16th Tour de l'Aude - 2.9.1France, May 5-14, 2000Main Page Anna Wilson's report Results Previous stageStage 9 - May 14: Limoux - Limoux, 138 kmHughes wins finale, Kupfernagel reignsThe final stage of the Tour de L'Aude was by no means a procession to the finish. 138 kilometres (the longest of the Tour) and two tough climbs did not facilitate an easy stroll. Germany's Hanka Kupfernagel (Radteam Kupfernagel) was pretty much unbeatable on GC with a four minute lead over Dutchwoman Mirjam Melchers, but there was still the stage glory to go for. US team Saturn have had a good tour in terms of stage results, and they added another one today as Clara Hughes won in a long escape (115 km). She attacked at the 22 kilometre point, and established a large lead, eventually winning by 4:37. In second place, leading the bunch home was teammate and multiple stage winner, Petra Rossner from second overall, Mirjam Melchers. The Germans have certainly done well out of this tour, winning the majority of the 11 stages (counting the prologue). Kupfernagel was dominant, taking the leader's jersey on day one, and only losing it once to Rossner. The number one ranking is looking good... Anna Wilson's reportThe final day of the tour was also one of the hardest. 138 kms of narrow roads, 4 mountain sprint prizes, and lots of undulations along the way. We wanted to end the tour with a stage victory and also look for chances for Lyne or I to steal a bit more time so we could move further up the GC. Lyne was on fire over the early climbs and totally split the field. Petra, Clara and I weren't too far behind and we were able to follow wheels as the bunch regrouped on the descents. Just as there was a big regrouping of riders and the pace was slowing down at the front, Clara put in an impressive attack and shot up the road. We were approaching another climb and everyone was reluctant to chase hard, thinking that they would then suffer on the climb. And I think they expected Clara to die on the climb and rejoin the group. However, Clara had other ideas and she stormed off up the road. She was feeling good and she continued to make time on the bunch. When her lead reached 5 minutes, the Dutch and French teams began to ride a good tempo, hoping to keep her in contact so they could reel her in towards the end of the stage, when she was getting tired. But Clara continued to make time on the field and with 50kms to go she had a 10 minute lead. We couldn't believe it. At that point I think the other teams were pretty resigned to the fact that Clara would win the stage. But the French began to worry about the team classification - they were leading the team classification but if Clara won by more than 7 minutes then we would take over that lead. So the French started riding all out to reduce Clara's lead. We flew over the final 30 kms of the race and we were a little worried that Clara would now be exhausted after 90 kms in front by herself and she might not stay away. We shouldn't have worried. Clara could sense victory and she wasn't going to be denied. After an epic 120kms alone in front Clara won the stage by just under 5 minutes. Petra won the bunch sprint to take 2nd place and we were ready to celebrate!!
Results1. Clara Hughes (Can) Saturn Cycling Team 3.49.49 (35.533 kph)
2. Petra Rossner (Ger) Saturn Cycling Team 4.37
3. Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Netherlands
4. Vera Hohlfeld (Ger) Germany
