To keep the recent criticism at bay, my mate Graham Dowden from Sydney sent me this report from La Gazzetto dello Sport. He wrote to me "Here is something from the few articles in la Gazzetto dello Sport, who wax effusive when their favorite micro-climber Fabiana Luperini appears through the mist at the summit of the Tourmalet or Galibier but are otherwise fairly quiet."
Fabiana" "I give myself 60% chance of the final victory now, Jeannie 40%. I'm 1'30" behind her now, but I hope to recuperate in time for the big Alpine stages, because I know they are very hard." Jocelyne Messori of France and Roberta Bonanomi of Italy broke away 50km from the end on the first KOM climb of the Couret d'Asque. Their lead peleton was 4'54" at the foot of the Tourmalet, over a group of 20 which included Longo. At this point Bonanomi was virtually in the gold leaders jersey but was told to wait for Luperini by her director. Then Luperini began her deadly attack, resisted only by Polikievicute of Lithuania who stayed with Longo until the finish.
It was to be a "transfer" stage after the fatigue of the Tourmalet, and so it was until 5km from the end when Alessandra Cappellotto won the second stage for the Italians.
Convinced by team director Broccardo to have a go via radio, Cappellotto said: "It's been a life long dream to win like this, me at the finish line with my hands raised, with the peleton close but not at risk of catching me. I dedicate this victory to my team mates, mechanics, masseurs, soigneurs, doctors etc."
Alessandra Cappellotto of Italy and Maria-Josi Chaleat of France collided and fell on the Gineste, and only a furious chase with her team mates enabled Cappellotto to rejoin the leaders.
Jeannie Longo in the gold leader's jersey led the peleton over the Gineste, pedalling at a good rate, at her side Fabiana Luperini in the blue mountains jersey. Catherine Marsal attacked at Roquefort La Bedoule 26 km from the end but was caught.
The stage came down to a sprint finish which was won by Alison Dunlap of the USA-Vanwood team, followed by Zita Urbonaite of Lithuania and Yvonne Brunen of the Netherlands.
The 7th stage of the Tour Feminin, a scene from a movie that must be told. Principal characters Sigrid Corneo of Italy, French national chanpion Catherine Marsal and the Lithuanian Rasa Polikievicute. Not a "happy end" (sic) for Italy, the winner is Marsal, team mate of gold leader's jersy holder Jeannie Longo, which Corneo had to be content with 3rd place 41 seconds down.
An escape including Corneo began 17km from the start to attack the 2nd category Col de l'Espigoulier (725 m) for KOM points. Longo, Luperini and the other favorites showed little interesting in chasing but never let the gap grow beyond 5 minutes.
Marsal: "When Corneo went, I followed without tto much conviction because it was too far from the end. But when Polikievicute arrived I got stirred up a bit and started to go."
The success of Marsal, who made her move 10km from the end restored the morale of the French team, who yesterday lost Elisabeth Chevanne-Brunel, winner of the young rider's prize in the Giro, with a pelvis fractured in a fall.
Corneo had some mechanical problems. "I saw a link in my chain was loose, I tried to increase my cadence but I couldn't pedal too hard, then the chain jumped off and I banged my left knee on the handlebars. The other two girls waited for me when I fell, just as we helped Marsal when she was struggling on the climb.
Luperini: "A short climb like tomorrow's half stage is not really my ideal. Now my leg is still a bit bad and I don't want to risk everything by going for it. On the Valberg and Col de la Bonette I hope to be a bit better, because that is my kind of stage. (Translator says "Brava Fabiana!")
"The climb of the Tourmalet after the fall and various mechanical mishaps have really got to me. Only the encouragement of my team mates kept me going."