15th Tour de l'Aude, Cat 2.9.1

France, May 7-16, 1999

1998 Results     Past Winners    

The Stages:

  • Prologue - May 7, Gruissan - Gruissan, 2.4 kms:
  • Stage 1 - May 8, Lézignan Corbières- Lézignan Corbières, 122 kms:
  • Stage 2 - May 9, Rieux Minervois-Rieux Minervois, 106 kms:
  • Stage 3 - May 10, Port Lauragais-Port Lauragais, 101 kms:
  • Stage 4 - May 11, Castelnaudary-Castelnaudary, 126 kms:
  • Stage 5 - May 12, Castelnaudary-Castelnaudary, ITT 12.8 kms:
  • Stage 6a - May 13, Mazamet - Pic de Nore, 61 kms:
  • Stage 6b - May 13, Pradelles Cabardès - Mazamet, 76 kms:
  • Stage 7 - May 14, Saint-Lauret de la Cabrerisse-Durban Corbières, 125 kms:
  • Stage 8a - May 15, Quillan - Matemale, 60 kms:
  • Stage 8b - May 15, Matemale - Quillan, 86 kms:
  • Stage 9 - May 16, Limoux - Limoux, 132 kms:

Preview:

Giana Roberge, from the US team is reporting from the Tour de l'Aude. She writes that the United Sates National Cycling Team arrived in Toulouse on May 5th to compete in the women's 15th annual Tour de L'Aude. This is one of the four biggest stage races in the world for women. Held throughout the region of L'Aude this race will cover 1009.4 kilometers in ten days. We will be treated to a good array of terrain, from the infamous Pic de Nore to the rolling country side of Castelnaudary. This year's race includes two double days, seven category one climbs, four hor category climbs, and two mountain top finish days.

We will begin the race with a 2.4 kilometer prologue in Gruissan. This is a lovely ocean side town; the citizens of Gruissan come out in droves to cheer us in our two minute effort around the short course.

All 27 teams, with 6 women each, were introduced to the town of Carcassonne on May 6. There are 15 national teams and 12 trade teams competing. The US team is comprised of Julie Young, Pam Shuster, Gail Longenecker, Leah Toffelon, Elizabeth Emery, and myself.

Past Winners

1985 Janelle Parks (USA) 
1986 Phyllis Hines (USA)     	V. Lafargue (Fra)    		A. Iakovleva (USSR)
1987 Maria Canins (Ita)      	Tamara Poliakova (Ukr)   	Jeannie Longo (Fra)
1988 Jeannie Longo (Fra) 	Maria Canins (Ita)     		L. Brambani (GB)
1989 Cecile Odin (Fra)       	Nadejda Kibardina (USSR)   	Sara Neil (Can)
1990 Catherine Marsal (Fra)    	Leontien Van Moorsel (Ned)  	Denise Kelly (Can)
1991 Leontien Van Moorsel (Ned)	Catherine Marsal (Fra) 		Inga Thompson (USA)
1992 Julie Young (USA)
1993 Jeannie Longo (Fra) 	Leontien Van Moorsel (Ned) 	Marion Clignet (Fra)
1994 Catherine Marsal (Fra)    	Rasa Polikiavichute (Lit) 	Alexsandra Koliaseva (Rus)
1995 Valentina Polkhanova (Rus)	Rasa Polikiavichute (Lit) 	Svetlana Bubnenkova (Rus)
1996 Aleksandra Koliaseva (Rus)	Svetlana Bubnenkova (Rus)  	Catherine Marsal (Fra)
1997 Linda Jackson (Can)      	Svetlana Bubnenkova (Rus)  	Heidi Van De Vijver (Bel)
1998 Fabiana Luperini (Ita)    	Valentina Polkhanova (Rus)	Catherine Marsal (Fra)