5. Svetlana Samokhvalova (Rus) Russia
6. Tatiana Stiajkina (Ukr) Ukraine
7. Svetlana Boubnenkova (Rus) Russia
8. Arenda Grimberg (Ned) Netherlands
9. Heidi Van De Vijver (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 Ladies Team
10. Yuliya Murenka (Ukr) Ukraine
11. Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) Radteam Kupfernagel
12. Lada Kozlikova (Cze) Radteam Kupfernagel
13. Elisabeth Chevanne Brunel (Fra) France
14. Cindy Pieters (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 Ladies Team
15. Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) Lithuania
16. Ina Teutenberg (Ger) Germany
17. Anna Wilson (Aus) Saturn Cycling Team
18. Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu) Lithuania
19. Valetyna Karpenko (Ukr) Ukraine
20. Juanita Feldhahn (Aus) Mixte 1 Canada/Australia
21. Chantal Beltman (Ned) Netherlands
22. Madeleine Lindberg (Swe) Mixte 2 Farm Frites/Timex
23. Leigh Hobson (Can) Mixte 1 Canada/Australia
24. Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Mixte 2 Farm Frites/Timex
25. Géraldine Loewenguth (Fra) France
26. Valentina Polkhanova (Rus) Russia
27. Magali Le Floc'h (Fra) France
28. Aline Camboulives (Fra) France
29. Laurence Restoin (Fra) France 4.44
30. Tetyana Andrushchenko (Ukr) Ukraine 4.47
31. Cybil Di Guistini (Can) Mixte 1 Canada/Australia
32. Marcia Eicher-Vouets (Swi) Master Team Carpe Diem
33. Maryline Salvetat (Fra) France
34. Sandy Espeseth (Can) Mixte 1 Canada/Australia
35. Yvonne Brunen (Ned) Mixte 2 Farm Frites/Timex
36. Lyne Bessette (Can) Saturn Cycling Team
37. Marianna Lorenzoni (Ita) Team Aliverti Immobilione 5.01
38. Kym Shirley (Aus) Saturn Cycling Team 5.02
39. Kerstin Scheitle (Ger) Germany
40. Vanessa Cheatley (NZl) Vlaanderen 2002 Ladies Team 5.07
41. Meike De Bruijn (Ned) Radteam Kupfernagel 5.22
42. Judith Arndt (Ger) Germany 6.14
43. Nataliya Kachalka (Ukr) Ukraine 15.01
44. Angela Hillenga (Ned) Netherlands 21.05
45. Veronique Belleter (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 Ladies Team
46. Vanja Vonckx (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 Ladies Team
47. Cornélia Dreher (Ger) Germany 21.18
48. Sandra Missbach (Ger) Radteam Kupfernagel
49. Rikka Olsen (Den) Mixte 2 Farm Frites/Timex 23.24
50. Mirella Van Melis (Ned) Netherlands
51. Nataliya Yuganiyk (Ukr) Ukraine
52. Erika Vilunaite (Ltu) Lithuania 24.37
53. Rita Narbutyte (Ltu) Lithuania
54. Tania Belvederesi (Ita) Master Team Carpe Diem
55. Claudia Marietta (Ita) Master Team Carpe Diem
Final general classification:
1. Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) Radteam Kupfernagel 26.43.55
2. Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Netherlands 4.06
3. Géraldine Loewenguth (Fra) France 4.44
4. Heidi Van De Vijver (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 Ladies Team 5.33
5. Tatiana Stiajkina (Ukr) Ukraine 6.57
6. Anna Wilson (Aus) Saturn Cycling Team 7.47
7. Juanita Feldhahn (Aus) Mixte 1 Canada/Australia 12.56
8. Madeleine Lindberg (Swe) Mixte 2 Farm Frites/Timex 13.30
9. Cindy Pieters (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 Ladies Team 13.47
10. Lyne Bessette (Can) Saturn Cycling Team 14.30
11. Aline Camboulives (Fra) France 15.00
12. Chantal Beltman (Ned) Netherlands 15.41
13. Valentina Polkhanova (Rus) Russia 15.56
14. Sandy Espeseth (Can) Mixte 1 Canada/Australia 16.24
15. Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Mixte 2 Farm Frites/Timex 17.01
