Grande Boucle Féminine Internationale - 2.9.1

France, August 4-18, 2002

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Stage 12 - August 16: Le Mans - Châteaudun, 111.4km

Stage win consolidates Stahurskaia's lead

Stahurskaia gets one
Photo: © AFP

Friday's stage 12, which covered 111.4km between Le Mans and Châteaudun, provided just the right parcours for the aggressive racing which has marked the last week of the Grande Boucle Féminine. With bonus seconds still available at intermediate sprints, as well as at the finish line, the battle between Maillot Or Zinaida Stahurskaia and second place Susanne Ljungskog has only heated up.

Ljungskog has consistently picked up valuable seconds from Stahurskaia over the past several days, narrowing the gap between first and second place overall to a scant 30 seconds. Despite her decreasing margin over Ljungskog, Stahurskaia commented before today's stage that she would not contest the intermediate bonus sprints.

Expecting a difficult finish, and possible an opportunistic stage victory, the race leader said she preferred to hold her cards until the final kilometers. However, Ljungskog surely wouldn't have believed that Stahurskaia would sit back and permit any more dents in her overall lead, and not surprisingly the Maillot Or rode with increasing tenacity as the stage progressed.

The major move of the day came from American Amber Neben of the USA National-T Mobile team. Neben escaped on the strength of a swift counter attack, shortly after the Beltman sisters from Acca Due O were caught after attempting another family getaway.

Amber Neben's escape was well established with 20km remaining to the finish, and the American reached a maximum lead of 1'42" over the peloton. The second Sprint Flash of the day at Cloyes-sur-Loire set the stage for the late stage fireworks, with a downhill run into the town center and several corners to negotiate before the sprint.

Using the same tactic which kept her up front at the finish of yesterday's stage in Civaux, Susanne Ljungskog set a fierce tempo at the head of the peloton, and sailed down the descent into Cloyes-sur-Loire. Though she managed to hold off the sprinters once more, Ljungskog did not count on a determined charge from race leader Stahurskaia, who nipped the Swede at the line to regain one second in the overall classification.

After the sprint, Neben's advantage fluctuated slightly, but remained for the most part around the one minute mark. It was a strong performance from the American, who has only been competing in road events for a year and a half, after making the transition from mountain biking. Not only was Neben riding well on her own, her T-Mobile squad was providing a good show of teamwork in the peloton. Most notably, former world time trial champion Mari Holden was vigilantly keeping an eye on the head of the field, blocking when possible and trying to discourage attacks.

Neben looked strong with 8km to go, however her advantage was beginning to fall, slipping to 53 seconds. A five woman counter attack escaped the peloton, including Edita Kubelskiene (Figurella Dream Team), Daniela Veronesi (Edilsavino), and Neben's teammate Holden, obviously having a good day herself. Holden of course provided no help to the attack, and sat patiently in fifth position. Had the break caught Neben and stayed away, Holden would have provided an extra opportunity for T-Mobile, but with the sprinters' teams working from behind, there was little chance that the break would survive.

Though Neben's lead briefly rose to 1'05", the increasing organization in the peloton quickly cut it back to 50" as the pack rolled under the 5km to go banner. Shortly after, the gap was already down to 40", and with a difficult finishing climb waiting in the final 500m, the stage win suddenly seemed wide open. The Itera and Michela Fanini teams were doing most of the work at the front of the peloton, but solo attacks seemed imminent.

Under the 1km to go flag, Neben's lead was down to 20". The American never faltered visibly as she hit the finishing climb with 500m to go, but the speed of the chasing peloton was simply too high. As expected, second place Swede Ljungskog rocketed from the front of the group at the base of the hill. It was a strong acceleration, but Maillot Or Stahurskaia had all the answers, catching Ljungskog and countering with her own surge up the steep slopes of the Montée de Châteaudun.

The two strongest women of the Tour once again stamped their authority on the day, but it was the overall leader Stahurskaia who charged past Neben with 300m to go and maintained her momentum all the way to the line. Ljungskog finished with the same time, but lost two seconds in the general classification as a result of the stage finish bonuses. Neben had just enough strength in reserve after her long escape and finished in third place, 5" behind the winner.

As the sprinters battled it out for the lower places, Olga Slioussareva (Itera Team) appeared to lock up the green jersey competition, finishing in fifth place, two spots ahead of Saturn's Judith Arndt.

