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Grande Boucle Féminine Internationale - 2.9.1

France, August 4-18, 2002

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Stage 11 - August 15: Bellac - Civaux, 77km

Stage win and green jersey for Itera Team's Slioussareva

By Chris Henry, Cyclingnews correspondent

Olga Slioussareva
Photo: ©AFP

Russian spinter Olga Slioussareva (Itera Team) sprinted to victory in today's 11th stage of the Grande Boucle Féminine, dedicating the win to her teammate Valentina Polkhanova. As Slioussareva explained, "I wanted to win as a present for Valentina Polkanova, since it's her birthday today."

Today provided another transitional stage held in warm and sunny conditions, taking the riders 77km from Bellac to Civaux. There were plenty of riders ready to go on the attack, and early, short-lived attacks came from all corners of the peloton as the leaders of the general classification eyed each other warily.

The day's first Sprint Flash was taken by German Anke Wichmann (Michela Fanini), ahead of the always aggressive Susanne Ljungskog, and Maillot Or Zinaida Stahurskaia. As a result, Ljungskog took back another valuable 2" bonus from Stahurskaia, reducing the difference between first and second place overall to 36" on the road.

Third place overall Joane Somarriba sent her Deia Pragma Colnago teammate Tatiana Stiajkina on the offensive, in the hopes of provoking a selection. With the major mountains of this year's Tour behind, defending champion Somarriba will have few opportunities to regain time on the general classification, particularly with Susanne Ljungskog snatching sprint bonifications with relative ease.

"It's true that now I have to find a way to escape," Somarriba conceded before the start. "I have to keep my morale, since there are several days left before Paris. If we keep fighting, who knows what's possible."

The biggest break of the day started after an attack from Mixte Powerplate's sprinter Priska Doppmann, which prompted a response from Saturn's Kimberly Bruckner, who pulled back Doppmann but did not initially follow through with the acceleration. However, with the speed increasing and the head of the peloton becoming a bit disorganized, Acca Due O's Chantal Beltman sensed that the timing was right for a full on attack.

After Ljungskog took charge of the chase, with race leader Stahurskaia glued to her wheel, Kimberly Bruckner decided she too was ready to commit to a serious move, and escaped in search of Beltman. After a fairly lengthy chase, Bruckner caught Beltman, and the two worked well to consolidate their advantage. At this point it was the turn of Acca Due's second sister act to make its mark, as Chantal Beltman's sister Ghita made an effort to discourage the counter attacks from within the peloton.

Ultimately sensing that it would be too difficult to control the peloton, Ghita Beltman took the opposite approach, and attacked in an effort to bridge the gap to her sister and Saturn's Bruckner. A risky move, no doubt, as an ineffective attack would only serve to pull the peloton back to the breakaway. However, both Beltman sisters had the strength to break away from the pack, and Ghita succeeded in bridging the gap, pulling only one rider with her, the Russian Youlia Martissova (Itera Team).

With the break now a group of four, with the two Acca Due O sisters in the mix, cooperation appeared to be a thing of the past. Ghita Beltman was the first to break up the quartet with a short attack, followed again by Chantal. Ultimately the moves were made in vain, as the peloton had closed to within a few hundred meters and a bunch finish appeared inevitable. Kimberly Brucker gave it one last go in the lead group, but the sprinters' teams were driving hard and the break was steadily reeled in.

Not to be denied another chance for bonus seconds at the finish, Ljungskog took advantage of the confusion in the front of the reformed peloton and stormed down the final hill into Civaux with the peloton strung out behind her. Ljungskog took a number of risks as the road wound into town and under the 1km to go banner. In doing so she not only kept herself well positioned at the front of the race, she prevented any real organization from the sprinters' teams in the closing meters.

While it was unlikely that the Swede would hang on for the stage win, she did fend off all challengers but two, Olga Slioussareva and Sissy Van Alebeek of Team Farm Frites-Hartol. In the final sprint it was the flying Russian Slioussareva who took the win and regained the green points jersey from Saturn's Judith Arndt, who herself had wrestled it away one day before.

With another 8 seconds regained from sprint bonuses, Susanne Ljungskog moved even closer to overall leader Stahurskaia, and currently sits just 30 seconds back with three stages left to race. Joane Somarriba remains in third position, 1'04" behind.

