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Dauphiné Libéré
Photo ©: Sirotti

Le Tour du Grand Montréal - 2.9.1

Canada, June 2-4, 2003

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Stage 2 - June 3: Ville De Rigaud, 111 km

Le Floch Takes A Win, Neben Will Wear Yellow

By Kristy Scrymgeour

Just a little suprised
Photo: © Kristy Scrymgeour/CN
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Magalie Le Floch took a win today in the relentless road race that was the third stage of the Tour du Grand Montreal. In an effort to cover a break in defense of her teammate Genevieve Jeanson's yellow jersey, Le Floch followed the wheel of Lyne Bessette (Saturn) as she attacked to form the winning break.

The 111km race began on a beautiful, yet windy summer day in Rigaud, Quebec, and proceeded to circle around one hill, ascending it from every direction. Saturn took the reins early in the race when Manon Jutras attacked and powered out in front for at least 15 kilometers before being reeled in by the Rona team. Jessica Phillips (Saturn) immediately countered the move, then Amy Moore and a continual flow of Saturn attacks.

At 75km to go however, at the base of the steepest climb of the day the bunch was still together. Jeanson put the hurt on as she pushed the pace up the 18 percent grade. Bessette was able go with her, but behind gaps were forming and a swarm of T-Mobile riders were just off the wheel.

The final three
Photo: © Kristy Scrymgeour/CN
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By the top of the hill there were three riders together, with Jeanson taking the Grand Prix de Montagne from Bessette and Amber Neben (T-Mobile). On the descent a chasing group of eight was working hard to regain contact with the lead. T-Mobile doing the majority of the work, knowing that having six in a group of 13 were better odds than one in three. They managed to catch and a little later a second chase group also reached the leaders just as Kirstin Armstrong attacked the field.

Armstrong disappeared out of sight and gained 50 seconds on the field before Bessette, realizing an opportunity to bridge, attacked taking Amber Neben and Magalie Le Floch with her. The three quickly gained time on the field and caught Armstong with Bessette powering at the front, knowing that if this break stayed away, she had a good chance of taking the leaders jersey.

Le Floch was sitting on to defend her teammate Jeanson's overall lead, as was Neben. Jeanson started chasing hard behind but couldn't make a dent in the gap. Amstrong joined in at the front helping until the final climb with three kilometers to go, where she fell off the pace leaving it now up to Neben to finish the job for T-Mobile. Bessette though, was on a mission. For the entirety of the climb to the finish she motored, time trial style so that there was no chance of Jeanson catching the group. With no legs left to finish it off, Bessette saw Magalie Le Floch come around her to take the stage with Neben taking second place and the yellow jersey.

Heading for the line
Photo: © Kristy Scrymgeour/CN
Click for larger image

Cyclingnews spoke with Bessette after the finish who was happy with her ride, even though the overall lead was not quite hers. "I felt good all the way except for that final sprint when I just couldn't go any harder. I was gapped on the line and lost a couple of seconds, so Neben has the jersey by two seconds. That is fine though, because two seconds is not a lot and we still have tomorrow to earn the lead. Today worked perfectly for us, the team worked so hard and it was a good day".

Neben was also pleased with her ride, but surprised that it earned her the overall lead. "I didn't know Lyne lost any time in the sprint." She told Cyclingnews. "But that's good news. It was a hard race but I felt good today, and in the break I had Kristin who told me to stop working so I could save myself for the finish. Lyne was powering away at the front and I was able to sit on and wait for the sprint. I still need practice at timing my sprints though. I thought the finish was steeper so I waited a little too long to come around and Magali was too quick for me."

The race finished with the promised Maple Syrup dinner and the sugar shack set in a beautiful log cabin in the woods.Unfortunately Nicole Cooke wasn't there to enjoy the dinner as she suffered a bad crash during the race today when she crashed into a motorcycle that was parked on the side of the road. She was taken to the hospital with a broken collarbone which will put some doubt on her returning in time to defend her World Cup lead.

