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Grande Boucle Féminine Internationale - 2.9.1

France, August 4-18, 2002

Main Page Results Previous Stage Next Stage

Stage 9b - August 13: Grenoble - Lac d'Aiguebelette, 71.0 km

Show of force from "La Suissesse" Brandli

By Chris Henry, Cyclingnews correspondent

Nicole Brandli
Photo: ©AFP

Swiss rider Nicole Brandli (Acca Due O), current holder of the blue jersey for best young rider, rocketed into 5th place overall (at 2'22") with a dominant performance in stage 9b, part two of a split day of racing. The morning's 32km blitz around Grenoble may have provided a bit of respite from the serious climbing, but it was back to the slopes this afternoon, with 71km of racing and the first category Col de Porte beginning nearly at the drop of the flag.

With good legs and the motivation to move up on the general classification, Nicole Brandli (Acca Due O) launched an attack on the Col de Porte from a leading group which also included GC contenders Susanne Ljungskog, Joane Somarriba, Edita Pucinskaite, and current overall leader Zinaida Stahurskaia. This selective group was already putting time into the field on the climb when Brandli broke clear.

With no choice but to let the rising Swiss star take her flyer, the remaining four watched each other and rode conservatively for much of the climb. Perhaps impatient with the pace of the chase, or sensing greater danger in Brandli's attack, defending Grande Boucle champion Somarriba finally launched a counter attack and set off in pursuit of the lone leader.

While Brandli stayed away up front, the chase group grew in number over the second half of the stage. Valentina Polkhanova (Itera) rejoined the chase, as did world champion Rasa Polikeviciute, Saturn's Kimberly Bruckner, and several others. By this point Brandli's advantage was 2'10" over the chasers, and the young Acca Due O star was giving no indication that she would falter in the closing kilometers.

The group in pursuit of Brandli split once more towards the finish, as Maillot Or Stahurskaia attacked, picking up a 2 second time bonus at Les Echelles in the process. In a recreation of the original counter attack, Somarriba, Pucinskaite, and Ljungskog once again pulled clear of the rest to nail back Stahurskaia, if not Brandli, whose advantage was still growing to an impressive 2'30".

On the downhill run-in to Lac d'Aiguebelette, Brandli completed her show of defiance, taking the stage by a final margin of 2'32", and moving up to 5th place overall. Susanne Ljungskog continued her own progression by escaping at the end to gain 16 valuable seconds and move into 2nd place overall ahead of Somarriba, who followed in third.

"I felt very good today, it was a beautiful day," said Brandli. "The cold and the rain are over, and the sunshine suited me well. I'm very happy to have taken back this much time."

The decision on the part of the race orgnanizers to split the day's racing into one small and one smaller road stage might have raised a few eyebrows, but in the end the shorter stages provided more than a day's worth of shake ups in the general classification, and two deserving winners in the process.

Photography

Photos by AFP

Nicole Brandli (Acca Due O) on her way to winning Stage 9b of La Grande Boucle
Nicole Brandli (Acca Due O) wins the second leg of the ninth stage in lac d'Aiguebelette

Photo from Emma James, Cyclingnews.com diarist

In the short space of two weeks, Emma James (C.A Mantes la ville 78) will walk (or possibly hobble) away with a lifetime of memories from the Grande Boucle Féminine Internationale

