Elite Women's Road Race, 113.75 kms (7 laps)

Saturday, 14:00 pm October 9, 1999

As it Happened

Our man in Verona, Tim Maloney spoke to some of the riders and coaches in the start area about their picks:

J. P. Van Poppel (Dutch coach): "Oh Anna Wilson, she is the most dangerous"

Cyrille Guimard (French commentator) "Jeannie Longo seems tired from the TT - I think the Australian girl is very good"

Jurgen Dornbusch (German coach) "Zulfia Zabirova (Rus) is my pick" - however, when cyclingnews.com spoke to Zabirova she said she was "feeling tired"

Maurizio Fabretto (? sorry): My picks are Edita Pucinskaite, Anna Wilson and Diana Ziliute"

Dario Broccado (Italian coach) "We think all 6 are good [Italians], but Alessandra Capellotto [who lives in nearby Vicenza] will be the key rider"

Anna Wilson (One of Australia's key riders): "I'm a little tired now, but am feeling good. I'll be watching the Lithuanians - they have 7 riders"

Note: We will be picking up the commentary on lap 2.

Lap 2

The group is together after a lap, and the Canadians are setting the pace. Anna Wilson led through the start finish, followed by Clara Hughes.

The situation remains the same at the end of the lap, with Roberta Bonanomi setting the pace for the Italian team.

Average speed about 38 km/h

Lap 3

There is an attack of three riders: Valeria Cappellotto (Ita), Anne Samplonius (Can), and Juanita Feldhahn (Aus). However, the Dutch team ride very hard up the climb to bring them back, and the bunch is together over the top.

End of the 3rd lap, and it's Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) and Sigrid Corneo (Ita) who lead the bunch through. There are, by now a few groups off the back.

Lap 4

The 4th time ascending the Torricelli, and the pace picks up. Attacks come from Goulnara Ivanov (Rus), Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli (Fra), Zoulfia Zabirova (Rus) but amount to nothing and it is Swiss rider, Nicole Brändli who leads over the top.

The main movement seems to be out the back, with Fabiana Luperini (Ita) being dropped. Elita Pucinskaite (Ltu), and Longo look strong, leading on the descent.

By the end of the lap, there is an attack: Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu), Dori Ruano Sanchon (Esp), Annie Gariepy (Can), Lenka Ilavska (Svk), and Roberta Bonanomi (Ita). They have a small lead to the peleton, which is being led by the French.

Lap 5

The French get serious and close the gap in the early part of the fifth lap.

On the climb there is an attack by four riders: Daniela Veronesi (Smr), Elita Pucinskaite (Ltu), Valeria Cappellotto (Ita), and Tatiana Stiazhkina (Ukr) and they are joined by Géraldine Loewenguth (Fra), Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli (Fra) and Zoulfia Zabirova (Rus). They have a 10 sec lead on a group of 10 which is trying to make contact.

By the end of the lap, there is a selection of 15: Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Alessandra and Valeria Cappellotto (Ita), Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu), Anna Wilson (Aus), Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli (Fra) Joane Somarriba Arrola (Esp), Lyne Bessette, Edita Pucinskaite (Lit), Zabirova, and some others.

Edita is looking strong and so is Wilson and Longo.

Lap 6

On the climb, there is an attack from Pucinskaite, Zabirova, Tatiana Stiazhkina (Ukr), Valeria Cappellotto and Ziliute (Ltu) bridges across. Longo and Wilson can't follow, but the gap is not big enough and they come back.

On the descent, Loewenguth (Fra) crashes whilst in the lead. The front group is now 14. Average is 37.75 km/h

Lap 7

Before the last climb, the 4 Lithuanians are softening things up for Pucinskaite to go on the climb. Longo looks a little tired, Somarriba, Veronesi and Wilson will be trying to play off the others. Jolanta and Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) are attacking a lot with A. Capellotto. Loewenguth regains the bunch.

Bottom of the climb: Pucinskaite attacks really hard and gets 10 secs on a group of 3 - Stiazhkina (Ukr) V. Cappellotto (Ita) and Longo-Ciprelli (Fra), who have a further 10 secs to a group of 6. Joane Somarriba Arrola (Esp) is off the back.

At the top of the climb, it's Pucinskaite who leads, followed 25 seconds later by the chasing 3, who have another 20 seconds to the group of 6.

On the descent, her advantage drops and the three chasers are caught by the 6. However, Edita stays away to win.

In the bunch sprint, it is Australia's Anna Wilson who wins from another Lithuanian, Diana Ziliute. Silver again to Anna - well done! Edita was too strong on the day.

Final Result

1. Edita Pucinskaite (Lit)      2:59:50
2. Anna Wilson (Aus)		    :18
3. Diana Ziliute (Lit) 
4. Tatiana Stiazhkina (Ukr)
5. Zoufia Zabirova (Rus)