Giro della Toscana Int. Femminile - Memorial Michela Fanini - 2.1 (WE)

Italy, September 16-21, 2008

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Stage 3 - September 18: Lari - Volterra, 122.1 km

Abbott climbs to stage win

Mara Abbot (Team Columbia) approaches the finish line
Photo ©: CJ Farquharson

Team Columbia's Mara Abbott took a tough victory on the 'queen' stage of the Giro della Toscana - Memorial Michela Fanini, Columbia's third win of the race. Abbott's teammate Judith Arndt remained in the overall lead at the end of the 122 kilometre stage on Thursday. The young American charged away some two kilometres from the summit of the Volterra climb for a solo win. "It was wonderful, Judith was in the break with me, giving me advice, telling me what to do and I attacked when she yelled at me over the race radio ‘go, go, go.'" Abbott said afterwards. "It was so good to be able to have my team-mates there, giving me so much support."

"So I went for it, I was feeling confident because I'd been doing some good rides in training before the race and I knew I was in good shape. I knew the climb, too, from one previous race, so that meant I had some idea of what was in store for me even if I didn't know it brilliantly. Plus the weather was cool and cloudy, which made it nicer for racing."

"But I wasn't sure what kind of margin was by the finish so I had no idea whether I was going to win until I got across the line. It was fairly close though. I did have time to lift my arms when I won, but only one of them because the climb was so steep!" Abbott said the whole team had done a great job working throughout on the stage, praising Emilia Fahlin for doing "so much stuff covering moves early on. But really this was one of those days where team-work made all the difference."

Abbott's victory follows a win for Columbia in the opening team time trial and Ina Teutenberg's first place on the second sector of stage two. Overall, Columbia have held the leader's jersey since the first day, first with Linda Villumsen and then with Judith Arndt.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net

Kristin Armstrong (USA National Team) is racing for the first time in Europe since winning Olympic gold in Beijing, China.
Edita Puckinsckaite (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung) on the descent through Lari.
Valentin Bastianelli (Michela Fanini Record Rox) took the first moutains points of the day which was after just four kilometres.
Noemi Cantele (Team Bigla) was the mountains leader during the stage, but conceded to Trixi Worrack (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung) afterwards.
Judith Arndt (Team Columbia) rides in the bunch early in the race.
Judith Arndt (Team Columbia) is marked by Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung riders as she leads the passage through Voltera, about 10 km from the finish.
Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team Columbia) in Voltera.
Its is a steep finish to a hard climb and the riders do it twice on this stage.
Mara Abbot (Team Columbia) approaches the finish line on the steep climb in Voltera.
America's Mara Abbot (Team Columbia) takes victory, a huge win on the toughest Toscana stage in 2008.
Fabiana Luperini (Menikini Selle Italia) didn't disappoint, doing well on the mountain stage.
Linda Villumsen (Team Columbia) and Loes Gunnewijk (Dutch National Team) head for the line.
Stage winner Mara Abbot (Team Columbia) with race director Brunello Fanini.
Judith Arndt (Team Columbia) retained the race lead.
Trixi Worrack (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung) is now in the mountains jersey.
Team Columbia's Mara Abbot enjoys her time on the podium.

