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Photo ©: Schaaf

23rd Tour de l'Aude - 2.1

France, May 18-27, 2007

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Stage 8b - May 26: Axat - Quillan, 62 km

Netherlands squad flex its point

By Greg Johnson

Worrack wins the stage.
Photo ©: CJ Farquharson
(Click for larger image)

After taking her first stage win on this morning's Stage 8a, Judith Arndt (T-Mobile) didn't save enough steam to maintain the yellow jersey in this afternoon's stage, relinquishing the leader's jersey to Team Flexpoint rival Susanne Ljungskog. While the stage from Axat to Quillan was by no means a monster, at 62 kilometres in length, eight days of riding combined with the morning's 55 kilometre stage was beginning to take its toll on the riders.

With the penultimate stage beginning at the base of an Hors Category climb the stage was quickly going to sort those who still had some in the tank, from those that didn't. Having showed a supremacy since its win in last weekend's Team Time Trial, today's penultimate stage saw the T-Mobile squad suffer the effects of a long week working to defend the yellow jersey. As the Bigla and Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung teams attacked hard on the climb, T-Mobile's Arndt was left to fend for herself.

With the magenta crew beginning to show some cracks its rivals teamed up to ensure the stranglehold was broken. Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung riders Trixi Worrack and Claudia Hausler attacked relentlessly up Col du Garavel, but it was reigning winner Amber Neben (Team Flexpoint) that reached the 1256 metre climb's peak first.

As she passed the summit, America's Neben put down the anchor and allowed Worrack to similar roll right by. The unquestionably blatant tactic payed dividends, with Neben's teammate Ljungskog catching her wheel and the pair time trialing all the way home.

The strain shows
Photo ©: CJ Farquharson
(Click for larger image)

"Amber Neben opened the course for us," explained Team Flexpoint manager Jean-Paul Poppel. "She knew a gap to hit, but after the descent she totally sacrificed herself for Susanne Ljungskog, when she heard that Arndt could no longer follow. She let the German riders Worrack and Haussler pass, waited a full minute for Ljungskog. A beautiful example of team tactics."

While Worrack was gifted the stage win, and closed in on the general classification lead, it was Ljungskog that was the bigger winner of her squad's tactical race. The Swedish rider won the sprint for second from Nicole Brändli (Bigla) and Claudia Häusler (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung), some 15 seconds behind the winnger.

Susanne Ljungskog (Flexpoint)
Photo ©: CJ Farquharson
(Click for larger image)

Neben took fifth place, some 18 seconds behind, while the Marianne Vos (Team DSB Ban) led bunch, containing now former yellow jersey holder Arndt, scrambled home over a minute later.

Ljungskog holds the yellow jersey as the 87 strong peloton heads into the final stage - an 86 kilometre loop in Limoux. The Swedish rider can't afford to rest on her laurels if her Dutch team is to take home its third consecutive Tour de l'Aude title, with Worrack just 11 seconds behind.

"All the German women will ride together against our team, but we knew that last year also," added Poppel. "We have the leadership and will cover with all the women to defend [our title]."

With the final stage featuring three climbs a comeback by T-Mobile's third placed Arndt isn't out of the question, but for the German rider to reclaim the 55 seconds lost on the penultimate stage will depend largely on how well her squad can recover overnight.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net

