Tour de L'Aude Feminin - 2.1

France, May 13-22, 2005

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Prologue - May 13: Gruissan-Gruissan ITT, 3.9 km

Big win for Soeder

By Kristy Scrymgeour

Karin Thurig and Amy Gillett
Photo ©: Philippe Volle

On a typically windy day in the south of France, Austrian Road Champion Christine Soeder flew to victory in the prologue of Tour de L'Aude Feminin, clocking an average speed of 42.7km/h for the 3.7km course. She will go into the first stage tomorrow with a two second lead over her teammate and time trial specialist Karin Thurig (Univega).

The short course was not at all technical, a loop starting and finishing in the town of Gruissan. With only a couple of round-a-bouts to contend with, it was the headwind on the very slight uphill drag in the middle kilometre that made the difference. Yet again at Tour de L'Aude this year, it was an overcast day and the wind was strong. Wet weather is predicted for the weekend.

Taking third and fourth place respectively in the stage were Australian National Team members Amy Gillet and Alexis Rhodes, both finishing about ten seconds down, with Tour de L'Aude defending champion, Trixi Worrack, finishing in fifteenth place, twenty seconds down.

Tomorrow's race is the stage that starts and finishes in Lezignan Corbières. It was stage four of the tour last year with Sara Symington taking the honours in a late breakaway move, It consists of one category one climb, which generally splits the bunch for a little while, but it usually comes back together. The main obstacle in the stage will be the wind and the narrow, twisty roads through the small villages.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Philip Volle/http://velopalmares.free.fr

Trine Hansen (Team S.A.T.S) finished well down the order today
Madeleine Sandig (German National Team) looks focussed
Lorian Graham (Australian Womens Team) looks relaxed warming up
Sara Carrigan (Van Bemmelen AA Drink) with a smile for the camera
Trixi Worrack (Equipe Nurnberger) looks sleek and switched on
Daphny Vandenbrandt and Adrie Visser letting the big cheese hang out before the start
Christiane Soeder (Mixed Univega Pct/Ar) took out the prologue
Larissa Kleinmann (German National Team)
Karin Thurig (Mixed Univega Pct/Ar) made it a team 1-2 in the prologue, taking second place
Amy Gillett (Australian Womens Team) took third in the prologue
Alexis Rhodes (Australian Womens Team) grabbed teh Best Young Rider jersey
Karin Thurig and Amy Gillett looked pleased with their performances