Overall leader Stahurskaia expressed her satisfaction at the end of the day. "I'm particularly happy to have won since I had not yet won a stage in this year's Tour," she said. "Now there is the time trial, and with 35 seconds, that should be good."

Photography

Images by AFP

• Zinaida Stahurskaia (USC Chirio) outsprints Susanne Ljungskog (Vlaanderen-T Interim) for the stage victory
• Zinaida Stahurskaia (USC Chirio) celebrates as she crosses the finish line

Results

1 Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr) USC Chirio                        2.44.37 (40.822 km/h)
2 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Vlaanderen-T Interim
3 Amber Neben (USA) USA National-T Mobile                        0.05
4 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Michela Fanini                         0.07
5 Olga Slioussareva (Rus) Itera Team
6 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Figurella Dream Team
7 Judith Arndt (Ger) Saturn Cycling
8 Joane Somarriba Arrola (Spa) Deia Pragma Colnago
9 Yvonne Brunen (Ned) Mixte Power Plate
10 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Mixte Power Plate
11 Nicole Brandli (Swi) Acca Due O
12 Alessandra Cappellotto (Ita) Mixte Power Plate
13 Sara Felloni (Ita) Edilsavino                                 0.16
14 Sylvie Riedle (Fra) C.A Mantes la ville 78
15 Chantal Beltman (Ned) Acca Due O
16 Elisabeth Chevanne Brunel (Fra) C.A Mantes la ville 78
17 Eneritz Iturriaga Mazaga (Spa) Deia Pragma Colnago
18 Lada Kozlikova (Cze) Itera Team
19 Madeleine Lindberg (Swe) Team Farm Frites-Hartol
20 Sandrine Marcuz (Fra) French National Team
21 Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) Acca Due O                           0.23
22 Tatiana Stiajkina (Ukr) Deia Pragma Colnago
23 Liane Bahler (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung
24 Cristina Alcalde Huertanos (Spa) Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia
25 Youlia Martissova (Rus) Itera Team
26 Arenda Grimberg (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol
27 Birgit Sollner (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung
28 Teodora Ruano Sanchon (Spa) Deia Pragma Colnago
29 Edita Kubelskiene (Ltu) Figurella Dream Team
30 Valentina Polkhanova (Rus) Itera Team
31 Iryna Chuzhynova (Ukr) Edilsavino
32 Vilija Purlite (Ltu) Figurella Dream Team
33 Kimberly Bruckner (USA) Saturn Cycling
34 Francesca Castrucci (Ita) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet
35 Valentyna Karpenko (Ukr) Deia Pragma Colnago
36 Marta Evangelisti (Ita) Edilsavino
37 Karine Dalmais (Fra) French National Team                     0.30
38 Marina Khodtchenkova (Rus) Edilsavino
39 Helga Faccin (Ita) USC Chirio
40 Zita Urbonaite (Ltu) Acca Due O                               0.33
41 Shani Bloch (Isr) Michela Fanini
42 Marta Vilajosana Andreu (Spa) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet
43 Marcia Eicher-Vouets (Swi) C.A Mantes la ville 78             0.36
44 Rosalisa Lapomarda (Ita) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet
45 Kym Shirley (Aus) Itera Team
46 Isabelle Moulis (Fra) French National Team
47 Cornelia Cyrus (Rus) Itera Team
48 Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu) Acca Due O
49 Veronique Belleter (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim
50 Sandra Rombouts (Ned) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung
51 Emma James (Aus) C.A Mantes la ville 78
52 Cindy Pieters (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim                      0.43
53 Anouska Van Der Zee (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol
54 Silvia Parietti (Ita) Figurella Dream Team
55 Penny Edwards (GBr) USC Chirio
56 Francis Linthorst (Ned) Mixte Power Plate
57 Agurtzane Elorriaga Derteano (Spa) Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia
58 Baukje Doedee (Ned) Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia                      0.46
59 Tetyana Andrushchenko (Ukr) USC Chirio
60 Iosune Murillo Elkano (Spa) Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia
61 Tiziana Smorgon (Ita) Figurella Dream Team                    0.49
62 Alessandra d'Ettore (Ita) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet
63 Letizia Giardinelli (Ita) Michela Fanini
64 Sissy Van Alebeek (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol
65 Lisbeth Simper (Den) Michela Fanini                           0.53
66 Daniela Veronesi (Ita) Edilsavino                             1.00
67 Laure Werner (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim
68 Ghita Beltman (Ned) Acca Due O
69 Montserrat Alonso Bernal (Spa) Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia           1.12
70 Anna Ramirez (Spa) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet
71 Mari Holden (USA) USA National-T Mobile
72 Cynthia Compain (Fra) C.A Mantes la ville 78
73 Alexandra Nohles (Ger) Mixte Power Plate
74 Anke Wichmann (Ger) Michela Fanini                            1.19
75 Magalie Finot (Fra) French National Team
76 Kim Anderson (USA) USA National-T Mobile
77 Stacey Peters (USA) USA National-T Mobile
78 Debby Mansveld (Ned) Vlaanderen-T Interim                     1.25
79 Ina Yoko Teutenberg (Ger) Saturn Cycling                      2.11