Results

1 Nicole Brandli (Swi) Acca Due O                         2.19.24
2 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Vlaanderen-T Interim               2.32
3 Joane Somarriba Arrola (Spa) Deia Pragma Colnago           2.48
4 Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr) USC Chirio                       2.49
5 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Figurella Dream Team               3.17
6 Judith Arndt (Ger) Saturn Cycling                          9.43
7 Alessandra Cappellotto (Ita) Mixte Power Plate
8 Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) Acca Due O
9 Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu) Acca Due O
10 Valentina Polkhanova (Rus) Itera Team
11 Eneritz Iturriaga Mazaga (Spa) Deia Pragma Colnago
12 Tatiana Stiajkina (Ukr) Deia Pragma Colnago
13 Kimberly Bruckner (USA) Saturn Cycling
14 Amber Neben (USA) USA National-T Mobile
15 Rosalisa Lapomarda (Ita) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet   11.10
16 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Mixte Power Plate                  16.21
17 Lada Kozlikova (Cze) Itera Team                          16.38
18 Kristin Armstrong (USA) USA National-T Mobile
19 Elisabeth Chevanne Brunel (Fra) C.A Mantes la ville 78
20 Youlia Martissova (Rus) Itera Team
21 Edita Kubelskiene (Ltu) Figurella Dream Team
22 Valentyna Karpenko (Ukr) Deia Pragma Colnago
23 Silvia Parietti (Ita) Figurella Dream Team
24 Birgit Sollner (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung
25 Iryna Chuzhynova (Ukr) Edilsavino
26 Shani Bloch (Isr) Michela Fanini
27 Sara Felloni (Ita) Edilsavino
28 Cindy Pieters (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim
29 Laure Werner (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim
30 Sandrine Marcuz (Fra) French National Team
31 Teodora Ruano Sanchon (Spa) Deia Pragma Colnago
32 Letizia Giardinelli (Ita) Michela Fanini
33 Rhonda Quick (USA) Figurella Dream Team
34 Daniela Veronesi (Ita) Edilsavino
35 Madeleine Lindberg (Swe) Team Farm Frites-Hartol
36 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Michela Fanini
37 Marcia Eicher-Vouets (Swi) C.A Mantes la ville 78        26.04
38 Arenda Grimberg (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol
39 Kym Shirley (Aus) Itera Team
40 Helga Faccin (Ita) USC Chirio
41 Sylvie Riedle (Fra) C.A Mantes la ville 78
42 Anke Wichmann (Ger) Michela Fanini
43 Veronique Belleter (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim
44 Francesca Castrucci (Ita) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Ate   26.11
45 Tiziana Smorgon (Ita) Figurella Dream Team
46 Penny Edwards (GBr) USC Chirio
47 Liane Bahler (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung
48 Francis Linthorst (Ned) Mixte Power Plate
49 Tetyana Andrushchenko (Ukr) USC Chirio
50 Sandra Rombouts (Ned) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung
51 Marta Evangelisti (Ita) Edilsavino
52 Olga Slioussareva (Rus) Itera Team
53 Alessandra d'Ettore (Ita) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet
54 Mari Holden (USA) USA National-T Mobile
55 Ina Yoko Teutenberg (Ger) Saturn Cycling
56 Debby Mansveld (Ned) Vlaanderen-T Interim
57 Marina Khodtchenkova (Rus) Edilsavino
58 Zita Urbonaite (Ltu) Acca Due O
59 Karine Dalmais (Fra) French National Team
60 Stacey Peters (USA) USA National-T Mobile
61 Catherine Marsal (Fra) Saturn Cycling
62 Sissy Van Alebeek (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol
63 Lisbeth Simper (Den) Michela Fanini
64 Yvonne Brunen (Ned) Mixte Power Plate
65 Ghita Beltman (Ned) Acca Due O
66 Kim Anderson (USA) USA National-T Mobile
67 Baukje Doedee (Ned) Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia
68 Montserrat Alonso Bernal (Spa) Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia
69 Cristina Alcalde Huertanos (Spa) Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia
70 Anouska Van Der Zee (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol
71 Chantal Beltman (Ned) Acca Due O
72 Anna Ramirez (Spa) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet
73 Marta Vilajosana Andreu (Spa) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet
74 Emma James (Aus) C.A Mantes la ville 78
75 Magalie Finot (Fra) French National Team                 26.48
76 Alexandra Nohles (Ger) Mixte Power Plate
77 Jenny Algelid-Bengtsson (Swe) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung
78 Agurtzane Elorriaga Derteano (Spa) Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia
79 Vilija Purlite (Ltu) Figurella Dream Team                34.36
80 Goulnara Ivanova (Rus) USC Chirio                        36.52
81 Isabelle Moulis (Fra) French National Team
82 Cornelia Cyrus (Rus) Itera Team                          39.30
83 Iosune Murillo Elkano (Spa) Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia
84 Cynthia Compain (Fra) C.A Mantes la ville 78             40.52