Results

1 Christiane Soeder (Aut) Mixed Univega Pct/Ar             4.57.61
2 Karin Thürig (Swi) Mixed Univega Pct/Ar                  0.02.67
3 Amy Gillett (Aus) Australian National Team               0.09.99
4 Alexis Rhodes (Aus) Australian National Team             0.09.57
5 Kristin Armstrong (USA) USA National Team                0.13.78
6 Larissa Kleinmann (Ger) German National Team             0.14.52
7 Sara Carrigan (Aus) Van Bemmelen Aa Drink                0.16.19
8 Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Buitenpoort Flexpoint              0.15.60
9 Oenone Wood (Aus) Nurnberger Versicherung                0.16.22
10 Edwige Pitel (Fra) Mixed Univega Pct/Ar                 0.16.83
11 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Nobili Rubinetterie             0.17.77
12 Adrie Visser (Ned) Van Bemmelen Aa Drink                0.18.21
13 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Buitenpoort Flexpoint           0.18.34
14 Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Mixed Vrienden-Therme              0.18.77
15 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Nurnberger Versicherung             0.19.37
16 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Mixed Univega Pct/Ar              0.19.64
17 Kimberly Baldwin (USA) USA National Team                0.20.15
18 Madeleine Sandig (Ger) German National Team             0.20.66
19 Louise Yaxley (Aus) Australian National Team            0.20.67
20 Amber Neben (USA) Buitenpoort Flexpoint                 0.21.05
21 Svetlana Boubnenkova (Rus) Mixed P.M.B. Fenixs          0.22.08
22 Linda Serup (Den) Buitenpoort Flexpoint                 0.22.59
23 Lyne Bessette (Can) Canadian National Team              0.22.69
24 Natalie Bates (Aus) Van Bemmelen Aa Drink               0.22.78
25 Anita Valen (Nor) Vlaanderen Capri Sonne                0.22.91
26 Natacha Maes (Bel) Belgian National Team                0.23.30
27 Erinne Willock (Can) Canadian National Team             0.24.89
28 Anke Wichmann (Ger) Nurnberger Versicherung             0.25.08
29 Sabine Spitz (Ger) German National Team                 0.25.49
30 Dorte Rasmussen (Den) Team S.A.T.S.                     0.25.74
31 Theresa Senff (Ger) Van Bemmelen Aa Drink               0.25.96
32 Melissa Holt (NZl) Team S.A.T.S.                        0.26.12
33 Chantal Beltman (Ned) Mixed Vrienden-Therme             0.26.49
34 Charlotte Becker (Ger) German National Team             0.27.65
35 Kori Seehafer (USA) USA National Team                   0.28.00
36 Lada Kozlikova (Cze) Buitenpoort Flexpoint              0.28.49
37 Olivia Gollan (Aus) Nurnberger Versicherung             0.28.65
38 Youlia Martissova (Rus) Mixed P.M.B. Fenixs             0.28.90
39 Magalie Finot (Fra) French National Team                0.29.33
40 Dalemarie Tye (Nzl) New Zealand National Team           0.29.94
41 Tammara Boyd (Nzl) New Zealand National Team            0.30.31
42 Felicia Greer (Can) Canadian National Team              0.30.59
43 Emma Davies (GBr) Vlaanderen Capri Sonne                0.31.19
44 Sandra Rombouts (Ned) Buitenpoort Flexpoint             0.30.87
45 Trine Hansen (Den) Team S.A.T.S.                        0.31.03
46 Tina Liebig (Ger) Nurnberger Versicherung               0.33.29
47 Luise Keller (Ger) German National Team                 0.32.79
48 Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) Nobili Rubinetterie            0.32.91
49 Marina Jaunatre (Fra) French National Team              0.33.20
50 Sereina Traschsel (Swi) Mixed Univega Pct/Ar            0.33.36
51 Rachel Heal (GBr) Team S.A.T.S.                         0.34.09
52 Iris Slappendel (Ned) Mixed Vrienden-Therme             0.33.51
53 Sonia Huguet (Fra) French National Team                 0.33.95
54 Lorian Graham (Aus) Australian National Team            0.34.79
55 An Van Rie (Bel) Belgian National Team                  0.35.19
56 Sandra Missbach (Ger) Van Bemmelen Aa Drink             0.35.64
57 Tina Mayolo (USA) USA National Team                     0.35.78
58 Eneritz Iturriaga (Spa) Spanish National Team           0.35.85
59 Sarah Düster (Ger) German National Team                 0.36.38
60 Elodie Touffet (Fra) Team Pruneaux D'agen               0.37.07
61 Anna Ramirez (Spa) Spanish National Team                0.37.16
62 Toni Bradshaw (Nzl) New Zealand National Team           0.37.56
63 Apollinaria Bakova (Rus) Russian National Team          0.38.15
64 Olga Slioussareva (Rus) Nobili Rubinetterie             0.38.27
65 Sarah Grab (Swi) Mixed Univega Pct/Ar                   0.38.58
66 Katheryn Curi (USA) USA National Team                   0.38.65
67 Emma Rickards (Aus) Australian National Team            0.38.69
68 Magali Le Floch (Fra) French National Team              0.38.73
69 Kristy Miggels (Ned) Mixed Vrienden-Therme              0.39.71
70 Janneke Vos (Ned) Mixed Vrienden-Therme                 0.40.55
71 Larssyn Staley (USA) USA National Team                  0.40.86
72 Lisa Sweeney (Can) Canadian National Team               0.41.09
73 Johanna Buick (Nzl) New Zealand National Team           0.41.69
74 Claudia Stumpf (Ger) Nurnberger Versicherung            0.41.56
75 Maribel Moreno Allue (Spa) Spanish National Team        0.41.57
76 Ine Wannijn (Bel) Vlaanderen Capri Sonne                0.41.75
77 Michelle Kiesanowski (Nzl) New Zealand National Team    0.42.60
78 Tatiana Shishkova (Mda) Mixed P.M.B. Fenixs             0.42.87
79 Daphny Van Den Brand (Ned) Van Bemmelen Aa Drink        0.43.88
80 Debby Mansveld (Ned) Vlaanderen Capri Sonne             0.44.07
81 Volha Hayeva (GBr) Mixed P.M.B. Fenixs                  0.44.25
82 Anna Henestrosa (Spa) Spanish National Team             0.44.78
83 Leigh Hobson (Can) Canadian National Team               0.45.06
84 Alicia Palop Rubio (Spa) Spanish National Team          0.46.12
85 Tiina Nieminen (Fra) Team Pruneaux D'agen               0.46.34
86 Elena Andreeva (Rus) Russian National Team              0.47.16
87 Katie Brown (Aus) Australian National Team              0.47.23
88 Meredith Miller (USA) Team S.A.T.S.                     0.47.34
89 Elisabeth Chevanne-Brunel (Fra) Team Pruneaux D'agen    0.47.66
90 Delphine Guille (Fra) French National Team              0.49.19
91 Sharon Van Essen (Ned) Mixed Vrienden-Therme            0.49.69
92 Béatrice Thomas (Fra) French National Team              0.51.56
93 Aurore Jeudy (Fra) Team Pruneaux D'agen                 0.51.75
94 Katleen Vermeiren (Bel) Belgian National Team           0.51.87
95 Robyn Wong (Nzl) New Zealand National Team              0.52.49
96 Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Russian National Team           0.53.08
97 Leticia Gil Parra (Spa) Spanish National Team           0.53.17
98 Irina Zemlyanskaya (Rus) Russian National Team          0.54.37
99 Emanuela Azzini (Ita) Nobili Rubinetterie               0.54.69
100 Modesta Vzesniauskaite (Ltu) Nobili Rubinetterie       0.55.37
101 Sofie Goor (Bel) Vlaanderen Capri Sonne                0.55.87
102 Sandrine Marcuz (Fra) Team S.A.T.S.                    0.56.20
103 Oxana Kostenko (Rus) Russian National Team             0.56.35
104 Alexandra Le Henaff (Fra) Team Pruneaux D'agen         0.56.99
105 Laure Werner (Bel) Vlaanderen Capri Sonne              0.58.62
106 Kelly Van Eycken (Bel) Belgian National Team           0.59.69
107 Kim Schoonbaert (Bel) Belgian National Team            1.00.32
108 Sylvie Riedle (Fra) Team Pruneaux D'agen               1.04.62
109 Ombretta Ugolini (Ita) Nobili Rubinetterie             1.07.06
110 Alexandra Nolhes (Ger) Mixed P.M.B. Fenixs             1.08.19
111 Elena Eifler (Ger) Mixed P.M.B. Fenixs                 1.08.58
112 Lien Verhaeghe (Bel) Belgian National Team             1.12.82