General classification after stage 12

1 Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr) USC Chirio                       39.11.49
2 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Vlaanderen-T Interim                   0.35
3 Joane Somarriba Arrola (Spa) Deia Pragma Colnago               1.23
4 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Figurella Dream Team                   2.06
5 Nicole Brandli (Swi) Acca Due O                                2.45
6 Valentina Polkhanova (Rus) Itera Team                         12.25
7 Judith Arndt (Ger) Saturn Cycling                             15.13
8 Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) Acca Due O                           22.38
9 Amber Neben (USA) USA National-T Mobile                       27.49
10 Kimberly Bruckner (USA) Saturn Cycling                       32.49
11 Alessandra Cappellotto (Ita) Mixte Power Plate               36.15
12 Tatiana Stiajkina (Ukr) Deia Pragma Colnago                  44.56
13 Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu) Acca Due O                       54.23
14 Cindy Pieters (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim                     57.54
15 Rosalisa Lapomarda (Ita) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet     1.02.50
16 Sandrine Marcuz (Fra) French National Team                 1.14.01
17 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Mixte Power Plate                    1.14.57
18 Shani Bloch (Isr) Michela Fanini                           1.19.33
19 Teodora Ruano Sanchon (Spa) Deia Pragma Colnago            1.26.56
20 Eneritz Iturriaga Mazaga (Spa) Deia Pragma Colnago         1.28.53
21 Elisabeth Chevanne Brunel (Fra) C.A Mantes la ville 78     1.30.10
22 Liane Bahler (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung          1.30.55
23 Iryna Chuzhynova (Ukr) Edilsavino                          1.31.04
24 Birgit Sollner (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung        1.32.46
25 Madeleine Lindberg (Swe) Team Farm Frites-Hartol           1.33.54
26 Youlia Martissova (Rus) Itera Team                         1.37.20
27 Valentyna Karpenko (Ukr) Deia Pragma Colnago               1.37.36
28 Silvia Parietti (Ita) Figurella Dream Team                 1.41.03
29 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Michela Fanini                     1.44.04
30 Sara Felloni (Ita) Edilsavino                              1.50.51
31 Arenda Grimberg (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol              1.52.47
32 Mari Holden (USA) USA National-T Mobile                    1.54.12
33 Karine Dalmais (Fra) French National Team                  1.56.07
34 Edita Kubelskiene (Ltu) Figurella Dream Team               1.57.16
35 Marcia Eicher-Vouets (Swi) C.A Mantes la ville 78          1.57.52
36 Daniela Veronesi (Ita) Edilsavino                          1.58.38
37 Sandra Rombouts (Ned) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung       1.59.29
38 Chantal Beltman (Ned) Acca Due O                           1.59.35
39 Lada Kozlikova (Cze) Itera Team                            2.00.47
40 Sylvie Riedle (Fra) C.A Mantes la ville 78                 2.03.47
41 Zita Urbonaite (Ltu) Acca Due O                            2.07.22
42 Helga Faccin (Ita) USC Chirio                              2.08.46
43 Olga Slioussareva (Rus) Itera Team                         2.10.41
44 Letizia Giardinelli (Ita) Michela Fanini                   2.12.46
45 Kim Anderson (USA) USA National-T Mobile                   2.16.24
46 Yvonne Brunen (Ned) Mixte Power Plate                      2.18.45
47 Laure Werner (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim                    2.19.58
48 Ghita Beltman (Ned) Acca Due O                             2.24.18
49 Lisbeth Simper (Den) Michela Fanini                        2.26.54
50 Kym Shirley (Aus) Itera Team                               2.28.35
51 Marta Vilajosana Andreu (Spa) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Ate 2.30.29
52 Emma James (Aus) C.A Mantes la ville 78                    2.37.24
53 Cristina Alcalde Huertanos (Spa) Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia      2.37.28
54 Veronique Belleter (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim              2.38.02
55 Francis Linthorst (Ned) Mixte Power Plate                  2.38.28
56 Baukje Doedee (Ned) Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia                   2.46.31
57 Tetyana Andrushchenko (Ukr) USC Chirio                     2.46.35
58 Stacey Peters (USA) USA National-T Mobile                  2.50.10
59 Debby Mansveld (Ned) Vlaanderen-T Interim                  2.50.26
60 Ina Yoko Teutenberg (Ger) Saturn Cycling                   2.53.09
61 Penny Edwards (GBr) USC Chirio                             2.53.10
62 Anouska Van Der Zee (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol          2.53.40
63 Alessandra d'Ettore (Ita) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet    2.56.21
64 Sissy Van Alebeek (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol            3.06.17
65 Anke Wichmann (Ger) Michela Fanini                         3.06.41
66 Tiziana Smorgon (Ita) Figurella Dream Team                 3.07.03
67 Marina Khodtchenkova (Rus) Edilsavino                      3.09.22
68 Montserrat Alonso Bernal (Spa) Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia        3.11.16
69 Vilija Purlite (Ltu) Figurella Dream Team                  3.20.05
70 Alexandra Nohles (Ger) Mixte Power Plate                   3.21.53
71 Francesca Castrucci (Ita) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet    3.28.07
72 Agurtzane Elorriaga Derteano (Spa) Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia    3.30.40
73 Marta Evangelisti (Ita) Edilsavino                         3.31.42
74 Magalie Finot (Fra) French National Team                   3.36.52
75 Anna Ramirez (Spa) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet           3.41.52
76 Isabelle Moulis (Fra) French National Team                 3.49.31
77 Iosune Murillo Elkano (Spa) Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia           3.54.31
78 Cornelia Cyrus (Rus) Itera Team                            4.25.20
79 Cynthia Compain (Fra) C.A Mantes la ville 78               5.49.45