Results

1 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung          1.42.10 (36.411 km/h)
2 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Team Flexpoint                         0.15
3 Nicole Brändli (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team                            
4 Claudia Häusler (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung               
5 Amber Neben (USA) Team Flexpoint                               0.18
6 Marianne Vos (Ned) Team DSB Bank                               1.33
7 Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team    
8 Julia Martisova (Rus) FRW - Gauss                                  
9 Sigrid Corneo (Ita) Menikini - Gysko                               
10 Maryline Salvetat (Fra) France                                    
11 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung            
12 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team      
13 Andrea Graus (Aut) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                 
14 Judith Arndt (Ger) T-Mobile Team - Women                          
15 Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Menikini - Gysko                           
16 Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) Germany                               1.37
17 Kimberly Anderson (USA) T-Mobile Team - Women                 2.27
18 Linda Villumsen Serup (Den) T-Mobile Team - Women             3.09
19 Andrea Bosman (Ned) Team DSB Bank                             3.41
20 Svetlana Bubnenkova (Rus) Fenixs - HPB                            
21 Georgina Waibl (NZl) New Zealand                                  
22 Marina Jaunatre (Fra) France                                      
23 Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Team Flexpoint                               
24 Tanja Slater (GBr) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team             
25 Tatsiana Sharakova (Blr) FRW - Gauss                          6.07
26 Dorte Lohse Rasmussen (Den) Menikini - Gysko                      
27 Christelle Ferrier-Bruneau (Fra) Les Pruneaux D'Agen              
28 Daphny Van Den Brand (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland            
29 Sarah Düster (Ger) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team             
30 Lang Meng (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team                            
31 Toni Bradshaw (NZl) New Zealand                               6.09
32 Elena Kuchinskaya (Rus) FRW - Gauss                           6.11
33 Ana Garcia Antequera (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana                   
34 Marlyn Brinnendijk (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland         11.50
35 Lina Skujaute (Ltu) Lithuania                                12.59
36 Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Fenixs - HPB                              
37 Karine Gautard (Fra) France                                       
38 Debby Van De Berg (Ned) Global Racing Team                        
39 Helen Wyman (GBr) Global Racing Team                              
40 Nathalie Jeuland (Fra) France                                     
41 Maribel Moreno Allue (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana                   
42 Fei Wang (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team                             
43 Suzanne De Goede (Ned) T-Mobile Team - Women                 13.03
44 Béatrice Thomas (Fra) France                                      
45 Jennifer Hohl (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team                            
46 Fabienne Sandig (Ger) Germany                                     
47 Eva Lutz (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                13.06
48 Luise Keller (Ger) Team Flexpoint                                 
49 Janne Brok (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland                      
50 Anne Samplonius (Can) Team Expresscopy.com                        
51 Angela Brodtka (Ger) Germany                                      
52 Sharon Van Essen (Ned) Team DSB Bank                              
53 Ina Teutenberg (Ger) T-Mobile Team - Women                        
54 Olivia Gollan (Aus) Menikini - Gysko                              
55 Silvia Valsecchi (Ita) Menikini - Gysko                           
56 Charlotte Becker (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung             
57 Xiong Ying Ruan (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team                 14.39
58 Sufen Ma (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team                             
59 Natalia Boyarskaya (Rus) Fenixs - HPB                             
60 Edita Janeliunaite (Ltu) Lithuania                           16.05
61 Oxana Kozonchuk (Rus) Fenixs - HPB                                
62 Agne Sukutyte (Ltu) Lithuania                                     
63 Li Ping (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team                              
64 Fanny Riberot (Fra) France                                        
65 Carina Ketonen (Fra) Les Pruneaux D'Agen                     16.08
66 Linda Ringlever (Ned) Global Racing Team                     16.11
67 Jaccolien Wallaard (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland              
68 Eleonora Van Dijk (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland               
69 Andrea Thürig (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team                            
70 Urte Juodvalkyte (Ltu) Lithuania                                  
71 Kettj Manfrin (Ita) FRW - Gauss                                   
72 Marlen Johrend (Ger) Germany                                      
73 Alexandra Sontheimer (Ger) Germany                                
74 Anke Wichmann (Ger) T-Mobile Team - Women                         
75 Serena Sheridan (NZl) New Zealand                                 
76 Miho Oki (Jpn) Menikini - Gysko                                   
77 Liane Bahler (Ger) Fenixs - HPB                                   
78 Melissa Holt (NZl) Team Expresscopy.com                           
79 Tania Belvederesi (Ita) FRW - Gauss                               
80 Marina Duvnjak (NZl) New Zealand                                  
81 Noemi Cantele (Ita) Bigla Cycling Team                            
82 Iris Slappendel (Ned) Team Flexpoint                         17.34
83 Marieke Van Wanroij (Ned) Team DSB Bank                      22.37
84 Silvia Tirado Marquez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana                  
85 Maria Rosario Rodriguez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana                
86 Agne Miliskeviciute (Ltu) Lithuania                               
87 Céline Nivet (Fra) Les Pruneaux D'Agen                       23.30
DNF Erinne Willock (Can) Team Expresscopy.com                        
DNF Amanda Shaw (Can) Team Expresscopy.com                           
 
