5th G.P. Cento Carnevale d'Europa - 1.9.2

Italy, July 21, 2001

2000 Results    Past winners

Gilmore wins GP Carnevale d'Europa

By James Victor, AIS women's team

Click for larger image
Rochelle Gilmore (A.I.S. Australia) with her trophies.
Photo: © James Victor

The A.I.S./Australian Women's team raced the 1.9.2 GP Carnevale d'Europa in the nearby village of Cento. Greta Zocca beat Anna Millward and Sara Felloni in this race last year, with only Felloni making an appearance this year. Zocca is still recovering from finishing the Giro last week, after taking out a record four stage wins.

The 6km circuit was flat and fast, with the 80 strong field covering 17 laps, sprinting every 3 laps for primes, and a 600 metre smooth cobble section through the finish line each time. With some strong sprinters here, it was a predicted that most of the strong teams would keep everything together for a bunch sprint, and the A.I.S. Australian team were pinning their hopes on recent Giro stage winner Rochelle Gilmore for the expected fast finish.

Without Zocca, GAS Sport team were still well represented with recent Women's GIRO winner and current World Champion Zinaida Stahurskaia, Allessandra Cappellotto, Roberta Bonanomi and local favourite Gabriella Pregnalato. Other professional teams included Acca Due O-Lorena with Diana Ziliute, Katia Longhin and current junior world champion from England, Nicole Cooke, Alfa Lum with Sara Felloni, Michela Fanini Record with Regina Schleicher, and Carpe Diem, Edil Savino, Ciegi and Figuerlla Dream Team.

There were no serious attempts early in the race, with the agression coming towards the later stages with Roberta Bonanomi (GAS Sport) and Vera Carrara (Carpe Diem) being the only serious attempts with individual attacks going out to 40 seconds.

Carrara was easily brought back with the bunch approaching the last 10 km, and teams getting together for their sprinters. Australian's Liz Tadich and Naomi Williams started the lead-out for Rochelle Gilmore, with Katie Mactier ready to take over for the final 800 metres onto the cobbles.

Pregnalato made one last attempt to get clear in the last kilometre, being quickly covered by Katie Mactier, and Rochelle Gilmore sitting nicely for the sprint. Diana Ziliute took Katia Longhin onto the cobbles with 500 metres remaining, and Rochelle Gilmore made her move straight away, giving herself a long straight sprint, and a comfortable bike-length advantage over Zinaida Stahurskaia, with Katia Longhin 3rd.

The Australians head to Germany on Monday for the U.C.I. category 1, Thuringen Rundfahrt Tour, from July 24 to 29. A strong field again expected with Saturn making the journey from the U.S.A. with world no. 1 Anna Millward, Germans Petra Rossner and Ina Teutenburg, and Tour de l'Aude and Hewlett Packard Tour winner Lyne Bessette from Canada.

Australia will be represented by: Rochelle Gilmore, Katie Mactier, Liz Tadich, Naomi Williams and Karen Sumpton.

Results

1 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) A.I.S. Australia
2 Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr) GAS Sport team
3 Katia Longhin (Ita)  Acca Due O HP Lorena Camicie
...
12 Katie Mactier (Aus) A.I.S. Australia

Past winners

2000  Greta Zocca (Ita)