Results

1 Mara Abbott (USA) Team Columbia Women                            3.23.15 (36.044 km/h)
2 Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Fenixs                                      0.03
3 Judith Arndt (Ger) Team Columbia Women                                  
4 Monia Baccaille (Ita) Fenixs                                        0.08
5 Grote Treier (Est) Gauss RDZ Ormu                                   0.09
6 Natalia Boyarskaya (Rus) Fenixs                                     0.10
7 Alexandra Wrubleski (Can) Canadian National Team                        
8 Nicole Brandli (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team                             0.12
9 Edits Pucinskaite (Ltu) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung              0.14
10 Marianne Vos (Ned) Team DSB Bank                                       
11 Fabian Luperini (Ita) Menikini - Selle Italia - Masters Color      0.15
12 Kristin Armstrong (USA) USA National Team                              
13 Claudia Hausler (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung               0.22
14 Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu) USC Chirio Forno D'Asolo               0.24
15 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                 0.25
16 Noemi Cantele (Ita) Bigla Cycling Team                                 
17 Suzanne De Goede (Ned) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung              0.31
18 Tatlana Guderzo (Ita) Gauss RDZ Ormu                               0.35
19 Stephanie Pohl (Ger) German National Team                              
20 Tina Liebig (Ger) Team DSB Bank                                    0.37
21 Martins Corazza (Ita) Gauss RDZ Ormu                                   
22 Irene Van Den Broek (Ned) Dutch National Team                      0.40
23 Luise Keller (Ger) Team Columbia Women                             0.43
24 Andrea Bosman (Ned) Team DSB Bank                                  0.44
25 Rosane Kirch (Bra) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox                  0.47
26 Chantal Beltman (Ned) Team Columbia Women                          1.01
27 Regina Bruins (Ned) Dutch National Team                            1.12
28 Loos Gunnewiik (Ned) Dutch National Team                           1.30
29 Anne Samplonius (Can) Canadian National Team                       1.31
30 Linda Villumsen (Den) Team Columbia Women                              
31 Modosta Vzesniauskaite (Ltu) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung        1.32
32 Veronica Leal Balderas (Mex) Gauss RDZ Ormu                        1.35
33 Eva Lechner (Ita) Gauss RDZ Ormu                                   1.37
34 Enka Vilunaite (Ltu) Team Fanini System Data                       1.50
35 Julia Martisova (Rus) Gauss RDZ Ormu                               1.58
36 Alona Andruk (Ukr) USC Chirio Forno D'Asolo                        2.36
37 Julie Beveridge (Can) Canadian National Team                       2.53
38 Daiva Tuslaite (Ltu) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox                2.57
39 Silvia Parietti (Ita) Team CMAX Dila                               3.46
40 Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) USC Chirio Forno D'Asolo                  3.48
41 Monica Holler (Swe) Bigla Cycling Team                                 
42 Elena Berlato (Ita) Safi - Pasta Zara Manhattan                    3.49
43 Manuela Grunzweil (Aut) ELK Haus                                   5.53
44 Laura Morfin Macouzet (Mex) Fenixs                                 6.26
45 Julia Blindyuk (Rus) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox                6.32
46 Jennifer Fiori (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox                6.36
47 Valentin Carretta (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line          6.38
48 Clemilda Fernandes Silva (Bra) USC Chirio Forno D'Asolo            7.13
49 Uenia Fernandes Da Souza (Bra) USC Chirio Forno D'Asolo            7.14
50 Oxana Kozonchuk (Rus) Menikini - Selle Italia - Masters Color          
51 Francesca Faustini (Ita) Safi - Pasta Zara Manhattan               7.30
52 Jennifer Hohl (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team                             7.31
53 Sereina Trachsel (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team                              
54 Veronica Andreasson (Swe) Bigla Cycling Team                           
55 Elko Gebhardt (Ger) German National Team                               
56 Elisabeth Bram (Ned) Dutch National Team                               
