5th Tour de Snowy - 2.9.1

Australia, March 4-6, 2002

Stage 5 - March 6: Cooma Criterium, 30 km. Start 5:30pm, finish 6:14pm

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Saturn runs rings around the peloton

20-lap lead-out effort secures victory

By Jeff Jones in Cooma

Ring of Saturn
Photo ©: Tom Balks

With only a one second lead - and a 20 second time bonus on offer for the final stage - the Netherlands' Mirjam Melchers was always going to have fight to retain her leader's jersey in this year's Tour de Snowy. Fight she did, but eventually the Dutch rider had to succumb to a superb team effort by the USA's Saturn team.

"I had a great team," said an incredulous, but ecstatic Arndt. "Did you see that? Oh my god, they are so strong. They did a leadout for the last 20 laps maybe."

This was the point in the final criterium stage of the Tour de Snowy, held on a street circuit in the alpine town of Cooma, that Saturn riders Cathy Marsal (Fra) and Kristy Scrymgeour (Aust) went to the front and put the hammer down. The two swapped turns, with Australians Naomi Williams and Alison Wright also contributing, negating any chance of Melchers escaping.

Close behind the Saturn duo was their team-mate Judith Arndt (Ger), second on GC as she went into the final stage and conserving her energy after an exceptional solo effort in the morning stage, where she closed the deficit from nearly one minute to just one second.

Melchers and Gilmore
Photo ©: Tom Balks

In close proximity throughout this show of strength was Melchers, closely following Arndt and in a sprint, possibly the faster of the two. But as the peloton went into the final lap, Arndt in third wheel and Melchers right behind, the German rider clipped a pedal on the uphill, off-camber corner. Arndt threw out a slight wobble and Melchers was forced to brake, leaving a gap of two to three metres which the rest of the peloton left to Mirjam to close.

"I think I was lucky because I nearly crashed on one corner and Mirjam was on my back wheel," said Arndt. "I think she was a little bit shocked and she let a gap and probably that was good for me."

Showing her fighting spirit, the Dutch rider closed the break as the Saturn riders really gave it one last effort on the downhill section. But it was too much for Melchers, as she recalled afterwards: "Because Saturn knew what happened, the two together said "Go, go, go!" I gave everything to get them. Judith saw it and she got away and nobody wanted to close it. They were just too strong," she sighed.

Gilmore wins it
Photo ©: Tom Balks

Melchers' effort also carried up local Aussie speedster Rochelle Gilmore, who hit the gas to cross the line in first place with Arndt in second, Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Vlaanderen in third, Priska Doppmann in fourth and Melchers in fifth.

For Gilmore, it was a very emotional win, after she learned today that her grandmother, who had driven down to Cooma to see her race, had had a stroke. "She's in Cooma hospital and I've been there all afternoon. I wish she could have been here...I promised her that I would win, and after this morning I said to her that I'd do it for her."

"This was for her - I was thinking about her the whole race."

There were no doubts about Arndt's joy, which was shared with her teammates who did such a professional job in leading her out. It was the team that made the difference. On pure strength, Melchers should have won this tour, as she was consistently the best climber - remember how Arndt yo-yoed off the back of the lead group on stage one?

Melchers couldn't capitalise on that, in spite of this morning's work by USA-Cannondale, also coached by former Dutch sprinter Jean-Paul Van Poppel. The combined strength of Saturn and a little bit of luck put the odds against her, and she had to concede defeat in the end.

As a consolation, Melchers finished with the points and mountains championships and second overall in the general classification. Perhaps with a stronger Dutch team next year, she could finally win this race which she has been a regular competitor.

The 2002 Tour de Snowy will go down as the most exciting and hard fought edition of this race. All the competitors and spectators, including the sizeable crowd in Cooma, appreciated the aggressive racing in the beautiful Australian alps which contain some of the most breathtaking scenery in the country. The Tour de Snowy looks set to be bigger and better next year.