General classification after stage 9b

1 Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr) USC Chirio                   30.22.33
2 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Vlaanderen-T Interim               0.42
3 Joane Somarriba Arrola (Spa) Deia Pragma Colnago           1.00
4 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Figurella Dream Team               1.43
5 Nicole Brandli (Swi) Acca Due O                            2.22
6 Valentina Polkhanova (Rus) Itera Team                     11.38
7 Judith Arndt (Ger) Saturn Cycling                         14.59
8 Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) Acca Due O                       24.57
9 Amber Neben (USA) USA National-T Mobile                   27.26
10 Kimberly Bruckner (USA) Saturn Cycling                   32.10
11 Alessandra Cappellotto (Ita) Mixte Power Plate           35.52
12 Tatiana Stiajkina (Ukr) Deia Pragma Colnago              44.17
13 Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu) Acca Due O                   53.19
14 Cindy Pieters (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim                 56.47
15 Rosalisa Lapomarda (Ita) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet 1.01.46
16 Sandrine Marcuz (Fra) French National Team             1.13.29
17 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Mixte Power Plate                1.14.41
18 Shani Bloch (Isr) Michela Fanini                       1.18.44
19 Rhonda Quick (USA) Figurella Dream Team                1.18.49
20 Teodora Ruano Sanchon (Spa) Deia Pragma Colnago        1.26.17
21 Eneritz Iturriaga Mazaga (Spa) Deia Pragma Colnago     1.28.21
22 Elisabeth Chevanne Brunel (Fra) C.A Mantes la ville 78 1.29.38
23 Liane Bahler (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung      1.30.16
24 Iryna Chuzhynova (Ukr) Edilsavino                      1.30.25
25 Kristin Armstrong (USA) USA National-T Mobile          1.31.24
26 Birgit Sollner (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung    1.31.57
27 Madeleine Lindberg (Swe) Team Farm Frites-Hartol       1.33.10
28 Karine Dalmais (Fra) French National Team              1.34.49
29 Youlia Martissova (Rus) Itera Team                     1.36.44
30 Valentyna Karpenko (Ukr) Deia Pragma Colnago           1.36.45
31 Silvia Parietti (Ita) Figurella Dream Team             1.39.56
32 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Michela Fanini                 1.43.29
33 Sara Felloni (Ita) Edilsavino                          1.50.26
34 Letizia Giardinelli (Ita) Michela Fanini               1.51.09
35 Arenda Grimberg (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol          1.52.15
36 Mari Holden (USA) USA National-T Mobile                1.52.36
37 Helga Faccin (Ita) USC Chirio                          1.54.55
38 Edita Kubelskiene (Ltu) Figurella Dream Team           1.56.29
39 Marcia Eicher-Vouets (Swi) C.A Mantes la ville 78      1.57.00
40 Daniela Veronesi (Ita) Edilsavino                      1.57.14
41 Yvonne Brunen (Ned) Mixte Power Plate                  1.57.57
42 Laure Werner (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim                1.58.02
43 Sandra Rombouts (Ned) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung   1.58.30
44 Chantal Beltman (Ned) Acca Due O                       1.59.03
45 Lada Kozlikova (Cze) Itera Team                        2.00.15
46 Sylvie Riedle (Fra) C.A Mantes la ville 78             2.03.18
47 Jenny Algelid-Bengtsson (Swe) Equipe Nurnberger Versic 2.05.00
48 Lisbeth Simper (Den) Michela Fanini                    2.05.01
49 Zita Urbonaite (Ltu) Acca Due O                        2.06.33
50 Kym Shirley (Aus) Itera Team                           2.07.11
51 Marta Vilajosana Andreu (Spa) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca 2.08.56
52 Olga Slioussareva (Rus) Itera Team                     2.10.39
53 Kim Anderson (USA) USA National-T Mobile               2.14.37
54 Cristina Alcalde Huertanos (Spa) Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia  2.16.09
55 Veronique Belleter (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim          2.16.38
56 Francis Linthorst (Ned) Mixte Power Plate              2.16.45
57 Tiziana Smorgon (Ita) Figurella Dream Team             2.22.31
58 Ghita Beltman (Ned) Acca Due O                         2.23.05
59 Emma James (Aus) C.A Mantes la ville 78                2.23.44
60 Baukje Doedee (Ned) Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia               2.24.03
61 Tetyana Andrushchenko (Ukr) USC Chirio                 2.24.49
62 Debby Mansveld (Ned) Vlaanderen-T Interim              2.28.01
63 Anouska Van Der Zee (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol      2.29.05
64 Penny Edwards (GBr) USC Chirio                         2.31.27
65 Alessandra d'Ettore (Ita) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Ate 2.31.52
66 Stacey Peters (USA) USA National-T Mobile              2.35.58
67 Sissy Van Alebeek (Ned) Team Farm Frites-Hartol        2.41.51
68 Anke Wichmann (Ger) Michela Fanini                     2.44.29
69 Marina Khodtchenkova (Rus) Edilsavino                  2.47.52
70 Montserrat Alonso Bernal (Spa) Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia    2.49.04
71 Ina Yoko Teutenberg (Ger) Saturn Cycling               2.49.52
72 Vilija Purlite (Ltu) Figurella Dream Team              2.55.54
73 Goulnara Ivanova (Rus) USC Chirio                      3.02.59
74 Catherine Marsal (Fra) Saturn Cycling                  3.04.31
75 Agurtzane Elorriaga Derteano (Spa) Mixte Sabeco Bizkai 3.06.05
76 Alexandra Nohles (Ger) Mixte Power Plate               3.06.47
77 Francesca Castrucci (Ita) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Ate 3.06.59
78 Marta Evangelisti (Ita) Edilsavino                     3.10.31
79 Magalie Finot (Fra) French National Team               3.14.25
80 Anna Ramirez (Spa) Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet       3.16.48
81 Isabelle Moulis (Fra) French National Team             3.29.05
82 Iosune Murillo Elkano (Spa) Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia       3.29.57
83 Cornelia Cyrus (Rus) Itera Team                        3.41.01
84 Cynthia Compain (Fra) C.A Mantes la ville 78           4.39.26