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Rossner makes it Six

One two for Saturn
Photo: © Rob Karman

Saturn's German locomotive, Petra Rossner has won her fifth Liberty Classic in a row, and her sixth of all time as the race once again finished in a bunch sprint. It's almost a prerequisite of Rossner's contract to win the Liberty Classic, and she did not disappoint her hard working Saturn teammates. Saturn also managed to keep Anna Millward in the World Cup leader's jersey, as she sprinted to second place behind Rossner.

The race started out with the American Autotrader.com Team fighting hard not to let the seemingly inevitable field sprint occur. Attack after attack, with sometimes two at a time, Autotrader attempted to launch one of their riders. However, the Saturn domestique team of Lyne Bessette, Suzanne Sonye, Ina Teutenberg and Kristy Scrymgeour were committed to Rossner winning yet another First Union Championship and they eventually succeeded.

Rossner's win marks an unbelievable fifth consecutive trip to the winner's podium at the First Union Liberty Classic, while Millward's second place ensured she kept the World Cup lead over Melchers. Rossner also now leads the US Pro Tour over teammate Teutenberg.

Results - 116 km

1 Petra Rossner (Ger) Saturn-Timex                           3.01.47 (38.29 km/h)
2 Anna Milward (Aus) Saturn-Timex
3 Debbie Mansveld (Ned) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Ladies Team
4 Sandy Espeseth (Can) Intersports
5 Mirjan Melchers (Ned) Acca Due O-HP-Lorena Camicie
6 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Ladies Team
7 Sara Symington (GBr) British National Team
8 Heidi Vandevijver (Bel) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Ladies Team
9 Paula Macnamara (USA) Verizon Wireless
10 Joann Kiesandowski (NZl) Procter & Gamble
11 Gina Grain (Can) 800.com
12 Kerry Helmuth (USA) Carpe Diem-Itera
13 Melanie Sears (GBr) British National Team
14 Anne Samplonius (Can) Intersports
15 Erin Carter (Can) Intersports
16 Jen Dial (USA) Verizon Wireless
17 Sigrid Corneo (Ita) Carpe Diem-Itera
18 Arenda Grimberg (Ned) Acca Due O-HP-Lorena Camicie
19 Katia Longhin (Ita) Acca Due O-HP-Lorena Camicie
20 Chantal Beltman (Ned) Dutch National Team
21 Charmaine Breon (USA) TalgoAmercia.com
22 Cheryl Binney (USA) Procter & Gamble
23 Suzy Pryde (NZl) Autotrader.com
24 Roz Reekie May (NZl) UPMC
25 Melissa Holt (NZl) UPMC
26 Mandy Poitras  (Can) 800.com
27 Lara Ruthven (USA) Carpe Diem-Itera
28 Sophie St. Jacques (Can) UPMC
29 Cassandra Ramirez (USA) Tri State Velo
30 Cindy Bauwens (Bel) Verizon Wireless
31 Laura Van Gilder (USA) Verizon Wireless
32 Ceris Gilfillan (GBr) British National Team
33 Lauren Franges (USA) Tri State Velo
34 Meredith Miller (USA) Jane's Cosmetics
35 Katrina Davis (USA) Trek CYBC
36 Marcia Eicher-Vouets (Swi) Carpe Diem-Itera
37 Andrea Hannos (Can) Verizon Wireless
38 Angela Hilenga (Ned) Dutch National Team
39 Jenny Eyerman (USA) Jane's Cosmetics
40 Cindy Pieters (Bel) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Ladies Team
41 Katrina Berger (USA) Autotrader.com
42 Joy Schaffer (USA) Credit Suisse First Boston
43 Marielle Van Scheppingen (Ned) Dutch National Team
44 Mina Pizzini (USA) Procter & Gamble
45 Caren Spore (USA) Jane's Cosmetics
46 Kori Kelly (USA) Procter & Gamble
47 Sarah Ulmer (NZl) Autotrader.com
48 Emily Thorne (USA) Trek CYBC
49 Rhonda Quick (USA) Jane's Cosmetics
50 Rebecca Conzelman (USA) TalgoAmercia.com
51 Rachel Heal (GBr) British National Team
52 Gail Longenecker (USA) Boise Cascade
53 Elizabeth Begosh (USA) Tri State Velo
54 Kim Morrow (USA) TalgoAmercia.com
55 Ghita Beltman (Ned) Dutch National Team
56 Vanessa Cheatley (NZl) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Ladies Team
57 Sue Palmer Komer (Can) Jane's Cosmetics
58 Julie Young (USA) Autotrader.com
59 Tina Mayolo (USA) Autotrader.com
60 Jessica Phillips (USA) Intersports
61 Catherine Marsal (Fra) Intersports
62 Beth Leasure (USA) Boise Cascade
63 Stacey Spencer (Can) Procter & Gamble
64 Lyne Bessette (Can) Saturn-Timex
65 Darnelle Moore (Can) Verizon Wireless
66 Kim Smith (USA) Autotrader.com
67 Jola Polikeviciute (Ltu) Acca Due O-HP-Lorena Camicie        0.09
68 Andrea Ratkovic (USA) 800.com
69 Kerry Soraci (USA) Boise Cascade                             0.39
70 Laura Shuford (USA) Trek CYBC                                0.43
71 Jody Diemar (USA) Boise Cascade                              1.13
72 Vanja Vonckx (Bel) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Ladies Team          2.09
73 Sandra Kolb (USA) Credit Suisse First Boston
74 Kristy Scrymgeour (Aus) Saturn-Timex                         4.07
75 Suzanne Sonye (USA) Saturn-Timex