16. Svetlana Boubnenkova (Rus) Russia 18.26
17. Cybil Di Guistini (Can) Mixte 1 Canada/Australia 18.33
18. Meike De Bruijn (Ned) Radteam Kupfernagel 18.51
19. Yuliya Murenka (Ukr) Ukraine 19.19
20. Arenda Grimberg (Ned) Netherlands 19.21
21. Maryline Salvetat (Fra) France 19.41
22. Leigh Hobson (Can) Mixte 1 Canada/Australia 20.06
23. Elisabeth Chevanne Brunel (Fra) France 20.10
24. Magali Le Floc'h (Fra) France 21.35
25. Laurence Restoin (Fra) France 22.32
26. Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu) Lithuania 22.36
27. Marcia Eicher-Vouets (Swi) Master Team Carpe Diem 25.49
28. Yvonne Brunen (Ned) Mixte 2 Farm Frites/Timex 26.28
29. Clara Hughes (Can) Saturn Cycling Team 28.00
30. Ina Teutenberg (Ger) Germany 29.47
31. Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) Lithuania 30.38
32. Vera Hohlfeld (Ger) Germany 30.53
33. Vanessa Cheatley (NZl) Vlaanderen 2002 Ladies Team 31.48
34. Valetyna Karpenko (Ukr) Ukraine 33.12
35. Tetyana Andrushchenko (Ukr) Ukraine 33.30
36. Kym Shirley (Aus) Saturn Cycling Team 35.17
37. Lada Kozlikova (Cze) Radteam Kupfernagel 36.29
38. Kerstin Scheitle (Ger) Germany 40.09
39. Nataliya Kachalka (Ukr) Ukraine 43.03
40. Marianna Lorenzoni (Ita) Team Aliverti Immobilione 44.01
41. Svetlana Samokhvalova (Rus) Russia 47.23
42. Petra Rossner (Ger) Saturn Cycling Team 48.18
43. Vanja Vonckx (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 Ladies Team 51.37
44. Veronique Belleter (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 Ladies Team 56.13
45. Judith Arndt (Ger) Germany 1.01.28
46. Sandra Missbach (Ger) Radteam Kupfernagel 1.04.24
47. Angela Hillenga (Ned) Netherlands 1.08.24
48. Mirella Van Melis (Ned) Netherlands 1.08.34
49. Cornélia Dreher (Ger) Germany 1.24.18
50. Rikka Olsen (Den) Mixte 2 Farm Frites/Timex 1.24.39
51. Tania Belvederesi (Ita) Master Team Carpe Diem 1.37.33
52. Nataliya Yuganiyk (Ukr) Ukraine 1.45.47
53. Erika Vilunaite (Ltu) Lithuania 1.49.03
54. Claudia Marietta (Ita) Master Team Carpe Diem 1.54.38
55. Rita Narbutyte (Ltu) Lithuania 2.43.15
Mountains classification::
1. Tatiana Stiajkina (Ukr) Ukraine 55
2. Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) Radteam Kupfernagel 38
3. Géraldine Loewenguth (Fra) France 26
4. Svetlana Boubnenkova (Rus) Russia 21
5. Clara Hughes (Can) Saturn Cycling Team 19
6. Yuliya Murenka (Ukr) Ukraine 17
7. Lyne Bessette (Can) Saturn Cycling Team 14
8. Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Netherlands 14
9. Valentina Polkhanova (Rus) Russia 9
10. Heidi Van De Vijver (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 Ladies 8
11. Cindy Pieters (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 Ladies Team 7
12. Anna Wilson (Aus) Saturn Cycling Team 6
13. Juanita Feldhahn (Aus) Mixte 1 Canada/Australia 6
14. Magali Le Floc'h (Fra) France 5
15. Yvonne Brunen (Ned) Mixte 2 Farm Frites/Timex 5
16. Sandy Espeseth (Can) Mixte 1 Canada/Australia 3
17. Ina Teutenberg (Ger) Germany 3
18. Aline Camboulives (Fra) France 3
19. Elisabeth Chevanne Brunel (Fra) France 2
20. Chantal Beltman (Ned) Netherlands 2
21. Arenda Grimberg (Ned) Netherlands 2
22. Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu) Lithuania 2
Points classification:
1. Ina Teutenberg (Ger) Germany 112
2. Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Netherlands 105
3. Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) Radteam Kupfernagel 98
4. Petra Rossner (Ger) Saturn Cycling Team 93
