Grande Boucle Féminine Internationale - 2.9.1

France, August 3-17, 2003

Main Page Results Previous Stage Next Stage

Stage 6 - August 8: Vif - Davezieux, 106 km

Polikeviciute solos to win

By Kristy Scrymgeour

Rasa Polikeviciute
Photo: © AFP

Rasa Polikeviciute (Team 2002 Aurora RSM) won today's stage of the Grande Boucle when she attacked a break of 12 riders at the 66km Mountain Sprint, and rode solo to the finish. Polikeviciute has been gradually moving herself up in the general classification over the past couple of days, and now sits in 10th position behind race leader Joane Somarriba Arrola (Bizkaia Panda Spiuk Sabeco) and Nicole Brändli (Prato Marathon Bike).

Polikeviciute has always been a major player in this tour placing second in both 1994 and 1996. She has moved up, but with over 16 minutes to make up she was not a threat to GC today.

The 126km race started in Vif and traveled to Davezieux over a course that was not as challenging as the previous two days due to the fact that they were riding away from the Alps. But the pace was on from the word go, as a Russian rider attacked on the 10km uphill drag that started the race. Sigrid Corneo and Margaret Hemsley (Nürnberger) went with her, but were dropped and eventually all three came back to the field.

Riders immediately countered the move and a group of 10 riders escaped from the peloton at the 45km mark. In the break were Polikeviciute, Emma James (Les Pruneaux d'Agen), Margaret Hemsley (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung), Anita Valen (Bik-Powerplate), Magalie Finot Laivier (French National Team), Tina Liebig (S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox), Elisabeth Chevanne Brunel (Les Pruneaux d'Agen), Volha Hayeva (Velodames-Colnago), Sabrina Emmasi (Prato Marathon Bike) and Sigrid Corneo (Road Runner - Guerciotti Cycling Team).

The riders worked well together to gain 1'30 on the field before Polikeviciute attacked with force over the KOM, never to be seen again by the chasers. More attacks followed in the break as riders attempted to bridge to Polikeviciute and soon enough four riders split from the group. Finot Laivier, Hemsley, James and Valen quickly gained time on the rest of the break and then began to attack each other. Finot Lavier was very strong and aggressive all day but it Hemsley and James who managed to get rid of the other two.

Joane Somarriba
Photo: © Russell Standring

As Polikeviciute was riding over the line to take the stage Hemsley made one last attack on the final uphill drag to the finish. James was able to go with her however and then the two realised that they had better work together to stay away from Valen who was closing in on them. James took the sprint for second place over Hemsley with Valen coming in only seven seconds behind for fourth place.

Behind, the rest of the break came over the line in dribs and drabs, followed by a group of 13 riders containing the race leaders who arrived eight minutes down on Polikeviciute. With no change to the General Classification Somarriba Arrola keeps the yellow jersey going into stage 7 of the tour.

Tomorrow's stage will be another tough day as the race travels through the hilly center of France from Royat to Commentry.

Photography

Images by AFP

Rasa Polikieviciute (Team 2002) rides alone during stage 6 of La Grande Boucle Feminine, which she won
Rasa Polikieviciute (Team 2002) crosses the line in Davezieux two minutes clear of the next rider and nearly nine minutes ahead of the bunch
The podium (L to R): Mariana Lorenzoni, Joane Somarriba (first GC), Olga Zabelinskaia (combination), Fabiana Luperini (mountains), Rasa Polikieviciute (stage winner)