Outside time limit

76 Julie Hutsevaut (Can) Jane's Cosmetics                      11.59
77 Amy Babcock (USA) Credit Suisse First Boston                14.22

DNF Ina Teutenberg (Ger) Saturn-Timex
DNF Vera Hohlfeld (Ger) Acca Due O-HP-Lorena Camicie
DNF Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) Acca Due O-HP-Lorena Camicie
DNF Sue Carter (GBr) British National Team
DNF Kate Farrell (USA) Trek CYBC
DNF Odessa Osorio (USA) Trek CYBC
DNF Alicia Genest (USA) Trek CYBC
DNF Martha Myer (USA) Procter & Gamble
DNF Annalisa Farrell (NZl) UPMC
DNF Cindy Carroll (USA) 800.com
DNF Sherri Stedje (USA) Credit Suisse First Boston
DNF Allie Warfel (USA) Credit Suisse First Boston
DNF Kathryn Wilder (USA) Credit Suisse First Boston
DNF Maria Collazo (USA) Tri State Velo
DNF Lenora Felker (USA) Tri State Velo
DNF Tania Duff Miller (NZl) Tri State Velo
DNF Tina Skelley (USA) TalgoAmercia.com
DNF Elizabeth Sterling (USA) TalgoAmercia.com
DNF Kelly Yoder (USA) TalgoAmercia.com
DNS Yvonne Mcgregor (GBr) British National Team

