Results and Reports for May 5-6, 2001ItalyPromoters wishing to submit results should send them to cyclingnews 3rd Trofeo Riviera Della Versilia -
1.15 3rd Trofeo Riviera Della Versilia - 1.15May 6, 2001 ReportBy James Victor, Australian women's team coach The A.I.S. Australian Women's team raced near the west coast of Tuscany on Saturday, in an Italian National series race that included all the professional teams back to full strength after racing throughout Europe in the last week. A difficult course with 4 major climbs between 2 to 6 km, and 6 to 10% grade, with the top of the last climb only 11km from the finish. The defending winner from last year, Simona Parente (Edil Savino) was the protagonist for the last 30km, and held a 40 sec. lead on the second-last climb. Over the top of the last climb the stronger climbers formed a group of 6, including Parente and Fabiana Luperini (Edil Savino), Jolanta Polivecuite and Mirjam Melchers (Acca Due O-Lorena), World Champion Zinaida Stahurskaia (GAS sport team) and Edita Pucinskaite (Alfa Lum). The remaining group of 40 riders were 25 seconds behind at the bottom of the descent and 7km to the finish. The Australians were immediately on the front with Kym Shirley, Hayley Rutherford and Alison Wright endeavouring to close the gap before the finish, with Sara Carrigan waiting for the sprint. With 2km left the gap was only 5 secs. and holding, so Carrigan decided to finish the chase and retrieved the back of the lead-group with only 500 metres remaining. A few tight corners into the finish, and Stahurskaia led from the last corner, clearly impeding Melchers in the finish to hold on for the win, with Pucinskaite 3rd. From the main group Sara Felloni (Alfa Lum) had the dream run behind the Australians to take 4th, and Parente holding on for 5th. Sunday's race is closer to home in Parma, and the Italian based A.I.S. group's last race before the Tour de l'Aude in France from May 17-27. Results - 87 km1 Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr) GAS Sport Team 2.23.00 (36.503 km/h) 2 Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Acca Due O-HP Lorena Camicie 3 Edita Pucinskaite (Lit) Team Alfa Lum 4 Sara Felloni (Ita) Team Alfa Lum 5 Simona Parente (Ita) GAS Sport Team 6 Vera Hohlfeld (Ger) Acca Due O-HP Lorena Camicie 7 Aranda Grimberg (Ned) Acca Due O-HP Lorena Camicie 8 Loulia Martissova (Rus) Mixed team 9 Alessandra Cappellotta (Ita) GAS Sport team 10 Hayley Rutherford (Aus) A.I.S. Australia 122 starters 96 finishers 2nd Trofeo Guareschi prodotti Ittici - 1.15Sala Baganza, May 6, 2001 ReportBy James Victor, Australian women's team coach Another Italian National Series race today, close to the Australian/Italian base near Parma, the origin of Parmesan Cheese. Again a strong international field travelled from Tuscany yesterday, to confront 20 laps of a difficult 4.5 km circuit. There were a few attempts for breakaways with about 50 riders approaching the finish. The Aussies were endeavouring to get Rochelle Gilmore in front for the last 200 metre up-hill sprint, and rode well together trying to gain another podium. The usual push and shove over the last kilometre, with the consistent Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Acca Due O-Lorena, currently 2nd to Anna Millward in the world cup, winning by a bike-length from German Regina Schleicher, and Gilmore 3rd. A win and 2 thirds for the Australian women this week, with the team looking forward to the "10 day" Tour de l'Aude near Toulouse in France, starting on May 17. Current world no. 1 and World Cup leader, Anna Millward joins the Australian team in Italy next week before heading to France. Results - 85 km1 Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Acca Due O-HP Lorena Camicie 2.07.00 (40.157 km/h) 2 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Michela Fanini-Valvole Record Rox 3 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) A.I.S. Australia 4 Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr)GAS Sport team 5 Greta Zocca (Ita) GAS Sport team 6 Sara Felloni (Ita) Team Alfa Lum 7 Loulia Martissova (Rus) Mixed team 8 Anna Skawinska (Pol) Mixed team 9 Luisa Tamanini (Ita) Edil Savino-Anusca 10 Katia Longhin (Ita) Acca Due O-H.P. Lorena Camicie |