Points classification
 
1 Olga Slioussareva (Rus) Itera Team                              123 pts
2 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Vlaanderen-T Interim                    105
3 Judith Arndt (Ger) Saturn Cycling                               102
4 Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr) USC Chirio                             95
5 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Michela Fanini                           81
6 Alessandra Cappellotto (Ita) Mixte Power Plate                   63
7 Nicole Brandli (Swi) Acca Due O                                  53
8 Joane Somarriba Arrola (Spa) Deia Pragma Colnago                 53
9 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Figurella Dream Team                     51
10 Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) Acca Due O                             51
 
Mountains classification
 
1 Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr) USC Chirio                            144 pts
2 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Figurella Dream Team                     91
3 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Vlaanderen-T Interim                     74
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                          25
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                     82
3 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Figurella Dream Team                     66
4 Nicole Brandli (Swi) Acca Due O                                  64
5 Joane Somarriba Arrola (Spa) Deia Pragma Colnago                 64
6 Judith Arndt (Ger) Saturn Cycling                                58
7 Valentina Polkhanova (Rus) Itera Team                            49
8 Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) Acca Due O                              46
9 Olga Slioussareva (Rus) Itera Team                               42
10 Alessandra Cappellotto (Ita) Mixte Power Plate                  40
 
Sprints classification
 
1 Olga Slioussareva (Rus) Itera Team                               84 pts
2 Debby Mansveld (Ned) Vlaanderen-T Interim                        42
3 Youlia Martissova (Rus) Itera Team                               27
4 Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr) USC Chirio                             18
5 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Vlaanderen-T Interim                     15
6 Ghita Beltman (Ned) Acca Due O                                   12
7 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Figurella Dream Team                      9
8 Nicole Brandli (Swi) Acca Due O                                   9
9 Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) Acca Due O                               9
10 Amber Neben (USA) USA National-T Mobile                          9