Images by Russell Standring/grenoblecycling.free.fr

Race leader Joane Somarriba-Arola (Bizkaia Panda Spiuk Sabecco)
Joane Somarriba-Arola (Bizkaia Panda Spiuk Sabecco) on the podium in Vif
Joane Somarriba-Arola (Bizkaia Panda Spiuk Sabecco) rolls out from Vif
Joane Somarriba-Arola (Bizkaia Panda Spiuk Sabecco) warms up with her teammates in Vif
Spanish rider Joane Somarriba (Bizkaia-Panda-Spiuk-Sabeco) relaxes with teammates in Vif
The World champion, Swede Susanne Ljungskog (Bik.Powerplate) in Vif
Susanne Ljungskog (Bik.Powerplate) on the podium in Vif
Susanne Ljungskog (Bik.Powerplate) contemplates the day ahead at the start in Vif
German Judith Arndt (Nürnberger Versicherung) before the start in Vif
Part of the French national team on the podium in Vif including the French champion Sonia Huguet
The French champion Sonia Huguet riding for the French National team
The commentator's favourite rider the Norwegian Anita Valen (Bik.Powerplate)
The Australian Sara Carrigan (Bik.Powerplate) in Vif
Australian rider Helen Kelly (Team S.A.T.S) in Vif
American Katrina Grove-Berger (Team S.A.T.S) in Vif
Team S.A.T.S introduce themselves to the French public in Vif
Giovanna Troldi (Les Pruneaux d'Agen)_ before the start in Vif
Zoulfia Zabirova (Road Runner Guerciotti) warms up on the little roads in Vif
The Russian Zoulfia Zabirova (Road Runner Guerciotti) before the depart in Vif
The Road Runner Guerciotti team on the podium in Vif
The riders line up in the pretty French village of Vif

Results

1 Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) Team 2002 Aurora RSM                     3.42.54
2 Emma James (Aus) Les Pruneaux d'Agen                                 2.04
3 Margaret Hemsley (Aus) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                    
4 Anita Valen (Nor) Bik-Powerplate                                     2.11
5 Magalie Finot Laivier (Fra) French National Team                     2.30
6 Tina Liebig (Ger) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox                     2.43
7 Elisabeth Chevanne Brunel (Fra) Les Pruneaux d'Agen                  2.45
8 Volha Hayeva (Rus) Velodames-Colnago                                 3.12
9 Sabrina Emmasi (Ita) Prato Marathon Bike                             4.10
10 Sigrid Corneo (Ita) Road Runner - Guerciotti Cycling Team           4.31
11 Katrina Grove (USA) Team S.A.T.S                                    8.53
12 Tatiana Stiajkina (Ukr) Velodames-Colnago                               
13 Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu) Team 2002 Aurora RSM                        
14 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox                  
15 Nataliya Kachalka (Ukr) Team 2002 Aurora RSM                            
16 Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Team 2002 Aurora RSM                             
17 Joane Somarriba Arrola (Spa) Bizkaia Panda Spiuk Sabeco                 
18 Olga Zabelinskaia (Rus) Velodames-Colnago                               
19 Nicole Brändli (Swi) Prato Marathon Bike                                
20 Judith Arndt (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                       
21 Eneritz Iturriaga (Spa) Team 2002 Aurora RSM                            