Photography

Race director Phill Bates - prepares the course for the final stage
The Cooma crowd - enjoying the evening's action
The field - lines up for the final stage of the Tour de Snowy
An emotional Rochelle Gilmore (NSWIS-Trek) - lines up for the start
The peloton - race past the Cooma Hotel, cheered on by the locals
The peloton - round the first corner, cheered on by a crowd of Cooma locals
Kimberly Bruckner (Saturn) - rounds the second corner during the final stage
Melissa Holt (New Zealand) - won all three sprint primes early in the race
Best Australian rider Margaret Hemsley - rounds a corner during the criterium
Best U23 rider Hayley Rutherford - rides with Kim Bruckner (Saturn), Hanka Kupfernagel (Nurnberger/Vlaanderen) and Mirjam Melchers (Netherlands)
Lorian Graham (Cooma Cycles) - was one of the best performed local riders
Judith Arndt (Saturn) - rides during the final stage
The Saturn train - Kristy Scrymgeour, Cathy Marsal and Judith Arndt
Mirjam Melchers (Netherlands) - working hard in the bunch with Rochelle Gilmore on her wheel
The Saturn ring - around Mirjam Melchers during the final stage in Cooma
Susanne Ljungskog (3rd overall) - rides in the pack
Rochelle Gilmore - wins the stage, Judith Arndt finishes second and wins the tour
Rochelle Gilmore (NSWIS) - gives a triumphant salute as she wins the final stage
The Saturn team - hug each other after Judith Arndt's remarkable victory
Team Saturn (L to R) - Jessica Phillips, Kimberly Bruckner, Petra Rossner, Judith Arndt, Kristy Scrymgeour, and Cathy Marsal

Results

1 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) NSWIS Trek Team                 42.25 (42.4 km/h)
2 Judith Arndt (Ger) Saturn
3 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Vlaanderen
4 Priska Doppmann (Swi) International
5 Mirjam Melchers (Ned) The Netherlands
6 Alison Wright (Aus) AIS
7 Miho Oki (Jpn) Japan 1
8 Hayley Rutherford (Aus) AIS
9 Naomi Williams (Aus) AIS
10 Catherine Marsal (Fra) Saturn
11 Melissa Holt (NZl) New Zealand
12 Margaret Hemsley (Aus) Australian National Team
13 Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) Vlaanderen
14 Lorain Graham (Aus) Cycle Cooma
15 Liz Tadich (Aus) AIS
16 Briget Evans (Aus) Cycle Cooma
17 Rosalind Reekie-May (NZl) New Zealand
18 Sara Carrigan (Aus) AIS
19 Emma James (Aus) NSWIS Trek Team
20 Olivia Gollan (Aus) AIS
21 Kimberly Bruckner (USA) Saturn
22 Kirstie Robb (NZl) New Zealand
23 Oenone Wood (Aus) Cycle Cooma
24 Susie Wood (NZl) New Zealand
25 Helen Kelly (Aus) Australian National Team
26 Kristy Scrymgeour (Aus) Saturn
27 Debby Mansveld (Ned) Vlaanderen
28 Natalie Bates (Aus) NSWIS Trek Team
29 Mari Holden (USA) Cannondale USA
30 Heidi Van De Vijver (Bel) Vlaanderen
31 Arenda Grimberg (Ned) The Netherlands
32 Petra Rossner (Ger) Saturn
33 Kym Shirley (Aus) Australian National Team             1.12
34 Claire Baxter (Aus) Southern Regional Team             1.38
35 Amy Safe (Aus) Australian National Team
36 Emma Rickards (Aus) Australian National Team           1.56
37 Jessica Phillips (USA) Saturn
38 Anna Jones-Perrin (Aus) Northern Regional Team         4.06
39 Ayumu Otsuka (Jpn) Japan 1
40 Katrina Berger (USA) Cannondale USA
41 Vanessa Cheatley (NZl) Vlaanderen                      5.01
42 Elsbeth Vink (Ned) The Netherlands
43 Nicky Solomon (NZl) New Zealand
44 Alison Urquhart (Aus) Northern Regional Team
45 Risa Sakaida (Jpn) Japan 2
46 Liz Hickey (Aus) Cycle Cooma
47 Toni Bradshaw (NZl) New Zealand
48 Jennifer Manefield (Aus) NSWIS Trek Team
49 Hiroko Shimada (Jpn) Japan 2
50 Emily Williams (Aus) Cycle Cooma
51 Tamamo Nakamura (Jpn) Japan 1
52 Raeleigh Tennant (Aus) Cycle Cooma
53 Dorothy Cowden (USA) Cannondale USA                    6.02
54 Mary Lou Webb (Aus) Northern Regional Team             9.58
55 Johanna Buick (NZl) International                     11.14
DNF Kimberly Anderson (USA) Cannondale USA
DNF Esther van der Helm (Ned) The Netherlands
DNS Julie Hooper (GBr) International
DNS Nicola Bedwell (GBr) International
 