1 Anna Millward (Aus) Saturn-Timex                                268 pts
2 Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Acca Due O-HP-Lorena Camicie              222
3 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Ladies Team        160
4 Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr) Gas Sport Team                         91
5 Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Edilsavino                                86
6 Sara Felloni (Ita) Alfa Lum R.S.M.                               76
7 Petra Rossner (Ger) Saturn-Timex                                 75
8 Geneviève Jeanson (Can) Equipe Cycliste Rona                     75
9 Heidi Van De Vijver (Bel) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Ladies Team       75
10 Ceris Gilfillan (GBr)                                           54
11 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Alfa Lum R.S.M.                         45
12 Sarah Ulmer (NZl) Autotrader.com                                45
13 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Acca Due O-HP-Lorena Camicie              39
14 Sandy Espeseth (Can)                                            36
15 Debby Mansveld (Ned) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Ladies Team           35
16 Lyne Bessette (Can) Saturn-Timex                                35
17 Trixi Worrack (Ger)                                             35
18 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus)                                          35
19 Alison Wright (Aus)                                             34
20 Mari Holden (USA) Alfa Lum R.S.M.                               33
21 Sarah Symington (GBr)                                           32
22 Sara Carrigan (Aus)                                             30
23 Simona Parente (Ita) Edilsavino                                 30
24 Cindy Pieters (Bel) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Ladies Team            29
25 Chantal Beltman (Ned)                                           28
26 Vera Hohlfeld (Ger) Acca Due O-HP-Lorena Camicie                25
27 Giovanna Troldi (Ita) Acca Due O-HP-Lorena Camicie              25
28 Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli (Fra)                                    24
29 Miho Oki (Jpn)                                                  24
30 Nicole Brändli (Swi) Edilsavino                                 24
31 Madeleine Lindberg (Swe) Farm Frites-Hartol                     21
32 Bridget Evans (Aus) Carpe Diem-Itera                            21
33 Rosalind Reekie-May (NZl)                                       19
34 Elisabeth Tadich (Aus)                                          18
35 Yvonne Mcgregor (GBr)                                           16
36 Paula Macnamara (USA)                                           15
37 Kimberly Bruckner (USA) Saturn-Timex                            15
38 Melissa Holt (NZl)                                              13
39 Joanne Kiesandowski (NZl)                                       11
40 Susy Pryde (NZl) Autotrader.com                                 11
41 Lara Ruthven (USA) Carpe Diem-Itera                             11
42 Fany Lecourtois (Fra) Alfa Lum R.S.M.                           11
43 Gina Grain (Can)                                                10
44 Judith Arndt (Ger)                                              10
45 Kerry Ellen Hellmuth (USA) Carpe Diem-Itera                      9
46 Melanie Sears (GBr)                                              8
47 Sophie Creux (Fra)                                               8
48 Jenny Algelid (Swe) Equipe Nürnberger                            8
49 Sandra Wampfler (Swi) C.A. Mantes La Ville 78                    8
50 Anne Samplonius (Can)                                            7
51 Rhonda Quick (USA)                                               7
52 Hayley Rutherford (Aus)                                          7
53 Erin Carter (Can)                                                6
54 Kym Shirley (Aus)                                                6
55 Anke Erlank (RSA) Saturn-Timex                                   6
56 Jennifer Dial (USA)                                              5
57 Vanessa Rochelle Cheatley (NZl) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Ladies Team 5
58 Margaret Hemsley (Aus) Farm Frites-Hartol                        5
59 Sigrid Corneo (Ita) Carpe Diem-Itera                             4
60 Olga Zabelinskaia (Rus) Carpe Diem-Itera                         4
61 Séverine Desbouys (Fra) Gas Sport Team                           4
62 Luisiana Pegoraro (Ita) Carpe Diem-Itera                         4
63 Emma James (Aus)                                                 4
64 Arenda Grimberg (Ned) Acca Due O-HP-Lorena Camicie               3
65 Cybil Di Guistini (Can) C.A. Mantes La Ville 78                  3
66 Nataliya Kachalka (Ukr) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox           3
67 Joane Somarriba Arrola (Spa) Alfa Lum R.S.M.                     3
68 Katia Longhin (Ita) Acca Due O-HP-Lorena Camicie                 2
69 Manon Jutras (Can) Equipe Cycliste Rona                          2
70 Katie Mactier (Aus)                                              2
71 Vera Carrara (Ita) Carpe Diem-Itera                              2
72 Melanie Doron (Can)                                              1
73 Marcia Eicher-Vouets (Swi) Carpe Diem-Itera                      1
74 Tatiana Stiajkina (Ukr) Alfa Lum R.S.M.                          1
75 Pamela Schuster (USA) Autotrader.com                             1

Preview: Can Rossner make it six?

By Jeff Jones

Despite the presence of the steep 17% Manayunk Wall in the First Union Liberty Classic in Philadelphia, Saturn's sprinting star Petra Rossner is still the main favourite for the 116 km, 5 lap race. She has, after all, won it four times in a row and will be backed by star studded line up including world number one Anna Millward, Tour de l'Aude winner Lyne Bessette, fellow German sprinter Ina Teutenberg, and strong domestiques Suzanne Sonye and Kristy Scrymgeour. Will they be able to lead out Rossner for her "trademark" race, which is also round 6 of the women's World Cup.

Strong competition will come from the world's number one team, Acca Due O-HP-Lorena Camicie, with Dutch champion Mirjam Melchers supported by compatriot Arenda Grimberg, Vera Hohlfeld, Katia Longhin and the Polikeviciute twins. The British team with Ceris Gilfillan and Sara Symington may not quite have the speed to match Rossner (who does?) but could be dangerous if in a break.

Top Swedish rider Susanne Ljungskog has already won a round of the World Cup (La Primavera Rosa) and placed second last week in Montreal, and the Vlaanderen-T-Interim rider could produce another good ride in Philly tomorrow. Another team to watch is the interestingly named, and well performed Carpe Diem-Itera squad, with Russians Olga Sloussareva and Olga Zabelinskaja together with Lara Ruthven, Sigrid Corneo, Vera Carrara and Kerry Helmuth. The 'Olgas' recently cleaned up in several classifications in the Tour de l'Aude, and cannot be underestimated.

One rider who will not be participating in this race is last week's winner in Montreal, Geneviève Jeanson (Equipe Rona). This comes as a surprise to some, given the way she demolished the world class field in Montreal. In addiiton, she will not be riding the rich and prestigious HP Women's Challenge (June 13-24) - a race quite well suited to her climbing abilities.

Why is it so? When asked, she told Cyclingnews that "In Philly because I had a tough 2 weeks (before and after the World Cup) with the media and the preparation for the race. I'm smashed and the girls on the team too."

"The HP Women's Challenge because it's way too long! 12 days...I'm not ready for that and I don't know how well I will recuperate after 12 days of racing."

