Grande Boucle Féminine Internationale - 2.2

France, June 17-22, 2008

Main Page Results Overall standings Next Stage

Stage 1 - June 17: Gent - Wattrelos, 73.2km

Ziliute speeds to sprint win

Lithuanian Diana Ziliute showed that she has regained the speed which propelled her to the World Championship title in 1998, handily winning the bunch sprint on the opening stage of the Grande Boucle Féminine Internationale into Wattrelos, Belgium. The Safi - Pasta rider outkicked Dutch rider Loes Markerink and Pascale Schnider (Cervelo Lifeforce) on the 73.2 kilometre stage.

The mainly flat stage from Gent passed through heart of Flanders, hitting two bergs along the way - the Hoogberg at kilometre 35 and the Kluisberg eleven clicks later. Jolanta Polikeviciute (USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo) used the hills as a launch pad to escape the group, but was rejoined by a fractured peloton two kilometres after the Kluisberg.

The next attack came from the former world time trial champion, Karin Thürig (Cervelo Lifeforce), who escaped at kilometre 50 and held on until just four kilometres remained. Flexpoint's Elisabeth Braam immediately launched a counter-attack, but was caught as the teams prepared for the bunch kick, which Ziliute won.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Bjorn Haake/Cyclingnews.com

Back to the future
It's the Ladies' Tour
Alessandro Borchi gets a last-minute pre-race massage.
Pinarellos for the Italian team Safi Pasta
1999 winner Diana Ziliute
With three countries in six days it's international alright.
Museeuw's paint job for the women's bikes
The Cervélo Lifeforce team enjoys the last moments before the start.
Carla Ryan joined the Cervélo team a couple of months ago.
The Australian is looking forward to the time trial – she was the 2007 national champion.
The police race before the real race
Karin Thürig wouldn't have minded a 100-kilometre team time trial...
Nicole Cooke in her British Champion jersey gets ready to defend her title.
Flexpoint will look for stage wins
The Swiss National Team couldn't wait to get started.
Le Grand Départ
There goes the gun and the peloton.
The first cobble stones are rather easy
Cooke making sure nobody surprises her right at the start.
Thürig rolls out and in the foreground it's the champion of Paraguay, Karen Doljak Hentsscholek.