57 Felicia Gomez (Can) Canadian National Team                             
58 Andrea Thurig (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team                             7.32
59 Miho Oki (Jpn) Menikini - Selle Italia - Masters Color                 
60 Kristin Mc Grath (USA) USA National Team                               
61 Romy Kasper (Ger) German National Team                                 
62 Kirsten Wild (Ned) Dutch National Team                                 
63 Emilia Fahlin (Swe) Team Columbia Women                                
64 Sigrid Corneo (Slo) Menikini - Selle Italia - Masters Color            
65 Katheryn Curt (USA) USA National Team                              7.34
66 Tanis Belvederesi (Ita) Gauss RDZ Ormu                                 
67 Erinne Willock (Can) Canadian National Team                            
68 Alessia Massaccesi (Ita) Team CMAX Dila                                
69 Anke Wichmann (Ger) Team Columbia Women                                
70 Lisa Brennauer (Ger) German National Team                              
71 Samantha Galassi (Ita) Fenixs                                          
72 Ina Teutenberg (Ger) Team Columbia Women                               
73 Kori Kelley Seehafer (USA) Menikini - Selle Italia - Masters Color     
74 Iris Slappendel (Ned) Dutch National Team                              
75 Angela Hennig (Ger) Team DSB Bank                                      
76 Charlotte Becker (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                  
77 Martine Bras (Ned) Dutch National Team                                 
78 Martina Ruzickova (Cze) ELK Haus                                       
79 Amber Rais (USA) USA National Team                                     
80 Eva Lutz (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                      8.10
81 Ellen Vad Diik (Ned) Dutch National Team                          11.30
82 Marieke Van Wanroij (Ned) Team DSB Bank                           11.32
83 Marlon Johrend (Ger) German National Team                         12.32
84 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                 
85 Edita Unguryte (Ltu) USC Chirio Forno D'Asolo                          
86 Alessandra D'ettorre (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line           
87 Janildes Fernandez Silva (Bra) USC Chirio Forno D'Asolo                
88 Lisa Marie Degle (Ger) ELK Haus                                        
89 Rasa Leleivyte (Ltu) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox                    
90 Laura Pisaneschi (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line               
91 Denise Zuckermandel (Ger) German National Team                         
92 Stefanie Degle (Ger) ELK Haus                                          
93 Agne Bagdanoviciute (Ltu) Team Fanini System Data                      
94 Giulia Lazzerini (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox                  
95 Anna Farina (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line                    
96 Alice Marmorini (Ita) Fenixs                                           
97 Alice Donadoni (Ita) Team CMAX Dila                                    
98 Sara Mustonen (Swe) Team CMAX Dila                                     
99 Bettina Kuhn (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team                                  
100 Marina Khodtchenkova (Rus) Team CMAX Dila                             
101 Daniola Cristine Lionco (Bra) Team Fanini System Data                 
102 Brooke Miller (USA) USA National Team                                 
103 Katarina Uhlarikova (Svk) ELK Haus                                    
104 Laura Bozzolo (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox                    
105 Marina Romoli (Ita) Menikini - Selle Italia - Masters Color           
106 Silvia Valsecchi (Ita) Menikini - Selle Italia - Masters Color        
107 Valentin Bastianelli (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox             
108 Evelyn Garcia (ESa) USC Chirio Forno D'Asolo                          
109 Deborah Mascelli (Ita) Team Fanini System Data                        
110 Silvia Eusebi (Ita) Team CMAX Dila                                    
DNF Vera Carrara (Ita) Team CMAX Dila                                     
DNF Nathalie Bates (Aus) Menikini - Selle Italia - Masters Color          
DNF Giuseppina Grassi (Mex) Team Fanini System Data                       
DNF Anna Zugno (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line                    
DNF Carmen Mc Nellis (USA) USA National Team                              
 