Photos

Images by Kristy Scrymgeour/Cyclingnews.com

Results

1 Magali Le Floch (Fra) Rona - Esker                     2.54.31
2 Amber Neben (USA) T-Mobile
3 Lyne Bessette (Can) Saturn Cycling Team                   0.03
4 Susan Palmer-Komar (Can) Genesis Scuba/FFCC               0.34
5 Regina Schleicher (Ger) German National Team
6 Meredith Miller (USA) S.A.T.S.
7 Katia Longhin (Ita) Acca Due O Pasta
8 Barbara Heeb (Swi) Swiss Cycling Team
9 Deirdre Demet-Barry (USA) T-Mobile
10 Tina Liebig (Ger) German National Team
11 Heather Albert (USA) Basis Women's Cycling Team
12 Katie Mactier (Aus) Saturn Cycling Team
13 Theresa Senff (Ger) German National Team
14 Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Acca Due O Pasta
15 Geneviève Jeanson (Can) Rona - Esker
16 Trine Hansen (Den) S.A.T.S.
17 Miho Oki (Jpn) Japan National
18 Kimberly Bruckner (USA) T-Mobile
19 Sarah Grab (Swi) Swiss Cycling Team
20 Amy More (Can) Saturn Cycling Team
21 Rachel Heal (GBr) Great Britain National Team
22 Leah Goldstein (Isr) Victory Brewing/Amoroso's
23 Manon Jutras (Can) Saturn Cycling Team
24 Frances Newstead (GBr) Great Britain National Team
25 Christina Peick-Anderson (Den) S.A.T.S.
26 Liane Bahler (Ger) German National Team
27 Kimberly Anderson (USA) T-Mobile
28 Kristin Armstrong (USA) T-Mobile
29 Nicole Demars (Can) Victory Brewing/Amoroso's
30 Chantal Beltman (Ned) Acca Due O Pasta                   1.11
31 Claudia Stumpf (Ger) German National Team
32 Annette Beutler (Swi) Swiss Cycling Team                 1.48
33 Isabella Wieser (Aut) Charly Lietzsport
34 Karen Bockel (Ger) Rona - Esker
35 Bettina Kuhn (Swi) Swiss Cycling Team                    1.50
36 Stacey Peters (USA) T-Mobile
37 Sarah Düster (Ger) German National Team
38 Grace Fleury (USA) Genesis Scuba/FFCC                    3.29
39 Ayumu Otsuka (Jpn) Japan National                        5.29
40 Erinne Willock (Can) Rona - Esker
41 Anne Wagner (Den) S.A.T.S.
42 Iona Wynter (Jam) Genesis Scuba/FFCC
43 Hiroko Shimada (Jpn) Japan National                      6.09
44 Sabine Batz (Ger) Charly Lietzsport
45 Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Ausra Gruodis - Safi
46 Candice Blickem (USA) Genesis Scuba/FFCC
47 Audrey Lemieux (Can) Équipe Nationale du Canada
48 Julie Hutsebaut (Can) Équipe Nationale du Canada
49 Gina Grain (Can) Victory Brewing/Amoroso's
50 Catherine Marsal (Fra) Rona - Esker
51 Nicole Freedman (USA) Basis Women's Cycling Team
52 Maggie Shirley (USA) Genesis Scuba/FFCC
53 Charlotte Goldsmith (GBr) Great Britain National Team
54 Anne Samplonius (Can) Équipe Québec                      7.43
55 Jessica Phillips (USA) Saturn Cycling Team
56 Erin Carter (Can) Équipe Nationale du Canada             7.58
57 Catherine Bearce (USA) Basis Women's Cycling Team       10.18
58 Petra Pilz (Aut) Charly Lietzsport                      15.57
59 Geneviève Leblanc (Can) Équipe Nationale du Canada      16.18
60 Claudia Meyer (Ger) Charly Lietzsport                   16.21
61 Sophie St-Jacques (Can) Victory Brewing/Amoroso's       22.16
62 Lauren Franges (USA) Victory Brewing/Amoroso's          22.19
63 Julia Bradley (Can) Team Ontario                        27.29
64 Caroline L'heureux (Can) Équipe Québec
65 Barbara Brzezicki (Can) Team Ontario                    27.33
66 Ann-Marie Miller (USA) Verizon Wireless-Cervélo
67 Jessica Hulser (USA) S.A.T.S.
68 Yvonne Ilton (USA) Verizon Wireless-Cervélo
69 Penny Edwards (GBr) Great Britain National Team
70 Sara Waller (GBr) Great Britain National Team
71 Diana Rast (Swi) Swiss Cycling Team
72 Melissa Holt (NZl) Rona - Esker
73 Élisa Gagnon (Can) Équipe Québec                        27.39
74 Karin Wieser (Aut) Charly Lietzsport
75 Lauren Gaffney (USA) Basis Women's Cycling Team         29.10
76 Francesca Pellegrini (Ita) Ausra Gruodis - Safi         33.19
77 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Ausra Gruodis - Safi
HD Julie Belanger (Can) Équipe Nationale du Canada
HD Sophie Blanchette (Can) Équipe Québec
HD Geneviève Gagnon (Can) Équipe Québec
DNF Sandy Espeseth (Can) Victory Brewing/Amoroso's
DNF Clara Constantinescu (Rom) Genesis Scuba/FFCC
DNF Stéphanie Bourbeau (Can) Équipe Québec
DNF Julie Monagle (USA) Verizon Wireless-Cervélo
DNF Nicole Cooke (GBr) Ausra Gruodis - Safi
DNF Sarah Foulkes (USA) Verizon Wireless-Cervélo
DNS Magalie Boulay (Can) Équipe Nationale du Canada
 