5. Anna Wilson (Aus) Saturn Cycling Team 80
6. Magali Le Floc'h (Fra) France 70
7. Tatiana Stiajkina (Ukr) Ukraine 68
8. Heidi Van De Vijver (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 Ladies Team 61
9. Svetlana Samokhvalova (Rus) Russia 47
10. Géraldine Loewenguth (Fra) France 43
11. Arenda Grimberg (Ned) Netherlands 38
12. Lyne Bessette (Can) Saturn Cycling Team 37
13. Yuliya Murenka (Ukr) Ukraine 37
14. Yvonne Brunen (Ned) Mixte 2 Farm Frites/Timex 35
15. Clara Hughes (Can) Saturn Cycling Team 34
16. Mirella Van Melis (Ned) Netherlands 34
17. Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu) Lithuania 32
18. Vanja Vonckx (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 Ladies Team 30
19. Juanita Feldhahn (Aus) Mixte 1 Canada/Australia 28
20. Svetlana Boubnenkova (Rus) Russia 28
21. Vera Hohlfeld (Ger) Germany 26
22. Tania Belvederesi (Ita) Master Team Carpe Diem 23
23. Lada Kozlikova (Cze) Radteam Kupfernagel 19
24. Valentina Polkhanova (Rus) Russia 19
25. Sandy Espeseth (Can) Mixte 1 Canada/Australia 18
26. Cindy Pieters (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 Ladies Team 18
27. Elisabeth Chevanne Brunel (Fra) France 17
28. Chantal Beltman (Ned) Netherlands 15
29. Aline Camboulives (Fra) France 13
30. Madeleine Lindberg (Swe) Mixte 2 Farm Frites/Timex 13
31. Nataliya Yuganiyk (Ukr) Ukraine 7
32. Maryline Salvetat (Fra) France 5
33. Angela Hillenga (Ned) Netherlands 5
34. Cybil Di Guistini (Can) Mixte 1 Canada/Australia 4
35. Meike De Bruijn (Ned) Radteam Kupfernagel 4
36. Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Mixte 2 Farm Frites/Timex 2
37. Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) Lithuania 1
Sprints classification:
1. Arenda Grimberg (Ned) Netherlands 40
2. Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) Radteam Kupfernagel 31
3. Anna Wilson (Aus) Saturn Cycling Team 25
4. Valentina Polkhanova (Rus) Russia 25
5. Clara Hughes (Can) Saturn Cycling Team 20
6. Yvonne Brunen (Ned) Mixte 2 Farm Frites/Timex 15
7. Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Netherlands 13
8. Magali Le Floc'h (Fra) France 11
9. Tatiana Stiajkina (Ukr) Ukraine 10
10. Lyne Bessette (Can) Saturn Cycling Team 10
11. Svetlana Boubnenkova (Rus) Russia 10
12. Yuliya Murenka (Ukr) Ukraine 8
13. Ina Teutenberg (Ger) Germany 8
14. Cindy Pieters (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 Ladies Team 5
15. Sandy Espeseth (Can) Mixte 1 Canada/Australia 5
16. Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu) Lithuania 4
17. Maryline Salvetat (Fra) France 4
18. Chantal Beltman (Ned) Netherlands 2
19. Sandra Missbach (Ger) Radteam Kupfernagel 2
20. Heidi Van De Vijver (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 Ladies Team 2
21. Petra Rossner (Ger) Saturn Cycling Team 1
22. Vera Hohlfeld (Ger) Germany 1
23. Leigh Hobson (Can) Mixte 1 Canada/Australia 1
24. Svetlana Samokhvalova (Rus) Russia 1
25. Elisabeth Chevanne Brunel (Fra) France 1
26. Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) Lithuania 1
27. Valetyna Karpenko (Ukr) Ukraine 1
Teams classification:
1. France 80.48.29
2. Netherlands 2.49
3. Saturn Cycling Team 2.56
4. Radteam Kupfernagel 9.16
5. Mixte 1 Canada/Australia 10.19
6. Vlaanderen 2002 Ladies Team 11.27
7. Ukraine 15.49
8. Mixte 2 Farm Frites/Timex 17.49
9. Russia 21.46
10. Germany 47.53
11. Lithuania 1.30.14
12. Master Team Carpe Diem 3.15.27
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