22 Marianna Lorenzoni (Ita) Team Catalunya-Aliverti-Kookai                 
23 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Bik-Powerplate                                  
24 Lisbeth Simper (Den) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox                 9.39
25 Corinne Sempe (Fra) French National Team                                
26 Valentina Karpenko (Ukr) Velodames-Colnago                          9.42
27 Luisa Tamanini (Ita) Team 2002 Aurora RSM                               
28 Francesca Castrucci (Ita) Prato Marathon Bike                      10.41
29 Sylvie Riedle (Fra) Les Pruneaux d'Agen                                 
30 Nadia Triquet (Fra) French National Team                                
31 Sonia Huguet (Fra) French National Team                                 
32 Trine Hansen (Den) Team S.A.T.S                                         
33 Ioulia Martissova (Rus) Bizkaia Panda Spiuk Sabeco                      
34 Youlia Razenkova (Rus) Velodames-Colnago                                
35 Francis Linthorst (Ned) Bik-Powerplate                             11.01
36 Helen Kelly (Aus) Team S.A.T.S                                          
37 Letizia Giardinelli (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox                
38 Birgit Söllner (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                     
39 Irene Puccioni (Ita) Prato Marathon Bike                                
40 Alison Wright (Aus) Road Runner - Guerciotti Cycling Team               
41 Meredith Miller (USA) Team S.A.T.S                                      
42 Sara Carrigan (Aus) Bik-Powerplate                                      
43 Zoulfia Zabirova (Rus) Road Runner - Guerciotti Cycling Team            
44 Giovanna Troldi (Ita) Les Pruneaux d'Agen                               
45 Karine Dalmais (Fra) French National Team                          11.34
46 Erika Vilunaite (Ltu) Prato Marathon Bike                          11.44
47 Stefani Kortekaas (Ned) Bik-Powerplate                             12.15
48 Mette Andreasen Fischer (Den) Team S.A.T.S                              
49 Emanuela Brigati (Ita) Road Runner - Guerciotti Cycling Team            
50 Madeleine Lindberg (Swe) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                 
51 Kirsty Robb (NZl) Bik-Powerplate                                   14.07
52 Azucena Sanchez (Spa) Team Catalunya-Aliverti-Kookai               14.59
53 Montserrat Alonso Bernal (Spa) Team Catalunya-Aliverti-Kookai           
54 Baukje Doedee (Ned) Team Catalunya-Aliverti-Kookai                 15.02
55 Christina Peick Andersen (Den) Team S.A.T.S                        19.48
56 Petra Rossner (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                 20.16
57 Ghita Beltman (Ned) Bizkaia Panda Spiuk Sabeco                          
58 Iosune Murillo Elkano (Spa) Bizkaia Panda Spiuk Sabeco                  
59 Cristina Alcalde Huertanos (Spa) Bizkaia Panda Spiuk Sabeco             
DNF Nadia Triquet (Fra) French National Team                               
DNF Agurtzane Elorriaga Derteano (Spa) Bizkaia Panda Spiuk Sabeco          
DNF Marta Evangelisti (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox                 
 
