rombouts (Ned) Dutch National Team 
42. Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Lithuanian National Team 
43. Barbara Heeb (Swi) Nurnburger-Emmi 
44. Karen Kurreck (USA) Edilsavino 
45. Emily Robbins (USA) Saturn 
46. Anke Erlank (RSA) Timex Team 
47. Christina Dekraay (USA) Fuji Racing Team 
48. Lucia Pizzolotto (Ita) Master Aut 
49. Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) Lithuanian National Team 
50. Julie Young (USA) Timex Team 
51. Cindy Peiters (Bel) Belgian National Team 
52. Sara Savino (USA) Edilsavino 
53. Kimberly Bruckner (USA) Cox-Atlanta Velo 
54. Linda Jackson (Can) Timex Team 
55. Cybil Diguistini (Can) Team Elita 
56. Dede Demet (USA) Saturn 
57. Ruth Ellway (GB) British National Team 
58. Zoulfija Zabirova (Rus) Acca Due O-Dream Team	 0.06
59. Roberta Bonanomi (Ita) Acca Due O-Dream Team	 0.08
60. Maureen Vergara (Esa) Tri State			 0.09
61. Evy Van Damme (Bel) Belgian National Team		 0.09
62. Cassandra Ramirez (USA) Tri State			 0.11
63. Angie Vargas (USA) Cox-Atlanta Velo			 0.14
64. Kathleen Millar (Can) Intersports			 0.14
65. Stacey Spencer (Can) Potomac Racing 		 0.20
66. Sophie St Jacques (Can) Team Elita			 0.20
67. Susan Hefler (USA) Tri State 			 0.20
68. Anne Tysso (Nor) GS Ciao-Hind			 0.24
69. Sandra Kolb (USA) Fuji Racing Team			 0.27
70. Mina Pizzini (USA) Potomac Racing			 0.27
71. Christy Nicholson (USA) Tri State 			 0.27
72. Ann Roegiers (Bel) Belgian National Team		 0.27
73. Marjon Marik (USA) Cox-Atlanta Velo			 0.27
74. Meike Debruijn (Ned) The Greenery Hawk		 0.27
75. Kim Langton (Can) Team Elita			 0.27
76. Giana Roberge (USA) Team Elita			 0.27
77. Iona Wynter (Jam) Cox-Atlanta Velo			 0.31
78. Laura Shuford (USA) Cox-Atlanta Velo		 0.31
79. Lyne Bessette (Aus) Saturn				 0.31
80. Natascha Klewitz (Ger) German National Team	 	 0.31
81. Garbriela Pregnolato (Ita) Acca Due O-Dream Team	 0.49
82. Nikki Gugliotta (USA) Cox-Atlanta Velo		 2.03
83. Michelle Ward (GB) British National Team 		 3.00
84. Odessa Gunn (USA) Viner-Lotus			 3.00
85. Ceris Gilfillan (GB) British National Team		 3.00
86. Katrina Friedrich (USA) Potomac Racing		 3.00
87. Valentina Polkhanova (Rus) The Greenery Hawk	 3.00
88. Angela Hillenga (Ned) Dutch National Team		 3.00
89. Aleka Skouras (USA) Celestial Seasonings 		11.03
90. Marisa Vandevelde (USA) Celestial Seasonings	11.03 
91. Deirdre Murphy (USA) Proteus 			15.01
92. Tiffany Pezzulo (USA) GS Ciao-Hind 			15.03
93. Erin Alexander (USA) GS Ciao-Hind 			15.45
94. Angie Rodriguez (USA) Jog Mate 			16.27
95. Jennifer Brothers (USA) Fuji Racing Team		16.27

Outside Time Limit:

Aleka Skouras 
Marisa Vandevelde 
Deirdre Murphy 
Tiffany Pezzulo 
Erin Alexander 
Angie Rodriguez 
Jennifer Brothers 

Did not finish:

Cornelia Dreher (Ger)
Ina Yoko Teutenberg (Ger)
Jen Mcrae (USA)
Emma Davies (GB)
Megan Hughes (GB)
Sigrid Corneo (Ita)
Ljudmile Corneo (Ita)
Barbara Delvai (Ita)
Diana Rast (Swi)
Nicole Freedman (USA)
Cynthia Ferguson (USA)
Erika Nelson-Wong (USA)
Mirella Van meils (Ned)
Maria Collazo (USA)
Emily Wilson (USA)
Sherri Stedje (USA)
Robin Thomas (USA)
Shari Stillman (USA)
Lorie Struzik (USA)
Dana Walton (USA)
Bianca Netzler (Sam)
Chloe Black (Can)
Amy Jarvis (Can)
Julie Hutsebaut (Can)

Started: 119
Outside time: 7
Abandoned: 24

Individual Standings after Round 6:

