12th Giro d'Italia Femminile - 2.9.1

Italy, July 1-15, 2001

Stage 12 - July 14: Vittoria Veneto - Vittoria Veneto, 108 km

A duel to the finish between Stahurskaia and Brandli

Elena Tchlykh wins in Vittorio Veneto

After two weeks of exciting racing, the 12th Giro d'Italia Internazionale Femminile will finish in duel in the 34.5 km individual time trial from Cornuda to Valdobbiadene tomorrow. Current race leader Zinaida Stahurskaia of the Team Gas Sport team, will be up against Swiss rider Nicole Brandli, the revelation of this year's Giro. There is just 20 seconds between the two, a close margin which means that both riders have a great chance of winning.

After the shock of almost losing the pink jersey on Friday after mechanical trouble, Stahurskaia seems confident that she can ride well: "I think me and Brandli are pretty much equal but I don't want to be affected by any useless pressure. I'm happy with how I feel and I'm sure I can win this Giro. I think I've deserved it as well."

However even the shy and reserved Brandli is determined. "My morale is sky high after winning two stages and can't be happier with my form. After two weeks of hard racing, I think the decisive factor will be the energy we have left rather than natural time trial ability. I'm sure I've got a great chance."

As well as deciding the final winner of the Giro, it will also decide the third placed rider on the podium. Fabiana Luperini is currently third but Alessandro Cappellotto is just behind her and is a better time trialist. Edita Pucinskaite and Diana Ziluite could also move up from their fourth and fifth places.

It will be an exciting final stage around the Marca Trevigiana area, where today's stage also offered another interesting stage, starting and finishing in Vittorio Veneto. Russian Elena Tchlykh (Carpe Diem) won the stage -her first important win on the road after riding well on the track (she was bronze medal winner in the individual pursuit).

Tchalykh went on the attack after 36km and after being caught by a group of four riders -Kvalo, Bonanomi, Urbonaite, e Samokhalova, she won the sprint using her fast finish. Behind her was Norwegian rider Jorunn Kvalo (Team Sponsor Service) and Roberta Bonanomi (Gas Sport Team).

Report courtesy of www.girodonne.com

Results

1 Elena Tchlykh (Rus) Carpe Diem Itera                            2.45.19 (39.197 km/h)
2 Jorunn Kvalo (Nor) Team Sponsor Service Norway
3 Roberta Bonanomi (Ita) Gas Sport Team
4 Zita Urbonaite (Ltu) G.S. Acca Due O - H.P. Lorena Camicie
5 Svetlana Samokhvalova (Ukr) Carpe Diem Itera Cycling Team           0.10
6 Arenda Grimberg (Ned) G.S. Acca Due O - H.P. Lorena Camicie         1.35
7 Lara Ruthven (USA) Carpe Diem Itera Cycling Team
8 Valentina Karpenko (Ukr) Ciegi Professional Cycling Team
9 Regina Schleicher (Swi) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox
10 Monica Valen (Nor) Team Sponsor Service Norway
11 Katia Longhin (Ita) G.S. Acca Due O - H.P. Lorena Camicie
12 Sara Felloni (Ita) Team Alfa Lum Aurora R.S.M.
13 Greta Zocca (Ita) Gas Sport Team
14 Julia Martisova (Rus) Carpe Diem Itera Cycling Team
15 Francesca Castrucci (Ita) G.S. Team Aliverti
16 Elena Novikova (Rus) G.S. Team Aliverti
17 Alessandra D'ettore (Ita) G.S. Team Aliverti
18 Barbara Cazzaniga (Ita) S.C.I. Chirio Forno D'asolo
19 Emanuela Brigati (Ita) S.C.I. Chirio Forno D'asolo
20 Debby Mansveld (Ned) Vlaanderen T. Interim Ladies Team
21 Andrea Purner (Swi) Equipe Nurnberger
22 Anna Skawinska (Pol) Ciegi Professional Cycling Team
23 Priska Doppmann (Swi) G.S. Acca Due O - H.P. Lorena Camicie
24 Malgorzata Wysocka (Pol) Ciegi Professional Cycling Team
25 Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr) Gas Sport Team
 
General Classification After Stage 12
 
1 Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr) Gas Sport Team                        39.43.05 (36.566 km/h)
2 Nicole Brandli (Swi) G.S.Edilsavino Anusca                          0.20
3 Fabiana Luperini (Ita) G.S.Edilsavino Anusca                        5.10
4 Alessandra Cappellotto (Ita) Gas Sport Team                         5.11
5 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Team Alfa Lum Aurora R.S.M.                 5.46
6 Diana Ziliute (Ltu) G.S. Acca Due O - H.P. Lorena Camicie           6.07
7 Joanne Somarriba (Spa) Team Alfa Lum Aurora R.S.M.                  7.32
8 Cindy Pieters (Bel) Vlaanderen T. Interim Ladies Team              10.16
9 Mirjam Melchers (Ned) G.S. Acca Due O - H.P. Lorena Camicie        11.49
10 Simona Parente (Ita) G.S.Edilsavino Anusca                        13.07
11 Olga Zabrlinskaja (Rus) Carpe Diem Itera Cycling Team             13.27
12 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Vlaanderen T. Interim Ladies Team         13.56
13 Mari Holden (USA) Team Alfa Lum Aurora R.S.M.                     22.16
14 Marcia Eicher (Swi) Carpe Diem Itera Cycling Team                 24.40
15 Marianna Lorenzoni (Ita) G.S. Team Aliverti                       27.21
16 Priska Doppmann (Swi) G.S. Acca Due O - H.P. Lorena Camicie       29.34
17 Tetyana Andrusmchenko (Ukr) Ciegi Professional Cycling Team       30.22
18 Tatiana Stiajkina (Ukr) Team Alfa Lum Aurora R.S.M.               32.16
19 Valentina Karpenko (Ukr) Ciegi Professional Cycling Team          34.47
20 Roberta Bonanomi (Ita) Gas Sport Team                             35.21
21 Daniela Veronesi (Ita) Team Alfa Lum Aurora R.S.M.                35.52
22 Fatima Blazquez Lozano (Spa) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox       36.00
23 Gunn Rita Dhale (Nor) Team Sponsor Service Norway                 38.54
24 Zita Urbonaite (Ltu) G.S. Acca Due O - H.P. Lorena Camicie        41.37
25 Arenda Grimberg (Ned) G.S. Acca Due O - H.P. Lorena Camicie       44.08