Number of starters: 57
Classified: 55
Outside time limit: 0
 
Final general classification
 
1 Judith Arndt (Ger) Saturn                            8.35.50
2 Mirjam Melchers (Ned) The Netherlands                   0.14
3 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Vlaanderen                      0.29
4 Priska Doppmann (Swi) International                     0.38
5 Kimberly Bruckner (USA) Saturn                          0.52
6 Margaret Hemsley (Aus) Australian National Team         1.19
7 Emma James (Aus) NSWIS Trek Team                        1.41
8 Catherine Marsal (Fra) Saturn                           1.56
9 Rosalind Reekie-May (NZl) New Zealand                   1.59
10 Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) Vlaanderen                     2.35
11 Susie Wood (NZl) New Zealand                           2.36
12 Miho Oki (Jpn) Japan 1                                 2.59
13 Hayley Rutherford (Aus) AIS                            3.25
14 Kirstie Robb (NZl) New Zealand
15 Naomi Williams (Aus) AIS                               3.38
16 Briget Evans (Aus) Cycle Cooma
17 Olivia Gollan (Aus) AIS
18 Oenone Wood (Aus) Cycle Cooma                          4.25
19 Kym Shirley (Aus) Australian National Team             4.37
20 Liz Tadich (Aus) AIS                                   5.14
21 Mari Holden (USA) Cannondale USA                       5.59
22 Alison Wright (Aus) AIS                                6.53
23 Melissa Holt (NZl) New Zealand                         9.04
24 Emily Williams (Aus) Cycle Cooma                       9.14
25 Jessica Phillips (USA) Saturn                          9.44
26 Claire Baxter (Aus) Southern Regional Team            10.12
27 Nicky Solomon (NZl) New Zealand                       10.28
28 Heidi Van De Vijver (Bel) Vlaanderen                  12.34
29 Helen Kelly (Aus) Australian National Team            13.41
30 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) NSWIS Trek Team                14.07
31 Jennifer Manefield (Aus) NSWIS Trek Team              14.24
32 Ayumu Otsuka (Jpn) Japan 1                            14.29
33 Amy Safe (Aus) Australian National Team               14.46
34 Katrina Berger (USA) Cannondale USA                   17.02
35 Toni Bradshaw (NZl) New Zealand                       19.18
36 Hiroko Shimada (Jpn) Japan 2                          21.17
37 Arenda Grimberg (Ned) The Netherlands                 22.33
38 Natalie Bates (Aus) NSWIS Trek Team                   25.14
39 Lorain Graham (Aus) Cycle Cooma                       26.18
40 Petra Rossner (Ger) Saturn                            26.42
41 Kristy Scrymgeour (Aus) Saturn                        27.23
42 Dorothy Cowden (USA) Cannondale USA                   28.26
43 Emma Rickards (Aus) Australian National Team          29.28
44 Sara Carrigan (Aus) AIS                               30.55
45 Johanna Buick (NZl) International                     34.24
46 Tamamo Nakamura (Jpn) Japan 1                         35.17
47 Debby Mansveld (Ned) Vlaanderen                       38.30
48 Anna Jones-Perrin (Aus) Northern Regional Team        39.20
49 Alison Urquhart (Aus) Northern Regional Team          40.07
50 Vanessa Cheatley (NZl) Vlaanderen                     44.47
51 Elsbeth Vink (Ned) The Netherlands                    46.56
52 Liz Hickey (Aus) Cycle Cooma                        1.02.55
53 Risa Sakaida (Jpn) Japan 2                          1.08.22
54 Raeleigh Tennant (Aus) Cycle Cooma                  1.16.23
55 Mary Lou Webb (Aus) Northern Regional Team          1.40.50
 
Mountain Championship
 
1 Mirjam Melchers (Ned) The Netherlands                     24 pts
2 Emma James (Aus) NSWIS Trek Team                          14
3 Priska Doppmann (Swi) International                       14
4 Kimberly Bruckner (USA) Saturn                            11
6 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Vlaanderen                         9
7 Margaret Hemsley (Aus) Australian National Team            6
8 Sara Carrigan (Aus) AIS                                    6
9 Petra Rossner (Ger) Saturn                                 3
10 Rosalind Reekie-May (NZl) New Zealand                     2
11 Mari Holden (USA) Cannondale USA                          2
12 Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) Vlaanderen                        1
 
Points Champion
 
1 Mirjam Melchers (Ned) The Netherlands                      7 pts
2 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) NSWIS Trek Team                     7
3 Judith Arndt (Ger) Saturn                                  6
4 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Vlaanderen                         6
5 Emma James (Aus) NSWIS Trek Team                           5
6 Liz Tadich (Aus) AIS                                       5
7 Alison Wright (Aus) AIS                                    5
8 Priska Doppmann (Swi) International                        4
9 Melissa Holt (NZl) New Zealand                             3
10 Margaret Hemsley (Aus) Australian National Team           2
11 Arenda Grimberg (Ned) The Netherlands                     2
12 Ayumu Otsuka (Jpn) Japan 1                                1
13 Petra Rossner (Ger) Saturn                                1
14 Kimberly Bruckner (USA) Saturn                            1
 
U23 Champion
 
1 Hayley Rutherford (Aus) AIS