Results

1 Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Safi - Pasta Zara Manhattan                   1.51.30 (38.74 km/h)
2 Loes Markerink (Ned) Team Flexpoint                                      
3 Pascale Schnider (Swi) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team                
4 Edita Unguryte (Ltu) USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo                            
5 Karin Thürig (Swi) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team                    
6 Grace Verbeke (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam                             
7 Elisabeth Braam (Ned) Team Flexpoint                                     
8 Bettina Kuhn (Swi) Swiss National Team                                   
9 Sarah Düster (Ger) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team                    
10 Kelly Druyts (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen Thompson Ladies Team             
11 Paola Munoz (Chi) Pratomagno Colombia                                   
12 Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu) USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo                    
13 Lieselot Decroix (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam                         
14 Nicole Cooke (GBr) Swift Racing                                         
15 Alessandra Borchi (Ita) Safi - Pasta Zara Manhattan                     
16 Jessica Schneeberger (Swi) Swiss National Team                          
17 Loes Sels (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen Thompson Ladies Team                
18 Dorte Lohse Rasmussen (Den) Swift Racing                                
19 Fabienne Sommer (Swi) Swiss National Team                               
20 Suzanne Van Veen (Ned) Team Flexpoint                                   
21 Carla Ryan (Aus) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team                     
22 Eneritz Iturriagaechevarria Mazaga (Spa) Safi - Pasta Zara Manhattan    
23 Bianca Knöpfle (Ger) Team Flexpoint                                     
24 Evelyn Garcia (ESa) USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo                            
25 Elizabeth Agudelo (Col) Pratomagno Colombia                             
26 Emilie Aubry (Swi) Swiss National Team                                  
27 Tatiana Stiajkina (Ukr) USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo                        
28 Ine Beyen (Bel) Swift Racing                                            
29 Karen Steurs (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen Thompson Ladies Team             
30 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team                
31 Toni Bradshaw (NZl) Swift Racing                                        
32 Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo                       
33 Helen Wyman (GBr) Swift Racing                                          
34 Maribel Moreno Allue (Spa) Multijaca                                    
35 Christiane Soeder (Aut) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team          0.10
36 Elena Berlato (Ita) Safi - Pasta Zara Manhattan                         
37 Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Team Flexpoint                                     
38 Laeticia Gil Parra (Spa) Multijaca                                      
39 Ana Ramirez (Spa) Multijaca                                         0.20
40 Emma Silversides (GBr) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam                     0.33
41 Adriene Snijder (Ned) Team Flexpoint                                7.30
42 Sylvie Gaillon (Fra) Bourgogne Selection                                
43 Yolandi Du Toit (RSA) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam                          
44 Isabelle Moulis (Fra) Debabarrena - Kirolgi                             
45 Marcela Rubiano (CRc) Pratomagno Colombia                               
46 Sereina Trachsel (Swi) Swiss National Team                              
47 Monika Furrer (Swi) Swiss National Team                                 
48 Kim Schoonbaert (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam                          
49 Katrien Van Looy (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen Thompson Ladies Team         
50 Adeline Gourgin (Fra) Bourgogne Selection                               
51 Rosario Rodriguez Gomez (Spa) Multijaca                                 
52 Debby Van De Berg (Ned) Swift Racing                                    
53 Consuelo Gwynne (Chi) Pratomagno Colombia                               
54 Line Foss (Nor) Bourgogne Selection                                 8.46
55 Odette Bertolin (Ita) Safi - Pasta Zara Manhattan                       
56 Inma Rafael Salas (Spa) Debabarrena - Kirolgi                           
57 Patricia Perez Gimenez (Spa) Multijaca                                  
58 Alessia Quarta (Ita) USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo                           
59 Silvia Tirado Marquez (Spa) Multijaca                                   
60 Saioa Olitc Caluo (Spa) Debabarrena - Kirolgi                           
61 Itsaso Leunda Coni (Spa) Debabarrena - Kirolgi                          
62 Naiara Telletxea Lopez (Spa) Debabarrena - Kirolgi                  8.55
63 Katy Bruchon (Fra) Bourgogne Selection                             17.30
64 Elise Bazourdy (Fra) Bourgogne Selection                                
65 Claire Maugras (Fra) Bourgogne Selection                                
66 Karen Alice Doljak Hentscholek (Par) Pratomagno Colombia           18.38
67 Evgenia Vysotskai (Ukr) Pratomagno Colombia                        20.07
 
Points 
 
1 Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Safi - Pasta Zara Manhattan                        25 pts
2 Pascale Schnider (Swi) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team              20
3 Loes Markerink (Ned) Team Flexpoint                                    16
4 Bettina Kuhn (Swi) Swiss National Team                                 14
5 Sarah Düster (Ger) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team                  12
6 Kelly Druyts (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen Thompson Ladies Team            10
7 Paola Munoz (Chi) Pratomagno Colombia                                   9
8 Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu) USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo                    8
9 Grace Verbeke (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam                            7
10 Lieselot Decroix (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam                        6
11 Nicole Cooke (GBr) Swift Racing                                        5
12 Alessandra Borchi (Ita) Safi - Pasta Zara Manhattan                    4
13 Jessica Schneeberger (Swi) Swiss National Team                         3
14 Loes Sels (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen Thompson Ladies Team               2
15 Dorte Lohse Rasmussen (Den) Swift Racing                               1
 
Mountains
 
Holand-Hoogberg
1 Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu) USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo                    4 pts
2 Karin Thürig (Swi) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team                   2
3 Christiane Soeder (Aut) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team              1
 
