Trophée International - 1.9.1

Villeneuve de Loubet, France, August 4, 2000

Desbouys bests Luperini in Tour lead up

The annual 1 day classic before the Women's Tour de France took place in the south-east of France today. A strong field, and a difficult challenge with a 10km, 10% climb to Valberg for the finish.

Starting in Villeneuve de Loubet (near Nice) the riders headed directly north, and the race was well controlled by the GAS team and Alfa Lum team, before the start of the climb to the finish. A group of 3 was left to battle out the final 5 kms, with Desbouys riding for the French national team, upsetting one of the pre-race favourites, and renowned mountain climbers Luperini.

With only 25 finishers from the 90+ starters, most riders were conserving their energies for the long 2 weeks ahead on the Women's Tour de France.

The Women's Tour de France starts in Milan on Sunday, with a 6km Teams Time Trial prologue in the morning, and 120 km heading back towards the French border Sunday afternoon. The tour finishes in Paris on August 20.

Report courtesy of James Victor, Australian National coach

Results - 110 km

1. Séverine Desbouys (Fra) French National Team         3.08.26
2. Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Gas Sport Team                   0.16
3. Joane Somarriba Arrola (Spa) Team Alfa Lum - R.S.       0.27
4. Géraldine Loewenguth (Fra) French National Team         0.40
5. Daniela Veronesi (Smr) Team Alfa Lum - R.S.             1.28
6. Fany Lecourtois (Fra) Team Alfa Lum - R.S.              2.24
7. Simona Parente (Ita) Gas Sport Team                     4.18
8. Cindy Pieters (Bel) Vlaanderen 2000                     4.26
9. Mari Holden (USA) US National Team                      4.32
10. Juanita Feldhahn (Aus) Australian National Team        5.39
11. Irina Chuzhynova (Ukr) GS Edil Savino                  5.56
12. Birgit Söllner (Ger) Nurnberger                        6.06
13. Lucia Pizzoloto (Ita) SC Michela Fanini                6.49
14. Kimberly Smith (USA) US National Team                  7.58
15. Marianna Lorenzoni (Ita) Team Aliverti                 8.02
16. Olga Khortova (Rus) Petrogradets 2004                  8.29
17. Marcia Eicher Vouets (Swi) Master Team Carpe Di        8.39
18. Chantal Daucourt (Fra) Inter-Europe Gso                9.32
19. Valeria Cappellotto (Ita) Gas Sport Team               9.56
20. Pia Sundstedt (Fin) Gas Sport Team              
21. Elisabeth Chevanne-Bru (Fra) French National Team     
22. Ruth Martinez Gomez (Spa) Equipe Mixte Inter-N        10.16
23. Lory Laroy (Bel) Vlaanderen 2000                      10.36
24. Youlia Razenkova (Rus) Petrogradets 2004              11.07
25. Laurence Restoin (Fra) French National Team      
26. Vanessa Cheatley (Nzl) Vlaanderen 2000                12.32
27. Sabine Gentieu (Fra) Inter-Europe Gso                 12.51
28. Barbara Cazzaniga (Ita) Master Team Carpe Di          12.57
29. Irène Puccioni (Ita) GS Edil Savino                   14.07
30. Rosa Morcillo Del Brio (Spa) Equipe Mixte Inter-N     14.13
31. Cindy Bauwens (Bel) Vlaanderen 2000                   15.13
32. Lara Ruthven (USA) US National Team                   15.46
33. Kristina Obrucova (Cze) Team Aliverti                 16.27
34. Nicole Freedman (USA) US National Team                17.00
35. Elena Beliaeva (Rus) Petrogradets 2004                20.26
36. France-Line Cattherine (Fra) Team Aliverti            20.29
37. Cristina Roza Vega (Spa) Equipe Mixte Inter-N         21.39
38. Deidre Demet-Barry (USA) US National Team             27.25
39. Veronique Belleter (Bel) Vlaanderen 2000   
40. Vanja Vonckx (Bel) Vlaanderen 2000                    28.16
41. Karine Saysset (Fra) Inter-Europe Gso                 29.30
42. Laure Werner (Bel) Vlaanderen 2000                    30.32
43. Jennifer Eyerman (USA) US National Team               31.54