                                                         #1   #2   #3   #4   #5   #6 Total

 1. Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) Greenery-Hawk-Berlin          50   24   15   75    0   35  199
 2. Anna Wilson (Aus) Saturn                              75   30    0    0   35   30  170
 3. Tracey Gaudry (Aus) Ebly                               9   35    0    0   75    0  119
 4. Sara Feloni (Ita) Acca Due O-Dream Team                6    6   75    0    0   21  108
 5. Roberta Bonanomi (Ita)  Acca Due O-Dream Team          0   75    0   27    0    0  102
 6. Petra Rossner (Ger) German National Team               0    0    0    0    0   75   75
 7. Gunn Rita Dahle (Nor) Norwegian National Team         21   50    0    0    0    0   71
 8. Chantal Beltman (Ned) Dutch National Team             18    0   35    0    0   11   64
 9. Viola Müller-Paulitz (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger-Emmi      0    0   27    0    9   27   63
10. Yvonne McGregor (GB) Great Britain                    11   27    1   21    0    0   60
11. Susy Pryde (NZ) New Zealand National Team             30    0    0    0   30    0   60
12. Heidi Van de Vijver (Bel) Belgian National Team        0    0   21    8   21    9   59
13. Catherine Marsal (Fra) Edilsavino                      0    0   30    0   27    0   57
14. Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Netherlands                      5    0   24    2    0   24   55
15. Gabriella Pregnolato (Ita) Ghia Dream Team             3    0   50    0    0    0   53
16. Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Lithuanian National Team       0    0    2   50    0    0   52
17. Alessandra Cappellotto (Ita) GAS Sport Team           27   15    9    0    0    0   51
18. Lynne Bessete (Can)                                    0    0    0    0   50    0   50
19. Karen Dunne (USA) Celestial Seasonings                 0    0    0    0    0   50   50
20. Cindy Pieters (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002                    0    0    0   35   10    0   45
21. Barbara Heeb (Swi) Equipe Nürnberger-Emmi              0   11   10    0   24    0   45
22. Pia Sundstedt (Fin) Edilsavino                         0    0    0   24   15    5   44
23. Sarah Symington (GB) Great Britain                    35    0    4    4    0    0   43
24. Karen Kurreck (USA) North American Team               24    4    0    9    0    0   37
25. Sanna Lehtimaki (Fin) Greenery-Hawk-Berlin            15    8    0    7    7    0   37
26. Pam Schuster (USA)  Street Skills International        0   18   11    0    4    0   33
27. Mari Holden (USA) Ghia Dream Team                     10    1    0   18    3    0   32
28. Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Gas Sport Team                  0    0    0   30    0    0   30
29. Silvia Zoller (Swi) Equipe Nürnberger-Emmi             0    0   18    0    0    8   26
30. Kerstin Scheitle (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger-Emmi          1   21    0    0    0    0   22
31. Sonia Rocca (Ita) Alfa Lum-William Aurora              0    0    8   10    0    0   18
32. Julie Young (USA)                                      0    0    0    0   18    0   18
33. Laura Van Gilder (USA) Potomac Racing                  0    0    0    0    0   18   18
34. Rikke Sandhoj-Olsen (Den) Greenery-Hawk-Berlin         8    9    0    0    0    0   17
35. Elisabeth Chevanne Brunel (Fra) French National Team   0    0    0   15    0    0   15
36. Sarah Ulmer (NZ) Team Elita                            0    0    0    0    0   15   15
37. Diana Zilute (Ltu) Lithuanian National Team            0    0    0    0   11    3   14
38. Caroline Alexander (GB) British National Team          0    0    0   11    0    0   11
39. Megan Hughes (GB) Great Britain                        0   10    0    0    0    0   10
40. Greata Zocca (Ita) Edilsavino                          0    0    0    0    0   10   10
41. Anne Erlank (Ger)                                      0    0    0    0    8    0    8
42. Michelle Ward (GB) Great Britain                       7    0    0    0    0    0    7
43. Jacinta Coleman (NZ)  GS Mazza-Tege                    7    0    0    0    0    0    7
44. Daniela Veronesi (SMr) Alfalum Wm Aurora               0    0    7    0    0    0    7
45. Marie Holjer (Swe) Viner-Lotus                         0    0    0    0    0    7    7
46. Joane Somarriba Arolla (Spa) Alfalum Wm Aurora         0    0    6    0    0    0    6
47. Meike De Bruijn (Ned) The Greenery Hawk Team at        0    0    0    6    0    0    6
48. Linda Jackson (Can)                                    0    0    0    0    6    0    6
49. Nicole Reinhart (USA) Saturn                           0    0    0    0    0    6    6
50. Elizabeth Tadich (Aus)  GS Mazza-Tege                  0    5    0    0    0    0    5
51. Nicole Brandli (Swi) Swiss National Team               0    0    5    0    0    0    5
52. Fany Lecourtois (Fra) SC Michela Fanini-Record Rox     0    0    0    5    0    0    5
53. Leigh Hobson (Can)                                     0    0    0    0    5    0    5
54. Anne Samplonius (Can) Intersports                      0    3    0    0    0    2    5
55. Sara Carrigan (Aus) Australian National Team           4    0    0    0    0    0    4
56. Zita Urbonaite (Lit) Lithuanian National Team          2    2    0    0    0    0    4
57. Gulnara Ivanoa (Rus) Acca Due O-Dream Team             0    0    0    0    0    4    4
58. Lanka Ilavska (Svk) Swam Hooch                         0    0    3    0    0    0    3
59. Aline Camboulives (Fra) Ebly                           0    0    0    3    0    0    3
60. Sara Savino (Ita)                                      0    0    0    0    2    0    2
61. Fatima Blazquez (Spa) Alfa Lum-William Aurora          0    0    0    1    0    0    1
62. Valentina Polkanova (Rus)                              0    0    0    0    1    0    1
63. Tina Liebig (Ger) German National Team                 0    0    0    0    0    1    1