Giro Della Toscana Femminile - 2.9.2Italy, September 12-17, 2000Stage 3 - September 15: Bagni Di Lucca - Castelnuovo G., 116.1 kmZina unstoppableThe third day of the Giro della Toscana signified the "Tappone", the most difficult stage of the tour. 116 kilometres with climbs climbs, a couple of them very difficult, and this would probably decide who would succeed last year's winner, Edita Pucinskaite. Team Gas kept the pace very high on the first two easy climbs, trying to create a little group. Stahurskaia broke the Gas team's tactical plans, accelerating on the Passo dei Carpinelli (887 m). Over the top, she was alone with 25 seconds to Alessandra Cappellotto. Fabiana Luperini and Valentina Polkhanova were at about 1 minute and the others crossed at 1'45. The long and easy descent allowed eight cyclists to reach the leader Stahurskaia, and before the last climb (Poggio) there were nine at the head of the race: Bonanomi, Cappellotto A., Desbouys, Luperini and Parente (Gas), Polkhanova (Edilsavino), Stijakina (Accadue O), La Pomarda (Rosa dei Venti) and Stahurskaia. The latter attaked again on the last ascent, gaining in 15 seconds in a short time, which she conserved until the finish. The 3 Gas riders at her back (Parente, Luperini and Cappellotto A.) weren't able to reach her and were defeated for the third day by the Super "Zina". The toughness of the race was confirmed by the fact that 15 athletes retired during the stage and 13 arrived outside the limit, about 43 minutes after Stahurskaia. Report by Alessandro Gretter Results1. Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr) Michela Fanini 3.30.03 (33.164 kph) 2. Simona Parente (Ita) Gas Sport Team 0.14 3. Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Gas Sport Team 4. Alessandra Cappellotto (Ita) Gas Sport Team 5. Tatjana Stijakina (Ukr) Acca Due O Lorena 1.39 6. Severine Desbuys (Fra) Gas Sport Team 7. Valentina Polkanova (Rus) Edilsavino 2.50 8. Rosalisa La Pomarda (Ita) Rosa Dei Venti 4.20 9. Roberta Bonanomi (Ita) Gas Sport Team 5.29 10. Valeria Cappellotto (Ita) Gas Sport Team 6.10 11. Fany Lecourtois (Fra) Alfa Lum 12. Sara Felloni (Ita) AlfaLum 7.31 13. Catherine Marsal (Fra) Edilsavino 14. Marianna Lorenzoni (Ita) Aliverti 15. Magali Le Floc'h (Fra) Aliverti General classification after stage 3: 1. Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr) Michela Fanini 8.53.58 2. Alessandra Cappellotto (Ita) Gas Sport Team 0.33 3. Simona Parente (Ita) Gas Sport Team 1.55 4. Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Gas Sport Team 1.58 5. Tatjana Stijakina (Ukr) Acca Due O Lorena 3.32 6. Valentina Polkanova (Rus) Edilsavino 4.52 7. Severine Desbuys (Fra) Gas Sport Team 6.01 8. Valeria Cappellotto (Ita) Gas Sport Team 8.28 9. Rosalisa La Pomarda (Ita) Rosa Dei Venti 9.59 10. Roberta Bonanomi (Ita) Gas Sport Team 11.06 11. Fany Lecourtois (Fra) Alfa Lum 11.58 12. Catherine Marsal (Fra) Edilsavino 12.50 13. Marcia Eicher-Vouets Master Team Carpe Diem 12.58 14. Sara Felloni (Ita) AlfaLum 13.02 15. Iryna Chuehynova (Ukr) 13.05 |