Start list

Saturn Cycling Team             Acca Due O-Lorena Camicie
1 Petra Rossner (Ger)           11 Mirjam Melchers (Ned)
2 Lyne Bessette (Can)           12 Arenda Grimberg (Ned)
3 Suzanne Sonye (USA)           13 Vera Hohlfeld (Ger)
4 Anna Milward (Aus)            14 Katia Longhin (Ita)
5 Ina Teutenberg (Ger)          15 Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu)
6 Kristy Scrymgeour (Aus)       16 Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu)
 
British National                Autotrader.com
21 Yvone McGregor (GBr)         31 Suzy Pryde (NZl)
22 Ceris Gilfillan (GBr)        32 Sarah Ulmer (Can)
23 Sara Symington (GBr)         33 Julie Young (USA)
24 Melanie Sears (GBr)          34 Kim Smith (USA)
25 Sue Carter (GBr)             36 Tina Mayolo (USA)
26 Emma Davies (GBr)            37 Katrina Berger (USA)
 
Vlaanderen T Interim            Trek CYBC
41 Debby Mansveld (Ned)         51 Emily Thorne (USA)
42 Veronique Belleter (Bel)     52 Katrina Davis (USA)
43 Heidi Van De Vijver (Bel)    53 Laura Shuford (USA)
44 Vanja Vonckx (Bel)           54 Kate Farrell (USA)
45 Vanessa Cheatley (NZl)       55 Janine Vaerstraeten (USA)
46 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe)      56 Alicia Genest (USA)
 
Procter & Gamble                Jane Cosmetics
61 Cheryl Binney (USA)          71 Julie Hutsebaut (Can)
62 Kori Kelly (USA)             72 Jenny Eyerman (USA)
63 Martha Meyer (USA)           73 Sue Palmer Komar (USA)
64 Stacey Spencer (Can)         74 Rhonda Quick (USA)
65 Joanne Kiesandowski (NZl)    75 Caren Spore (USA)
66 Mini Pizzini (USA)
 
UPMC                            Boise Cascade
81 Roz Reekie May (NZ)          91 Gail Longenecker (USA)
82 Annalisa Farrell (NZl)       92 Kerry Soraci (USA)
83 Tracy Clark (NZl)            93 Heather Peck (USA)
84 Melissa Holt (NZl)           94 Beth Leasure (USA)
85 Sophie St Jacques (Can)      95 Jody Diemar (USA)
86 Andrea Foster (USA)
 
Verizon Wireless                800.com
101 Laura Van Gilder (USA)      111 Andrea Ratkovic (USA)
102 Cindy Bauwens (Bel)         112 Gina Grain (USA)
103 Andrea Hannos (Can)         113 Cindy Carroll (USA)
104 Paula MacNamara (USA)       114 Nicole Demars (USA)
105 Jen Dial (USA)              115 Mandy Poitras (USA)
106 Darnelle Moore (Can)
 
Credit Suisse First Boston      Team Intersports
121                             131 Anne Samplonius (Can)
122 Sandra Kolb (USA)           132 Sandy Espeseth (Can)
123 Allie Warfel (USA)          133 Erin Carter (Can)
124 Amy Babcock (USA)           134 Jessica Phillips (USA)
125 Joy Schaffer (USA)          135 Catherine Marsal (Fra)
126 Krystyna Krass (USA)
 
Tri State Velo                  Dutch National
141 Elizabeth Begosh (USA)      151 Chantal Beltman (Ned)
142 Maria Collazo (USA)         152 Ghita Beltman (Ned)
143 Lenora Felker (USA)         153 Angela Hilenga (Ned)
144 Lauren Franges (USA)        154 Mirella van Melis (Ned)
145 Cassandra Ramirez (USA)     155 Marielle van Scheppingen (Ned)
146 Tania Duff Miller (NZl)
 
Carpe Diem-Itera                Team Talgoamerica.com
161 Vera Carrara (Ita)          171 Kim Morrow (USA)
162 Sigrid Corneo (Ita)         172 Tina Skelley (USA)
163 Olga Zabelinskaja (Rus)     173 Charmian Breon (USA)
164 Kerry Helmuth (USA)         174 Elizabeth Sterling (USA)
165 Lara Ruthven (USA)          175 Rebecca Conzelman (USA)
166 Olga Sloussareva (Rus)      176 Kelly Yoder (USA)

Past winners

2000 Petra Rossner (Ger) Saturn Cycling Team  116.9 kms in 3.00.02 (38.68 km/h)
1999 Petra Rossner (Ger) German National Team 116.9 kms in 3.01.23
1998 Petra Rossner (Ger) 

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