6th Trofeo Museo Alfredo Binda - NE

Cittiglio, Varese, Italy, April 12, 2004

Results Past winners

Wood wins against class field

AIS Women's team report

Oenone Wood is continuing to stamp her dominance in women's cycling after another impressive win yesterday. After a very fast and aggressive 95km, Oenone lead out to win the Italian national series race, Trofeo Binda with team mate, Olivia Gollan finishing second in front of Naomi Cantelle and Hayley Rutherford.

The race, in Cittiglio, near Varrese, Italy, was 10 laps of a 7km flat circuit and then the final 3 laps turned onto a 1km climb for added pain and suffering! From the start the AIS squad were aggressive with Amy Gillet going from the gun - incidentally Olivia didn't even have her foot clipped in so struggled to even make the cut in the first 2km with Amy powering down the road. Through the finish line each lap there was a gradual rise which played havoc with the field. Oenone ended up in a small break on the second lap which was quickly brought back but it became clear that there were numbers in the peleton who wanted a win.

On the 4th lap, Sara Carrigan slipped away with Nicole Brandli and with an incredible display of time trialing from the two of them they managed to hold off the main bunch for another 4 laps. This wasn't an easy task as both Polekeviciute twins and the whole Nobili Guerciotti team were consistently trying to bring them back. Natalie Bates was on great form and didn't let anything get down the road toward Sara. Everytime someone tried to go across she was right on top of them. Great ride.

Eventually Sara and Brandli came back into the fold and shortly after the race hit the hill. Again it was Brandli who forced the pace and a select group of 9 came together over the top of the climb. Oenone and Olivia were joined by Brandli, Pucinskaite, Cantele, Boubnakova and Polekeviciute. This group stayed away over climb the next lap but with a bit of non-commitment from a few players they were caught by a chase group just before the final lap.

Sara Carrigan put in one final dig through the finish the last time and really split the field. Nobody counter attacked and there were a lot of pained expressions going around. The group hit the climb for the last time and Naomi Cantele put in an awesome attacked right to the top. Oenone came from nowhere and took the GPM points and down the descent with 5km there were 6 women left. Pucinskaite, Rutherford, Jolanta Polekeviciute, Cantele, Gollan and Wood.

Coming into the finish there was a bit of cat and mouse and a lot of fighting for Wood's wheel. Turning the corner with 300m to go, Wood lead out with Gollan on the wheel. Though the plan was for Gollan to come around Wood, it just didn't happen and Liv crossed the finish line second to her team mate - laughing in disbelief at the sheer strength of Oenone! Great day for the AIS.

Results, 93 km

1 Oenone Wood (Aus) Australian national team              2.25.00 (38.483 km/h)
2 Olivia Gollan (Aus) Australian national team                   
3 Noemi Cantele (Ita) UCT Montebelluna                           
4 Hayley Rutherford (Aus) SC Michela Fanini                      
5 Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu) USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo           
6 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) SC Michela Fanini                      
7 Olga Slyusareva (Rus) SC Nobili Runinetterie Guerciotti    0.15
8 Katia Longhin (Ita) SC Michela Fanini                          
9 Volha Hayeve (Blr) Team Bianchi - Aliverti La Rocca            
10 Svetlana Bubnenkova (Rus) PMB Finexs - T2                     
11 Tania Belverdesi (Ita) Acqua & Sapone Valenti Argenti         
12 Anna Gusmini (Ita) SC Nobili Runinetterie Guerciotti          
13 Silvia Parietta (Ita) SS Lazio                                
14 Barbara Cazzaniga (Ita) SC Michela Fanini                     
15 Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) GS Top Girls                            
16 Julia Martisova (Rus) PMB Finexs - T2                         
17 Letizia Giardinelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone Valenti Argenti      
18 Francesca Castrucci (Ita) Acqua & Sapone Valenti Argenti      
19 Sara Carrigan (Aus) Australian national team                  
20 Daniela Porta (Ita) USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo                  
21 Nicole Brandli (Swi) SC Michela Fanini                        
22 Marianna Lorenzoni (Ita) Team Bianchi - Aliverti La Rocca     
23 Ombretta Ugolini (Ita) SC Nobili Runinetterie Guerciotti      
24 Rara Polikeviciute (Ltu) USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo             
25 Svetlana Denisenko (Rus) SC Nobili Runinetterie Guerciotti    
 
70 starters, 29 finishers

Past winners

2002 Svetlana Boubnenkova (Rus) Edil Savino