Photos

Images by AFP

Results

1 Olga Slioussareva (Rus) Itera Team                        2.07.51
2 Sissy Van Alebeek (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol
3 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Vlaanderen-T Interim
4 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Michela Fanini
5 Yvonne Brunen (Ned) Mixte Power Plate
6 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Mixte Power Plate
7 Arenda Grimberg (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol
8 Sara Felloni (Ita) Edilsavino
9 Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr) USC Chirio                         0.04
10 Francesca Castrucci (Ita) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet
11 Sandra Rombouts (Ned) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung
12 Judith Arndt (Ger) Saturn Cycling
13 Sylvie Riedle (Fra) C.A Mantes la ville 78
14 Alessandra Cappellotto (Ita) Mixte Power Plate              0.07
15 Zita Urbonaite (Ltu) Acca Due O
16 Kimberly Bruckner (USA) Saturn Cycling
17 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Figurella Dream Team
18 Chantal Beltman (Ned) Acca Due O
19 Youlia Martissova (Rus) Itera Team
20 Stacey Peters (USA) USA National-T Mobile
21 Joane Somarriba Arrola (Spa) Deia Pragma Colnago
22 Iryna Chuzhynova (Ukr) Edilsavino
23 Alessandra d'Ettore (Ita) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet
24 Elisabeth Chevanne Brunel (Fra) C.A Mantes la ville 78
25 Veronique Belleter (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim
26 Nicole Brandli (Swi) Acca Due O
27 Shani Bloch (Isr) Michela Fanini
28 Birgit Sollner (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung
29 Letizia Giardinelli (Ita) Michela Fanini
30 Liane Bahler (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung
31 Kym Shirley (Aus) Itera Team
32 Lada Kozlikova (Cze) Itera Team
33 Eneritz Iturriaga Mazaga (Spa) Deia Pragma Colnago
34 Tatiana Stiajkina (Ukr) Deia Pragma Colnago
35 Marta Evangelisti (Ita) Edilsavino
36 Teodora Ruano Sanchon (Spa) Deia Pragma Colnago
37 Karine Dalmais (Fra) French National Team
38 Sandrine Marcuz (Fra) French National Team
39 Marcia Eicher-Vouets (Swi) C.A Mantes la ville 78
40 Ghita Beltman (Ned) Acca Due O
41 Amber Neben (USA) USA National-T Mobile                     0.15
42 Mari Holden (USA) USA National-T Mobile
43 Vilija Purlite (Ltu) Figurella Dream Team
44 Valentina Polkhanova (Rus) Itera Team
45 Edita Kubelskiene (Ltu) Figurella Dream Team
46 Iosune Murillo Elkano (Spa) Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia
47 Daniela Veronesi (Ita) Edilsavino
48 Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) Acca Due O
49 Helga Faccin (Ita) USC Chirio
50 Anke Wichmann (Ger) Michela Fanini
51 Isabelle Moulis (Fra) French National Team
52 Cristina Alcalde Huertanos (Spa) Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia
53 Laure Werner (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim
54 Silvia Parietti (Ita) Figurella Dream Team
55 Ina Yoko Teutenberg (Ger) Saturn Cycling
56 Cindy Pieters (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim
57 Valentyna Karpenko (Ukr) Deia Pragma Colnago                0.19
58 Marina Khodtchenkova (Rus) Edilsavino
59 Lisbeth Simper (Den) Michela Fanini
60 Marta Vilajosana Andreu (Spa) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet
61 Francis Linthorst (Ned) Mixte Power Plate
62 Baukje Doedee (Ned) Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia
63 Kim Anderson (USA) USA National-T Mobile
64 Debby Mansveld (Ned) Vlaanderen-T Interim
65 Montserrat Alonso Bernal (Spa) Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia
66 Rosalisa Lapomarda (Ita) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet
67 Agurtzane Elorriaga Derteano (Spa) Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia
68 Emma James (Aus) C.A Mantes la ville 78
69 Penny Edwards (GBr) USC Chirio
70 Madeleine Lindberg (Swe) Team Farm Frites-Hartol
71 Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu) Acca Due O
72 Anna Ramirez (Spa) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet
73 Tetyana Andrushchenko (Ukr) USC Chirio
74 Anouska Van Der Zee (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol
75 Magalie Finot (Fra) French National Team                    0.27
76 Alexandra Nohles (Ger) Mixte Power Plate                    1.08
77 Cornelia Cyrus (Rus) Itera Team                            20.10
78 Tiziana Smorgon (Ita) Figurella Dream Team
79 Cynthia Compain (Fra) C.A Mantes la ville 78
 