General classification after stage 8b
 
1 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Team Flexpoint                     22.24.00
2 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung             0.11
3 Judith Arndt (Ger) T-Mobile Team - Women                       0.55
4 Nicole Brändli (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team                        1.33
5 Amber Neben (USA) Team Flexpoint                               2.30
6 Marianne Vos (Ned) Team DSB Bank                               2.46
7 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team       2.48
8 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung         4.33
9 Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team    4.37
10 Maryline Salvetat (Fra) France                                4.46
11 Andrea Bosman (Ned) Team DSB Bank                             5.52
12 Julia Martisova (Rus) FRW - Gauss                             6.09
13 Svetlana Bubnenkova (Rus) Fenixs - HPB                        8.15
14 Sigrid Corneo (Ita) Menikini - Gysko                          8.22
15 Kimberly Anderson (USA) T-Mobile Team - Women                 8.43
16 Marina Jaunatre (Fra) France                                 10.07
17 Andrea Graus (Aut) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung            16.12
18 Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Team Flexpoint                          16.22
19 Toni Bradshaw (NZl) New Zealand                              16.25
20 Claudia Häusler (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung         17.36
21 Elena Kuchinskaya (Rus) FRW - Gauss                          17.52
22 Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) Germany                              18.42
23 Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Menikini - Gysko                      24.04
24 Tanja Slater (GBr) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team        24.12
25 Dorte Lohse Rasmussen (Den) Menikini - Gysko                 25.12
26 Sarah Düster (Ger) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team        28.05
27 Georgina Waibl (NZl) New Zealand                             32.33
28 Suzanne De Goede (Ned) T-Mobile Team - Women                 33.24
29 Serena Sheridan (NZl) New Zealand                            35.14
30 Linda Villumsen Serup (Den) T-Mobile Team - Women            36.46
31 Tatsiana Sharakova (Blr) FRW - Gauss                         47.14
32 Debby Van De Berg (Ned) Global Racing Team                   48.48
33 Daphny Van Den Brand (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland       50.42
34 Andrea Thürig (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team                       51.08
35 Charlotte Becker (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung        52.36
36 Jennifer Hohl (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team                       54.47
37 Marlyn Brinnendijk (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland         55.14
38 Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Fenixs - HPB                         56.03
39 Lang Meng (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team                       56.58
40 Karine Gautard (Fra) France                                  58.07
41 Luise Keller (Ger) Team Flexpoint                            58.55
42 Fabienne Sandig (Ger) Germany                              1.00.52
43 Anne Samplonius (Can) Team Expresscopy.com                 1.01.31
44 Eva Lutz (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung              1.02.57
45 Christelle Ferrier-Bruneau (Fra) Les Pruneaux D'Agen       1.03.24
46 Olivia Gollan (Aus) Menikini - Gysko                       1.04.27
47 Ana Garcia Antequera (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana            1.06.00
48 Béatrice Thomas (Fra) France                               1.10.38
49 Oxana Kozonchuk (Rus) Fenixs - HPB                         1.12.40
50 Sharon Van Essen (Ned) Team DSB Bank                       1.14.44
51 Helen Wyman (GBr) Global Racing Team                       1.15.40
52 Noemi Cantele (Ita) Bigla Cycling Team                     1.17.18
53 Natalia Boyarskaya (Rus) Fenixs - HPB                      1.20.13
54 Ina Teutenberg (Ger) T-Mobile Team - Women                 1.21.03
55 Melissa Holt (NZl) Team Expresscopy.com                    1.21.16
56 Maria Rosario Rodriguez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana         1.22.24
57 Maribel Moreno Allue (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana            1.27.02
58 Janne Brok (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland               1.30.41
59 Tania Belvederesi (Ita) FRW - Gauss                        1.30.54
60 Eleonora Van Dijk (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland        1.30.58
61 Iris Slappendel (Ned) Team Flexpoint                       1.33.07
62 Silvia Valsecchi (Ita) Menikini - Gysko                    1.33.48
63 Urte Juodvalkyte (Ltu) Lithuania                           1.33.57
64 Angela Brodtka (Ger) Germany                               1.34.35
65 Liane Bahler (Ger) Fenixs - HPB                            1.35.25
66 Nathalie Jeuland (Fra) France                              1.36.32
67 Marlen Johrend (Ger) Germany                               1.37.18
68 Miho Oki (Jpn) Menikini - Gysko                            1.37.48
69 Alexandra Sontheimer (Ger) Germany                         1.43.02
70 Carina Ketonen (Fra) Les Pruneaux D'Agen                   1.45.25
71 Linda Ringlever (Ned) Global Racing Team                   1.45.47
72 Fei Wang (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team                      1.48.13
73 Jaccolien Wallaard (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland       1.49.06
74 Sufen Ma (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team                      1.49.15
75 Fanny Riberot (Fra) France                                 1.50.47
76 Lina Skujaute (Ltu) Lithuania                              1.50.51
77 Kettj Manfrin (Ita) FRW - Gauss                            1.51.04
78 Marieke Van Wanroij (Ned) Team DSB Bank                    1.57.44
79 Anke Wichmann (Ger) T-Mobile Team - Women                  2.01.35
80 Edita Janeliunaite (Ltu) Lithuania                         2.02.31
81 Marina Duvnjak (NZl) New Zealand                           2.04.04
82 Li Ping (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team                       2.15.31
83 Xiong Ying Ruan (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team               2.18.55
84 Silvia Tirado Marquez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana           2.26.17
85 Agne Sukutyte (Ltu) Lithuania                              2.38.24
86 Agne Miliskeviciute (Ltu) Lithuania                        2.47.44
87 Céline Nivet (Fra) Les Pruneaux D'Agen                     3.14.21

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