Back on track: The Marion Clignet Journal 2004

French track legend Marion Clignet retired from racing in 2000, intending to become active as an advocate for women's sport. But after two years off the bike, and perhaps inspired by the other female champions she's encountered while working as a presenter for French TV, Clignet returned to the velodrome in 2003 to the velodrome in a determined comeback. After a solid year building a foundation, Marion's back competing at thehighest level in 2004.

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Giro d'Italia Femminile - 2.9.1, Italy, July 2-11, 2004

If at first you dont suceed, try, try, and.....pray!!!

Stage 6 - July 8: Sovico - Lazzate, 101.8km

Today's stage was 101kms with a few wet cobbles, a few category threeGPM's, wet turns, etc. We started out in the rain to cool things off a bit and the peloton seemed to want to get things over in a hurry....or perhaps i'm a bit tired. In any case I was in last position with room to slide if any one went down in front of me and it seemed like the front of the peleton was at least 1km up the road.

After we did the traditional two or three laps of the area we went off into the surrounding hills. At about km 50 I saw the lead moto hold up a chalk board, meaning that someone was off the front unbeknownst to me....again! 19 seconds up the road was mountain biker Elizabeth Vink from Farm Frites-Hartol. I managed to get a small gap off the front and tried like hell to bridge up to her, putting me 16 seconds behind her and 30" in front of the peleton. A few kilometres later however, the peloton was upon us and there was no doing it.

The pace seemed pretty furious all day so I hung in until the circuit hoping to go or lead out my teammates for the sprint. Once on the circuit, (3x6 km's) the Aussie train put it in gear at the front to set up Oenone [Wood] and strung things out a bit. Pasta Zara was close on their heels with other teams moving up to bring up their sprinters as well.

On the last lap young Dutch rider (Van Der Helm) from Farm Frites went to the front and got a small gap after a sharp turn with 3kms to go. I was in second position and moved up to join her hoping we could get a gap. As I came through I saw the look on her face that said 'you're on your own'. I looked down through my back wheel and saw no one so off I went hoping and praying that the cycling god or goddess would help me or the good Italian wine I've been drinking would have some effect.

The effect was, I suppose, that under the one kilometre red flag the Aussie train was upon me and I was sucked up into sixth or seventh position. I looked for Isa and Anette to see if I could put out a few more watts to lead them out but they had managed on their own.... Ziliute won the stage (and I think the jersey she lost yesterday) though I'm not sure where Doppmann finished.

Tomorrow cat 1 climb. Yeehah!!

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