Kluisberg
1 Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu) USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo                    4 pts
2 Christiane Soeder (Aut) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team              2
3 Dorte Lohse Rasmussen (Den) Swift Racing                                1

General classification after stage 1a

1 Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Safi - Pasta Zara Manhattan                   1.51.30
2 Loes Markerink (Ned) Team Flexpoint                                      
3 Pascale Schnider (Swi) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team                
4 Edita Unguryte (Ltu) USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo                            
5 Karin Thürig (Swi) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team                    
6 Grace Verbeke (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam                             
7 Elisabeth Braam (Ned) Team Flexpoint                                     
8 Bettina Kuhn (Swi) Swiss National Team                                   
9 Sarah Düster (Ger) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team                    
10 Kelly Druyts (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen Thompson Ladies Team             
11 Paola Munoz (Chi) Pratomagno Colombia                                   
12 Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu) USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo                    
13 Lieselot Decroix (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam                         
14 Nicole Cooke (GBr) Swift Racing                                         
15 Alessandra Borchi (Ita) Safi - Pasta Zara Manhattan                     
16 Jessica Schneeberger (Swi) Swiss National Team                          
17 Loes Sels (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen Thompson Ladies Team                
18 Dorte Lohse Rasmussen (Den) Swift Racing                                
19 Fabienne Sommer (Swi) Swiss National Team                               
20 Suzanne Van Veen (Ned) Team Flexpoint                                   
21 Carla Ryan (Aus) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team                     
22 Eneritz Iturriagaechevarria Mazaga (Spa) Safi - Pasta Zara Manhattan    
23 Bianca Knöpfle (Ger) Team Flexpoint                                     
24 Evelyn Garcia (ESa) USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo                            
25 Elizabeth Agudelo (Col) Pratomagno Colombia                             
26 Emilie Aubry (Swi) Swiss National Team                                  
27 Tatiana Stiajkina (Ukr) USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo                        
28 Ine Beyen (Bel) Swift Racing                                            
29 Karen Steurs (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen Thompson Ladies Team             
30 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team                
31 Toni Bradshaw (NZl) Swift Racing                                        
32 Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo                       
33 Helen Wyman (GBr) Swift Racing                                          
34 Maribel Moreno Allue (Spa) Multijaca                                    
35 Christiane Soeder (Aut) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team          0.10
36 Elena Berlato (Ita) Safi - Pasta Zara Manhattan                         
37 Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Team Flexpoint                                     
38 Laeticia Gil Parra (Spa) Multijaca                                      
39 Ana Ramirez (Spa) Multijaca                                         0.20
40 Emma Silversides (GBr) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam                     0.33
41 Adriene Snijder (Ned) Team Flexpoint                                7.30
42 Sylvie Gaillon (Fra) Bourgogne Selection                                
43 Yolandi Du Toit (RSA) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam                          
44 Isabelle Moulis (Fra) Debabarrena - Kirolgi                             
45 Marcela Rubiano (CRc) Pratomagno Colombia                               
46 Sereina Trachsel (Swi) Swiss National Team                              
47 Monika Furrer (Swi) Swiss National Team                                 
48 Kim Schoonbaert (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam                          
49 Katrien Van Looy (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen Thompson Ladies Team         
50 Adeline Gourgin (Fra) Bourgogne Selection                               
51 Rosario Rodriguez Gomez (Spa) Multijaca                                 
52 Debby Van De Berg (Ned) Swift Racing                                    
53 Consuelo Gwynne (Chi) Pratomagno Colombia                               
54 Line Foss (Nor) Bourgogne Selection                                 8.46
55 Odette Bertolin (Ita) Safi - Pasta Zara Manhattan                       
56 Inma Rafael Salas (Spa) Debabarrena - Kirolgi                           
57 Patricia Perez Gimenez (Spa) Multijaca                                  
58 Alessia Quarta (Ita) USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo                           
59 Silvia Tirado Marquez (Spa) Multijaca                                   
60 Saioa Olitc Caluo (Spa) Debabarrena - Kirolgi                           
61 Itsaso Leunda Coni (Spa) Debabarrena - Kirolgi                          
62 Naiara Telletxea Lopez (Spa) Debabarrena - Kirolgi                  8.55
63 Katy Bruchon (Fra) Bourgogne Selection                             17.30
64 Elise Bazourdy (Fra) Bourgogne Selection                                
65 Claire Maugras (Fra) Bourgogne Selection                                
66 Karen Alice Doljak Hentscholek (Par) Pratomagno Colombia           18.38
67 Evgenia Vysotskai (Ukr) Pratomagno Colombia                        20.07
 