General classification after stage 11
 
1 Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr) USC Chirio                        27.24
2 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Vlaanderen-T Interim                 0.30
3 Joane Somarriba Arrola (Spa) Deia Pragma Colnago             1.04
4 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Figurella Dream Team                 1.47
5 Nicole Brandli (Swi) Acca Due O                              2.26
6 Valentina Polkhanova (Rus) Itera Team                       11.50
7 Judith Arndt (Ger) Saturn Cycling                           14.54
8 Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) Acca Due O                         22.03
9 Amber Neben (USA) USA National-T Mobile                     27.38
10 Kimberly Bruckner (USA) Saturn Cycling                     32.14
11 Alessandra Cappellotto (Ita) Mixte Power Plate             35.56
12 Tatiana Stiajkina (Ukr) Deia Pragma Colnago                44.21
13 Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu) Acca Due O                     53.35
14 Cindy Pieters (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim                   56.59
15 Rosalisa Lapomarda (Ita) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet   1.02.02
16 Sandrine Marcuz (Fra) French National Team               1.13.33
17 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Mixte Power Plate                  1.14.38
18 Shani Bloch (Isr) Michela Fanini                         1.18.48
19 Teodora Ruano Sanchon (Spa) Deia Pragma Colnago          1.26.21
20 Eneritz Iturriaga Mazaga (Spa) Deia Pragma Colnago       1.28.25
21 Elisabeth Chevanne Brunel (Fra) C.A Mantes la ville 78   1.29.42
22 Liane Bahler (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung        1.30.20
23 Iryna Chuzhynova (Ukr) Edilsavino                        1.30.29
24 Birgit Sollner (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung      1.32.01
25 Madeleine Lindberg (Swe) Team Farm Frites-Hartol         1.33.26
26 Youlia Martissova (Rus) Itera Team                       1.36.45
27 Valentyna Karpenko (Ukr) Deia Pragma Colnago             1.37.01
28 Silvia Parietti (Ita) Figurella Dream Team               1.40.08
29 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Michela Fanini                   1.43.35
30 Sara Felloni (Ita) Edilsavino                            1.50.23
31 Arenda Grimberg (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol            1.52.12
32 Mari Holden (USA) USA National-T Mobile                  1.52.48
33 Karine Dalmais (Fra) French National Team                1.55.25
34 Edita Kubelskiene (Ltu) Figurella Dream Team             1.56.41
35 Marcia Eicher-Vouets (Swi) C.A Mantes la ville 78        1.57.04
36 Daniela Veronesi (Ita) Edilsavino                        1.57.26
37 Sandra Rombouts (Ned) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung     1.58.31
38 Chantal Beltman (Ned) Acca Due O                         1.59.07
39 Lada Kozlikova (Cze) Itera Team                          2.00.19
40 Sylvie Riedle (Fra) C.A Mantes la ville 78               2.03.19
41 Zita Urbonaite (Ltu) Acca Due O                          2.06.37
42 Helga Faccin (Ita) USC Chirio                            2.08.04
43 Olga Slioussareva (Rus) Itera Team                       2.10.22
44 Letizia Giardinelli (Ita) Michela Fanini                 2.11.45
45 Kim Anderson (USA) USA National-T Mobile                 2.14.53
46 Yvonne Brunen (Ned) Mixte Power Plate                    2.18.26
47 Laure Werner (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim                  2.18.46
48 Ghita Beltman (Ned) Acca Due O                           2.23.09
49 Lisbeth Simper (Den) Michela Fanini                      2.25.49
50 Kym Shirley (Aus) Itera Team                             2.27.47
51 Marta Vilajosana Andreu (Spa) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca A 2.29.44
52 Emma James (Aus) C.A Mantes la ville 78                  2.36.37
53 Cristina Alcalde Huertanos (Spa) Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia    2.36.53
54 Veronique Belleter (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim            2.37.14
55 Francis Linthorst (Ned) Mixte Power Plate                2.37.33
56 Baukje Doedee (Ned) Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia                 2.45.33
57 Tetyana Andrushchenko (Ukr) USC Chirio                   2.45.37
58 Stacey Peters (USA) USA National-T Mobile                2.48.39
59 Debby Mansveld (Ned) Vlaanderen-T Interim                2.48.49
60 Ina Yoko Teutenberg (Ger) Saturn Cycling                 2.50.48
61 Penny Edwards (GBr) USC Chirio                           2.52.15
62 Anouska Van Der Zee (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol        2.52.45
63 Alessandra d'Ettore (Ita) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet  2.55.20
64 Sissy Van Alebeek (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol          3.05.06
65 Anke Wichmann (Ger) Michela Fanini                       3.05.10
66 Tiziana Smorgon (Ita) Figurella Dream Team               3.06.02
67 Marina Khodtchenkova (Rus) Edilsavino                    3.08.40
68 Montserrat Alonso Bernal (Spa) Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia      3.09.52
69 Vilija Purlite (Ltu) Figurella Dream Team                3.19.30
70 Alexandra Nohles (Ger) Mixte Power Plate                 3.20.29
71 Francesca Castrucci (Ita) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet  3.27.32
72 Agurtzane Elorriaga Derteano (Spa) Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia  3.29.45
73 Marta Evangelisti (Ita) Edilsavino                       3.31.07
74 Magalie Finot (Fra) French National Team                 3.35.21
75 Anna Ramirez (Spa) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet         3.40.28
76 Isabelle Moulis (Fra) French National Team               3.48.43
77 Iosune Murillo Elkano (Spa) Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia         3.53.33
78 Cornelia Cyrus (Rus) Itera Team                          4.24.32
79 Cynthia Compain (Fra) C.A Mantes la ville 78             5.48.21
 