General classification after stage 6
 
1 Joane Somarriba Arrola (Spa) Bizkaia Panda Spiuk Sabeco          16.51.07
2 Nicole Brändli (Swi) Prato Marathon Bike                             2.01
3 Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Team 2002 Aurora RSM                          3.29
4 Olga Zabelinskaia (Rus) Velodames-Colnago                            4.07
5 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox               7.00
6 Judith Arndt (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                   10.57
7 Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu) Team 2002 Aurora RSM                    11.18
8 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Bik-Powerplate                              11.40
9 Tina Liebig (Ger) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox                    15.31
10 Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) Team 2002 Aurora RSM                      16.32
11 Tatiana Stiajkina (Ukr) Velodames-Colnago                          17.59
12 Marianna Lorenzoni (Ita) Team Catalunya-Aliverti-Kookai            19.01
13 Luisa Tamanini (Ita) Team 2002 Aurora RSM                          19.54
14 Katrina Grove (USA) Team S.A.T.S                                   20.43
15 Elisabeth Chevanne Brunel (Fra) Les Pruneaux d'Agen                20.47
16 Eneritz Iturriaga (Spa) Team 2002 Aurora RSM                       23.00
17 Valentina Karpenko (Ukr) Velodames-Colnago                         26.09
18 Anita Valen (Nor) Bik-Powerplate                                   26.10
19 Emma James (Aus) Les Pruneaux d'Agen                               30.03
20 Nataliya Kachalka (Ukr) Team 2002 Aurora RSM                       30.41
21 Karine Dalmais (Fra) French National Team                          33.05
22 Ioulia Martissova (Rus) Bizkaia Panda Spiuk Sabeco                 34.47
23 Lisbeth Simper (Den) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox                39.58
24 Nadia Triquet (Fra) French National Team                           46.59
25 Sigrid Corneo (Ita) Road Runner - Guerciotti Cycling Team          47.08
26 Zoulfia Zabirova (Rus) Road Runner - Guerciotti Cycling Team       54.05
27 Margaret Hemsley (Aus) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung              59.49
28 Sonia Huguet (Fra) French National Team                          1.05.01
29 Sara Carrigan (Aus) Bik-Powerplate                               1.08.53
30 Giovanna Troldi (Ita) Les Pruneaux d'Agen                        1.15.27
31 Mette Andreasen Fischer (Den) Team S.A.T.S                       1.17.17
32 Volha Hayeva (Rus) Velodames-Colnago                             1.17.29
33 Ghita Beltman (Ned) Bizkaia Panda Spiuk Sabeco                   1.26.16
34 Youlia Razenkova (Rus) Velodames-Colnago                         1.30.02
35 Erika Vilunaite (Ltu) Prato Marathon Bike                        1.33.03
36 Magalie Finot Laivier (Fra) French National Team                 1.34.41
37 Birgit Söllner (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung              1.34.54
38 Sabrina Emmasi (Ita) Prato Marathon Bike                         1.38.16
39 Trine Hansen (Den) Team S.A.T.S                                  1.41.49
40 Sylvie Riedle (Fra) Les Pruneaux d'Agen                          1.42.28
41 Corinne Sempe (Fra) French National Team                         1.42.48
42 Meredith Miller (USA) Team S.A.T.S                               1.46.24
43 Christina Peick Andersen (Den) Team S.A.T.S                      1.48.20
44 Irene Puccioni (Ita) Prato Marathon Bike                         1.50.40
45 Francis Linthorst (Ned) Bik-Powerplate                           1.56.23
46 Alison Wright (Aus) Road Runner - Guerciotti Cycling Team        1.58.51
47 Helen Kelly (Aus) Team S.A.T.S                                   2.00.10
48 Francesca Castrucci (Ita) Prato Marathon Bike                    2.02.42
49 Letizia Giardinelli (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox         2.07.15
50 Azucena Sanchez (Spa) Team Catalunya-Aliverti-Kookai             2.10.35
51 Montserrat Alonso Bernal (Spa) Team Catalunya-Aliverti-Kookai    2.16.59
52 Kirsty Robb (NZl) Bik-Powerplate                                 2.19.33
53 Stefani Kortekaas (Ned) Bik-Powerplate                           2.20.49
54 Emanuela Brigati (Ita) Road Runner - Guerciotti Cycling Team     2.22.08
55 Baukje Doedee (Ned) Team Catalunya-Aliverti-Kookai               2.28.33
56 Cristina Alcalde Huertanos (Spa) Bizkaia Panda Spiuk Sabeco      2.33.47
57 Madeleine Lindberg (Swe) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung          2.35.38
58 Iosune Murillo Elkano (Spa) Bizkaia Panda Spiuk Sabeco           2.40.42
59 Petra Rossner (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung               2.43.39
 
Mountains classification
 
1 Joane Somarriba Arrola (Spa) Bizkaia Panda Spiuk Sabeco                47 pts
2 Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Team 2002 Aurora RSM                            46
3 Nicole Brändli (Swi) Prato Marathon Bike                               45
4 Tatiana Stiajkina (Ukr) Velodames-Colnago                              23
5 Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu) Team 2002 Aurora RSM                       19
6 Olga Zabelinskaia (Rus) Velodames-Colnago                              18
7 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox                 18
8 Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) Team 2002 Aurora RSM                          17
9 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Bik-Powerplate                                 16
10 Judith Arndt (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                     13
 
U23 classification
 
1 Nicole Brändli (Swi) Prato Marathon Bike                         16.53.08
2 Olga Zabelinskaia (Rus) Velodames-Colnago                            2.06
3 Tina Liebig (Ger) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox                    13.30
4 Luisa Tamanini (Ita) Team 2002 Aurora RSM                           17.53
5 Eneritz Iturriaga (Spa) Team 2002 Aurora RSM                        20.59
6 Sara Carrigan (Aus) Bik-Powerplate                                1.06.52
7 Mette Andreasen Fischer (Den) Team S.A.T.S                        1.15.16
8 Volha Hayeva (Rus) Velodames-Colnago                              1.15.28
9 Erika Vilunaite (Ltu) Prato Marathon Bike                         1.31.02
10 Irene Puccioni (Ita) Prato Marathon Bike                         1.48.39