Points classification
 
1 Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Safi - Pasta Zara Manhattan                        25 pts
2 Pascale Schnider (Swi) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team              20
3 Loes Markerink (Ned) Team Flexpoint                                    16
4 Bettina Kuhn (Swi) Swiss National Team                                 14
5 Sarah Düster (Ger) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team                  12
6 Kelly Druyts (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen Thompson Ladies Team            10
7 Paola Munoz (Chi) Pratomagno Colombia                                   9
8 Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu) USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo                    8
9 Grace Verbeke (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam                            7
10 Lieselot Decroix (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam                        6
11 Nicole Cooke (GBr) Swift Racing                                        5
12 Alessandra Borchi (Ita) Safi - Pasta Zara Manhattan                    4
13 Jessica Schneeberger (Swi) Swiss National Team                         3
14 Loes Sels (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen Thompson Ladies Team               2
15 Dorte Lohse Rasmussen (Den) Swift Racing                               1
 
Mountains classification

1 Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu) USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo                    8 pts
2 Christiane Soeder (Aut) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team              3
3 Karin Thürig (Swi) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team                   2
4 Dorte Lohse Rasmussen (Den) Swift Racing                                1
 
Young rider classification
 
1 Edita Unguryte (Ltu) USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo                     1.51.36
2 Kelly Druyts (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen Thompson Ladies Team          0.04
3 Paola Munoz (Chi) Pratomagno Colombia                                    
4 Lieselot Decroix (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam                          
5 Jessica Schneeberger (Swi) Swiss National Team                           
6 Fabienne Sommer (Swi) Swiss National Team                                
7 Suzanne Van Veen (Ned) Team Flexpoint                                    
8 Emilie Aubry (Swi) Swiss National Team                                   
9 Ine Beyen (Bel) Swift Racing                                             
10 Elena Berlato (Ita) Safi - Pasta Zara Manhattan                     0.04
11 Adriene Snijder (Ned) Team Flexpoint                                7.24
12 Marcela Rubiano (CRc) Pratomagno Colombia                               
13 Kim Schoonbaert (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam                          
14 Adeline Gourgin (Fra) Bourgogne Selection                               
15 Consuelo Gwynne (Chi) Pratomagno Colombia                               
16 Patricia Perez Gimenez (Spa) Multijaca                              8.40
17 Silvia Tirado Marquez (Spa) Multijaca                                   
18 Claire Maugras (Fra) Bourgogne Selection                           17.24
 
Teams classification
 
1 Equipe Cervelo Lifeforce                                          5.35.00
2 Safi Pasta Zara / Tinanedi                                               
3 Equipe Nationale Suisse                                                  
4 Team Flexpoint                                                           
5 Topsport Vlaanderen                                                      
6 Chiorio Forno d'Asolo                                                    
7 Swift Racing/Team Halford                                                
8 Multi Jaca/Sabinanigo                                                    
9 Lotto Belisol                                                        0.23
10 Pratomagno Colombia                                                 7.20
11 Bourgogne Cyclisme Feminin                                         23.16
12 Debabarrena Kirolgi                                                24.32