Points classification
 
1 Olga Slioussareva (Rus) Itera Team                            111 pts
2 Judith Arndt (Ger) Saturn Cycling                              93
3 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Vlaanderen-T Interim                   85
4 Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr) USC Chirio                           70
5 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Michela Fanini                         67
6 Alessandra Cappellotto (Ita) Mixte Power Plate                 59
7 Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) Acca Due O                            51
8 Nicole Brandli (Swi) Acca Due O                                48
9 Sara Felloni (Ita) Edilsavino                                  46
10 Joane Somarriba Arrola (Spa) Deia Pragma Colnago              45
 
Mountains classification
 
1 Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr) USC Chirio                          140 pts
2 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Figurella Dream Team                   91
3 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Vlaanderen-T Interim                   72
4 Nicole Brandli (Swi) Acca Due O                                71
5 Joane Somarriba Arrola (Spa) Deia Pragma Colnago               61
6 Valentina Polkhanova (Rus) Itera Team                          53
7 Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) Acca Due O                            42
8 Amber Neben (USA) USA National-T Mobile                        24
9 Judith Arndt (Ger) Saturn Cycling                              19
10 Olga Slioussareva (Rus) Itera Team                            16
 
Combination classification
 
1 Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr) USC Chirio                           84 pts
2 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Vlaanderen-T Interim                   80
3 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Figurella Dream Team                   62
4 Nicole Brandli (Swi) Acca Due O                                62
5 Judith Arndt (Ger) Saturn Cycling                              60
6 Joane Somarriba Arrola (Spa) Deia Pragma Colnago               60
7 Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) Acca Due O                            52
8 Valentina Polkhanova (Rus) Itera Team                          49
9 Olga Slioussareva (Rus) Itera Team                             42
10 Alessandra Cappellotto (Ita) Mixte Power Plate                40
 
Sprints classification
 
1 Olga Slioussareva (Rus) Itera Team                             84
2 Debby Mansveld (Ned) Vlaanderen-T Interim                      42
3 Youlia Martissova (Rus) Itera Team                             27
4 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Vlaanderen-T Interim                   12
5 Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr) USC Chirio                           12
6 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Figurella Dream Team                    9
7 Nicole Brandli (Swi) Acca Due O                                 9
8 Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) Acca Due O                             9
9 Iryna Chuzhynova (Ukr) Edilsavino                               9
10 Anke Wichmann (Ger) Michela Fanini                             9