Points
 
1 Christiane Soeder (Aut) Mixed Univega Pct/Ar           30 pts
2 Karin Thürig (Swi) Mixed Univega Pct/Ar                24
3 Amy Gillett (Aus) Australian National Team             20
4 Alexis Rhodes (Aus) Australian National Team           17
5 Kristin Armstrong (USA) USA National Team              14
6 Larissa Kleinmann (Ger) German National Team           11
7 Sara Carrigan (Aus) Van Bemmelen Aa Drink               9
8 Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Buitenpoort Flexpoint             8
9 Oenone Wood (Aus) Nurnberger Versicherung               7
10 Edwige Pitel (Fra) Mixed Univega Pct/Ar                6
11 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Nobili Rubinetterie            5
12 Adrie Visser (Ned) Van Bemmelen Aa Drink               4
13 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Buitenpoort Flexpoint          3
14 Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Mixed Vrienden-Therme             2
15 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Nurnberger Versicherung            1
 
Young rider
 
1 Alexis Rhodes (Aus) Australian National Team         5.07
2 Adrie Visser (Ned) Van Bemmelen Aa Drink             0.08
3 Madeleine Sandig (Ger) German National Team          0.11
4 Linda Serup (Den) Buitenpoort Flexpoint              0.13
5 Theresa Senff (Ger) Van Bemmelen Aa Drink            0.16
6 Charlotte Becker (Ger) German National Team          0.18
7 Luise Keller (Ger) German National Team              0.23
8 Marina Jaunatre (Fra) French National Team               
9 Iris Slappendel (Ned) Mixed Vrienden-Therme          0.24
10 Sarah Düster (Ger) German National Team             0.26
11 Larssyn Staley (USA) USA National Team              0.31
12 Claudia Stumpf (Ger) Nurnberger Versicherung        0.32
13 Ine Wannijn (Bel) Vlaanderen Capri Sonne                
14 Volha Hayeva (GBr) Mixed P.M.B. Fenixs              0.34
15 Alicia Palop Rubio (Spa) Spanish National Team      0.36
16 Elena Andreeva (Rus) Russian National Team          0.37
17 Katie Brown (Aus) Australian National Team              
18 Aurore Jeudy (Fra) Team Pruneaux D'agen             0.42
19 Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Russian National Team       0.43
20 Leticia Gil Parra (Spa) Spanish National Team           
21 Irina Zemlyanskaya (Rus) Russian National Team      0.44
22 Modesta Vzesniauskaite (Ltu) Nobili Rubinetterie    0.45
23 Oxana Kostenko (Rus) Russian National Team          0.46
24 Kelly Van Eycken (Bel) Belgian National Team        0.50
25 Kim Schoonbaert (Bel) Belgian National Team             
26 Lien Verhaeghe (Bel) Belgian National Team          1.03
 
Teams
 
1 Mixed Univega Pct/Ar                                15.11
2 Australian National Team                             0.21
3 Buitenpoort Flexpoint                                0.35
4 Van Bemmelen Aa Drink                                0.37
5 Nurnberger Versicherung                              0.40
6 German National Team                                 0.42
7 USA National Team                                        
8 Canadian National Team                               0.59
9 Mixed Vrienden-Therme                                1.00
10 Team S.A.T.S.                                       1.03
11 Nobili Rubinetterie                                 1.09
12 Mixed P.M.B. Fenixs                                 1.14
13 French National Team                                1.16
14 Vlaanderen Capri Sonne                                  
15 New Zealand National Team                           1.18
16 Belgian National Team                               1.30
17 Spanish National Team                               1.35
18 Team Pruneaux D'agen                                1.51
19 Russian National Team                               1.58