General classification after stage 2
 
1 Amber Neben (USA) T-Mobile                             4.09.40
2 Lyne Bessette (Can) Saturn Cycling Team                   0.02
3 Magali Le Floch (Fra) Rona - Esker                        0.13
4 Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Acca Due O Pasta                      0.30
5 Geneviève Jeanson (Can) Rona - Esker                      0.32
6 Katie Mactier (Aus) Saturn Cycling Team                   0.36
7 Manon Jutras (Can) Saturn Cycling Team
8 Deirdre Demet-Barry (USA) T-Mobile                        0.42
9 Susan Palmer-Komar (Can) Genesis Scuba/FFCC               0.44
10 Kimberly Bruckner (USA) T-Mobile                         0.45
11 Amy More (Can) Saturn Cycling Team                       0.46
12 Kristin Armstrong (USA) T-Mobile                         0.47
13 Leah Goldstein (Isr) Victory Brewing/Amoroso's           0.50
14 Kimberly Anderson (USA) T-Mobile
15 Frances Newstead (GBr) Great Britain National Team
16 Nicole Demars (Can) Victory Brewing/Amoroso's            0.52
17 Sarah Grab (Swi) Swiss Cycling Team                      0.54
18 Barbara Heeb (Swi) Swiss Cycling Team
19 Miho Oki (Jpn) Japan National                            0.55
20 Katia Longhin (Ita) Acca Due O Pasta
21 Liane Bahler (Ger) German National Team                  0.56
22 Heather Albert (USA) Basis Women's Cycling Team          0.57
23 Meredith Miller (USA) S.A.T.S.                           0.59
24 Rachel Heal (GBr) Great Britain National Team            1.00
25 Trine Hansen (Den) S.A.T.S.                              1.01
26 Theresa Senff (Ger) German National Team
27 Tina Liebig (Ger) German National Team
28 Regina Schleicher (Ger) German National Team             1.13
29 Chantal Beltman (Ned) Acca Due O Pasta                   1.28
30 Claudia Stumpf (Ger) German National Team                1.37
31 Karen Bockel (Ger) Rona - Esker                          1.57
32 Stacey Peters (USA) T-Mobile                             2.07
33 Annette Beutler (Swi) Swiss Cycling Team                 2.09
34 Isabella Wieser (Aut) Charly Lietzsport                  2.12
35 Bettina Kuhn (Swi) Swiss Cycling Team                    2.19
36 Christina Peick-Anderson (Den) S.A.T.S.                  3.20
37 Grace Fleury (USA) Genesis Scuba/FFCC                    3.46
38 Sarah Düster (Ger) German National Team                  4.30
39 Erinne Willock (Can) Rona - Esker                        5.48
40 Iona Wynter (Jam) Genesis Scuba/FFCC
41 Ayumu Otsuka (Jpn) Japan National                        5.51
42 Anne Wagner (Den) S.A.T.S.                               6.16
43 Candice Blickem (USA) Genesis Scuba/FFCC                 6.19
44 Gina Grain (Can) Victory Brewing/Amoroso's               6.23
45 Catherine Marsal (Fra) Rona - Esker
46 Nicole Freedman (USA) Basis Women's Cycling Team         6.28
47 Audrey Lemieux (Can) Équipe Nationale du Canada          6.29
48 Sabine Batz (Ger) Charly Lietzsport                      6.33
49 Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Ausra Gruodis - Safi              6.34
50 Julie Hutsebaut (Can) Équipe Nationale du Canada         6.36
51 Charlotte Goldsmith (GBr) Great Britain National Team    6.40
52 Anne Samplonius (Can) Équipe Québec                      7.54
53 Jessica Phillips (USA) Saturn Cycling Team               8.00
54 Erin Carter (Can) Équipe Nationale du Canada             8.07
55 Maggie Shirley (USA) Genesis Scuba/FFCC                  8.30
56 Hiroko Shimada (Jpn) Japan National                      8.43
57 Catherine Bearce (USA) Basis Women's Cycling Team       12.46
58 Claudia Meyer (Ger) Charly Lietzsport                   16.45
59 Geneviève Leblanc (Can) Équipe Nationale du Canada      17.23
60 Petra Pilz (Aut) Charly Lietzsport                      18.41
61 Lauren Franges (USA) Victory Brewing/Amoroso's          22.51
62 Sophie St-Jacques (Can) Victory Brewing/Amoroso's       25.00
63 Melissa Holt (NZl) Rona - Esker                         27.48
64 Jessica Hulser (USA) S.A.T.S.                           27.52
65 Diana Rast (Swi) Swiss Cycling Team                     27.56
66 Yvonne Ilton (USA) Verizon Wireless-Cervélo             28.00
67 Sara Waller (GBr) Great Britain National Team           28.02
68 Caroline L'heureux (Can) Équipe Québec                  28.13
69 Élisa Gagnon (Can) Équipe Québec                        28.49
70 Julia Bradley (Can) Team Ontario                        29.59
71 Penny Edwards (GBr) Great Britain National Team         30.09
72 Ann-Marie Miller (USA) Verizon Wireless-Cervélo         30.13
73 Karin Wieser (Aut) Charly Lietzsport                    30.14
74 Lauren Gaffney (USA) Basis Women's Cycling Team         31.55
75 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Ausra Gruodis - Safi             33.48
76 Barbara Brzezicki (Can) Team Ontario                    34.05
77 Francesca Pellegrini (Ita) Ausra Gruodis - Safi         36.17
 
