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

The way we like it

Stage 1 - July 3: Pordenone - Montereale Valcellina, 106km

So... today's stage back to sunny Italie, the way we like it. After the head commissaire's car seemed to have caused a slight crash in the peloton during the neutral start and the rider involved got a bike change, we were at last underway.

The idea for most was to keep the pack together to protect GC unless anyone had the desire and fire to take it up the road. A few attempts were made but nothing dramatic. The course was pretty straightforward: an 11km ride to a circuit with a slight climb covered three times with the finish on the fourth. The final 6km were a bit hairy, especially when the TV motorcycle managed to thwart (I'm not sure if im making up a new word, but it means trashed) any attempts at a breakaway within the last few kilometres...

In any case, the last sharp right at about 500m from the line (not that I saw who came around first) seemed to favour the Aussies, as Oenone Wood came in solid for first with a time bonus to boot. I myself moved up from a whopping 84 to 72!

Yee-haa! More to come!

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