1st GP Città di Cornaredo - 1.2

Italy, March 9, 2008

2007 Results Results Past winners

Graus claims first Cornaredo

Austria's Andrea Graus (Bigla Cycling Team)
Photo ©: Fabrizio Delmati

Austrian cyclist Andrea Graus (Bigla Cycling Team) took a narrow victory at the inaugural GP Città di Cornaredo in Italy. The Bigla rider outsprinted Russia's Julia Martisova (Gauss RDZ Ormu) and German Christina Becker (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung) from an eight-person breakaway.

An early break away by Oki Miko (Selle Menikini Italy Masters Color), Elodie Touffet (Gauss Rdz Ormu) and Noemi Cantele (Bigla) pulled out a 20 second margin over the peloton. However with a rider as strong as Cantele in the bunch, the peloton soon reabsorbed the trio's threat.

The race was then dominated by eight women, who stayed away for the 117 kilometre event's duration, with the group including Clemilda Fernandes Silva (USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo), Kori Kelley Seehafer (Menikini - Selle Italia), Anna Farina (Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line), Monika Schachl (Team Uniqa) and Catrine Josefsson (Bizkaia - Durango).

The group held a lead of 1'48 for the majority of the race, before pulled out a further seven seconds over the main bunch as it sped towards the finish line. Despite falling off the group's rear to finish eight seconds behind, Josefsson took eighth place and was the first Under 23 rider across the finish line.

Organisers were delighted with the result of the Italian race's maiden running. "Despite the rain we are happy," said organiser Walter Ricci Petitoni. "There were a lot of people and Cornaredo was a beautiful party.

"Mayor Pompilio Crivellone has already confirmed that there will be a second edition of the race and we are ready to organise it," he concluded.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Fabrizio Delmati

Austria's Andrea Graus (Bigla Cycling Team) claims victory in a break away sprint.
Podium (L-R): Iulia Martisova (Gauss-RDZ), Andrea Graus (Bigla) and Christina Becker (Team Nurnberger).

Images by Davide Tricarico/www.ladiescycling.net

The Menikini-Selle Italia team is presented to the spectators.
Rasa Leleyvite (Michela Fanini) the Lithuanian national champion.
Modesta Venyuszkaite (Team Nurnberger) returns to the roads after a bad season.
The women's peloton rolls out at the start of the first GP Città di Cornaredo.
The first break away featured Noemi Cantele (Bigla), Grete Treier (Gauss-RDZ) and Miho Oki (Menikini-Selle Italia).
The group of the seven escapees enter the last kilometre of the race.
Iulia Martisova (Gauss-RDZ) attempted to win the stage...
...but Andrea Graus (Bigla) held off to win.
Andrea Graus (Bigla) takes the victory from her break away rivals.
The chasing group, some two minutes behind, sprints for the bunch honours.
Iulia Martisova (Gauss-RDZ) was angry after losing the race.
Andrea Graus (Bigla) was delighted after winning the race.
Catrine Joseffson (Bizkzia-Durango) finished eighth, he first Under 23 rider and her Basque team's only foreigner.
Andrea Graus (Bigla) was delighted with her victory.
Christine Becker (Team Nurnberger) finished third in the wet.
Catrine Joseffson (Bizkzia-Durango) and her trophy for best Under 23 rider.
Podium (L-R): Iulia Martisova (Gauss-RDZ), Andrea Graus (Bigla) and Christina Becker (Team Nurnberger).

Results - 117 km

1 Andrea Graus (Aut) Bigla Cycling Team                       3.04.32 (38.041 km/h)
2 Julia Martisova (Rus) Gauss RDZ Ormu
3 Christina Becker (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung
4 Clemilda Fernandes Silva (Bra) USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo
5 Kori Kelley Seehafer (USA) Menikini - Selle Italia
6 Anna Farina (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line
7 Monika Schachl (Aut) Team Uniqa
8 Catrine Josefsson (Swe) Bizkaia - Durango                       0.08
9 Miho Oki (Jpn) Menikini - Selle Italia                          1.55
10 Agne Vagbanoviciute (Ltu)
11 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Menikini - Selle Italia

Past winners

None