General Classification after Stage 3
 
1 Judith Arndt (Ger) Team Columbia Women                           6.46.06
2 Nicole Brandli (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team                             0.27
3 Edits Pucinskaite (Ltu) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                  
4 Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Fenixs                                          
5 Marianne Vos (Ned) Team DSB Bank                                    0.29
6 Noemi Cantele (Ita) Bigla Cycling Team                              0.34
7 Monia Baccaille (Ita) Fenixs                                        0.35
8 Claudia Hausler (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                    
9 Grote Treier (Est) Gauss RDZ Ormu                                   0.37
10 Mara Abbott (USA) Team Columbia Women                                  
11 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                 0.38
12 Kristin Armstrong (USA) USA National Team                          0.40
13 Natalia Boyarskaya (Rus) Fenixs                                        
14 Suzanne De Goede (Ned) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung              0.44
15 Fabian Luperini (Ita) Menikini - Selle Italia - Masters Color      0.46
16 Alexandra Wrubleski (Can) Canadian National Team                   0.47
17 Irene Van Den Broek (Ned) Dutch National Team                      0.49
18 Tina Liebig (Ger) Team DSB Bank                                    1.00
19 Tatlana Guderzo (Ita) Gauss RDZ Ormu                               1.03
20 Martins Corazza (Ita) Gauss RDZ Ormu                               1.05
21 Chantal Beltman (Ned) Team Columbia Women                          1.06
22 Andrea Bosman (Ned) Team DSB Bank                                  1.07
23 Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu) USC Chirio Forno D'Asolo               1.11
24 Stephanie Pohl (Ger) German National Team                          1.20
25 Regina Bruins (Ned) Dutch National Team                            1.21
26 Rosane Kirch (Bra) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox                  1.22
27 Linda Villumsen (Den) Team Columbia Women                          1.36
28 Loos Gunnewiik (Ned) Dutch National Team                           1.39
29 Modosta Vzesniauskaite (Ltu) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung        1.45
30 Veronica Leal Balderas (Mex) Gauss RDZ Ormu                        2.03
31 Eva Lechner (Ita) Gauss RDZ Ormu                                   2.05
32 Anne Samplonius (Can) Canadian National Team                       2.08
33 Julia Martisova (Rus) Gauss RDZ Ormu                               2.26
34 Enka Vilunaite (Ltu) Team Fanini System Data                       2.36
35 Alona Andruk (Ukr) USC Chirio Forno D'Asolo                        3.23
36 Julie Beveridge (Can) Canadian National Team                       3.30
37 Luise Keller (Ger) Team Columbia Women                             3.53
38 Monica Holler (Swe) Bigla Cycling Team                             4.00
39 Daiva Tuslaite (Ltu) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox                    
40 Elena Berlato (Ita) Safi - Pasta Zara Manhattan                    4.27
41 Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) USC Chirio Forno D'Asolo                  4.32
42 Silvia Parietti (Ita) Team CMAX Dila                               4.33
43 Laura Morfin Macouzet (Mex) Fenixs                                 6.56
44 Julia Blindyuk (Rus) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox                7.07
45 Jennifer Fiori (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox                7.11
46 Emilia Fahlin (Swe) Team Columbia Women                            7.36
47 Kirsten Wild (Ned) Dutch National Team                             7.40
48 Oxana Kozonchuk (Rus) Menikini - Selle Italia - Masters Color      7.45
49 Jennifer Hohl (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team                             7.46
50 Sereina Trachsel (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team                              
51 Andrea Thurig (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team                             7.47
52 Charlotte Becker (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                  
53 Angela Hennig (Ger) Team DSB Bank                                  7.52
54 Katheryn Curt (USA) USA National Team                              7.56
55 Tanis Belvederesi (Ita) Gauss RDZ Ormu                             8.00
56 Clemilda Fernandes Silva (Bra) USC Chirio Forno D'Asolo                
57 Elisabeth Bram (Ned) Dutch National Team                           8.02
58 Kori Kelley Seehafer (USA) Menikini - Selle Italia - Masters Color     
59 Miho Oki (Jpn) Menikini - Selle Italia - Masters Color             8.03
60 Martine Bras (Ned) Dutch National Team                             8.05
61 Felicia Gomez (Can) Canadian National Team                         8.08
62 Elko Gebhardt (Ger) German National Team                           8.14
63 Alessia Massaccesi (Ita) Team CMAX Dila                            8.21
64 Martina Ruzickova (Cze) ELK Haus                                   8.24
65 Veronica Andreasson (Swe) Bigla Cycling Team                       8.30
66 Sigrid Corneo (Slo) Menikini - Selle Italia - Masters Color        8.36
67 Iris Slappendel (Ned) Dutch National Team                          8.54
68 Kristin Mc Grath (USA) USA National Team                           9.05
69 Romy Kasper (Ger) German National Team                             9.26
70 Lisa Brennauer (Ger) German National Team                          9.28
71 Eva Lutz (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                     10.05
72 Manuela Grunzweil (Aut) ELK Haus                                  10.21
73 Anke Wichmann (Ger) Team Columbia Women                           10.44
74 Ina Teutenberg (Ger) Team Columbia Women                          11.14
75 Valentin Carretta (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line         11.17
76 Samantha Galassi (Ita) Fenixs                                     12.09
77 Erinne Willock (Can) Canadian National Team                       12.11
78 Ellen Vad Diik (Ned) Dutch National Team                          12.50
79 Francesca Faustini (Ita) Safi - Pasta Zara Manhattan              13.06
80 Rasa Leleivyte (Ltu) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox               13.07
81 Alessandra D'ettorre (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line      13.14
82 Edita Unguryte (Ltu) USC Chirio Forno D'Asolo                     13.19
83 Sara Mustonen (Swe) Team CMAX Dila                                     
84 Alice Donadoni (Ita) Team CMAX Dila                                    
85 Evelyn Garcia (ESa) USC Chirio Forno D'Asolo                           
86 Uenia Fernandes Da Souza (Bra) USC Chirio Forno D'Asolo           14.55
87 Amber Rais (USA) USA National Team                                14.57
88 Alice Marmorini (Ita) Fenixs                                      15.13
89 Marina Romoli (Ita) Menikini - Selle Italia - Masters Color       16.12
90 Marieke Van Wanroij (Ned) Team DSB Bank                           16.33
91 Silvia Valsecchi (Ita) Menikini - Selle Italia - Masters Color    17.00
92 Brooke Miller (USA) USA National Team                             17.05
93 Agne Bagdanoviciute (Ltu) Team Fanini System Data                 17.13
94 Denise Zuckermandel (Ger) German National Team                    17.15
95 Stefanie Degle (Ger) ELK Haus                                     17.22
96 Katarina Uhlarikova (Svk) ELK Haus                                     
97 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung            17.38
98 Laura Pisaneschi (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line          18.03
99 Marlon Johrend (Ger) German National Team                         18.04
100 Bettina Kuhn (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team                            18.08
101 Anna Farina (Ita) Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line              18.41
102 Giulia Lazzerini (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox            20.01
103 Daniola Cristine Lionco (Bra) Team Fanini System Data            20.12
104 Laura Bozzolo (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox               21.17
105 Valentin Bastianelli (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox        21.33
106 Deborah Mascelli (Ita) Team Fanini System Data                   23.07
107 Janildes Fernandez Silva (Bra) USC Chirio Forno D'Asolo          23.18
108 Lisa Marie Degle (Ger) ELK Haus                                  23.21
109 Silvia Eusebi (Ita) Team CMAX Dila                               23.34
110 Marina Khodtchenkova (Rus) Team CMAX Dila                        23.56