Points classification
 
1 Gina Grain (Can) Victory Brewing/Amoroso's                  18 pts
2 Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Acca Due O Pasta                        18
3 Magali Le Floch (Fra) Rona - Esker                          10
4 Amber Neben (USA) T-Mobile                                   7
5 Miho Oki (Jpn) Japan National                                6
6 Anne Wagner (Den) S.A.T.S.                                   5
7 Manon Jutras (Can) Saturn Cycling Team                       5
8 Erin Carter (Can) Équipe Nationale du Canada                 5
9 Lyne Bessette (Can) Saturn Cycling Team                      5
10 Nicole Demars (Can) Victory Brewing/Amoroso's               4
11 Annette Beutler (Swi) Swiss Cycling Team                    4
12 Katia Longhin (Ita) Acca Due O Pasta                        4
13 Susan Palmer-Komar (Can) Genesis Scuba/FFCC                 3
14 Isabella Wieser (Aut) Charly Lietzsport                     2
15 Anne Samplonius (Can) Équipe Québec                         1
16 Regina Schleicher (Ger) German National Team                1
 
Mountains classification
 
1 Geneviève Jeanson (Can) Rona - Esker                        12 pts
2 Lyne Bessette (Can) Saturn Cycling Team                      7
3 Nicole Cooke (GBr) Ausra Gruodis - Safi                      6
4 Barbara Heeb (Swi) Swiss Cycling Team                        5
5 Amber Neben (USA) T-Mobile                                   2
6 Susan Palmer-Komar (Can) Genesis Scuba/FFCC                  1