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Giro finale
Photo ©: Bettini

23rd Tour de l'Aude - 2.1

France, May 18-27, 2007

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Stage 5 - May 23: Osseja - Osseja, 110 km

Luperini victorious as Arndt proves hard to shake

By Greg Johnson

Fabiana Luperini (Menikini Gysko) wins.
Photo ©: CJ Farquharson
(Click for larger image)

The toughest stage of the 23rd Tour de l'Aude continued to sort the general classification contenders from the pretenders, as the peloton faced two brutal Hors Categorie climbs. As the peloton rolled back into Osseja some 110 kilometres after starting in the city, it was a lone rider that crossed the line, Fabiana Luperini (Menikini-Gysko), some 2.16 minutes ahead of second placed Claudia Häusler (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung).

The day's action got underway at the first of the two major climbs, the 1836 metre high Col du Calvaire, where the first major attack took place. Russian Natalia Boyarskaya (Fenixs - HPB) and Béatrice Thomas (France) broke away as the peloton settled into a rhythm on the climb.

The duo stayed away for the massive ascent, forcing a higher pace to develop within the chasing bunch which inevitably led to a divide in the field similar to yesterday's stage. Riders in the pursuing bunch caught Boyarskaya and Thomas by the second climb, the 1866 metre Col de la Llose, a much more dramatic climb than the previous.

Amber Neben (Flexpoint)
Photo ©: CJ Farquharson
(Click for larger image)

Col de la Llose was the setting, and Luperini the protagonist of today's stage. The Italian went off the front and was never headed as she descended alone to the finish line.

In reality, letting Luperini and Häusler go off the front posed little threat to the general classification contenders, as she was amongst the group which lost over 20 minutes on Stage 4. It was a different story however for third placed Maryline Salvetat (France), who couldn't only be afforded little leeway, as she was only 3.10 behind on the overall standings.

With Salvetat a marked women, a unique bond was forged between rivals Judith Arndt (T-Mobile), Trixi Worrack (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung) and Susanne Ljungskog (Team Flexpoint). The rival trio worked together to ensure the French rider reeled just four seconds back.

Natalia Boyarskaya (Fenixs)
Photo ©: CJ Farquharson
(Click for larger image)

Despite her attempts move up the general classification, defending champion Amber Neben (Team Flexpoint) could only manage seventh place on today's stage, rolling across the line with Swiss rider Nicole Brändli (Bigla). Young sensation Marianne Vos (Team DSB Bank), who has taken three stage victories so far, finished in ninth position.

"Neben tried to jump to take extra time on the classification," said Team Flexpoint manager Jean-Paul Poppel. "But Arndt was extended the helping hand of Trixi Worrack, the two formed a serious German combination, despite their different shirts."

While Arndt and Ljungskog continue to hold the top two positions on general classification it was Worrack who was the big winner from today's stage. The Netherlands rider moved into third position overall, after Kimberly Anderson (T-Mobile) and Loes Gunnewijk (Team Flexpoint) lost time on today's stage.

Other big winners from the fifth stage included Brändli, who jumped from 12th to fourth position, while Vos also capitalized on others losses, making up three spots to take sixth position.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net

Results

1 Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Menikini - Gysko                      3.15.12 (33.81 km/h)
2 Claudia Häusler (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung            2.16
3 Maryline Salvetat (Fra) France                                  2.27
4 Judith Arndt (Ger) T-Mobile Team - Women                        2.31
5 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                  
6 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Team Flexpoint                              
7 Amber Neben (USA) Team Flexpoint                                2.33
8 Nicole Brändli (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team                             
9 Marianne Vos (Ned) Team DSB Bank                                2.47
10 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team           
11 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung             
12 Andrea Bosman (Ned) Team DSB Bank                              2.52
13 Sigrid Corneo (Ita) Menikini - Gysko                           7.16
14 Svetlana Bubnenkova (Rus) Fenixs - HPB                             
15 Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team        
16 Julia Martisova (Rus) FRW - Gauss                                  
17 Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) Germany                                    
18 Christelle Ferrier-Bruneau (Fra) Les Pruneaux D'Agen               
19 Marina Jaunatre (Fra) France                                       
20 Elena Kuchinskaya (Rus) FRW - Gauss                            7.20
21 Kimberly Anderson (USA) T-Mobile Team - Women                  7.23
22 Toni Bradshaw (NZl) New Zealand                                    
24 Andrea Graus (Aut) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                  
25 Sarah Düster (Ger) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team         12.25
26 Natalia Boyarskaya (Rus) Fenixs - HPB                              
27 Daphny Van Den Brand (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland             
28 Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Team Flexpoint                                
29 Marlyn Brinnendijk (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland               
30 Suzanne De Goede (Ned) T-Mobile Team - Women                       
31 Jennifer Hohl (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team                             
32 Lang Meng (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team                             
33 Anne Samplonius (Can) Team Expresscopy.com                    12.28
34 Dorte Lohse Rasmussen (Den) Menikini - Gysko                       
35 Debby Van De Berg (Ned) Global Racing Team                         
36 Serena Sheridan (NZl) New Zealand                                  
37 Jessica Phillips (USA) Team Expresscopy.com                        
38 Fabienne Sandig (Ger) Germany                                      
39 Charlotte Becker (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung              
40 Linda Villumsen Serup (Den) T-Mobile Team - Women                  
41 Zoulfia Zabirova (Kaz) Bigla Cycling Team                     12.30
42 Tanja Slater (GBr) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team         19.31
43 Ana Garcia Antequera (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana               19.32
44 Maribel Moreno Allue (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana                    
45 Tatsiana Sharakova (Blr) FRW - Gauss                               
46 Patricia Schwager (Swi) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team         
47 Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Fenixs - HPB                          22.39
48 Olga Slyusareva (Rus) Fenixs - HPB                                 
49 Sharon Van Essen (Ned) Team DSB Bank                               
50 Maria Rosario Rodriguez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana                 
51 Béatrice Thomas (Fra) France                                       
52 Melissa Holt (NZl) Team Expresscopy.com                            
53 Karine Gautard (Fra) France                                        
54 Noemi Cantele (Ita) Bigla Cycling Team                             
55 Andrea Thürig (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team                             
56 Helen Wyman (GBr) Global Racing Team                               
57 Georgina Waibl (NZl) New Zealand                                   
58 Olivia Gollan (Aus) Menikini - Gysko                               
59 Erinne Willock (Can) Team Expresscopy.com                          
60 Janne Brok (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland                       
61 Oxana Kozonchuk (Rus) Fenixs - HPB                                 
62 Silvia Valsecchi (Ita) Menikini - Gysko                            
63 Eva Lutz (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                      
64 Linda Van Rijen (Ned) Team DSB Bank                                
65 Tania Belvederesi (Ita) FRW - Gauss                           26.30
66 Liane Bahler (Ger) Fenixs - HPB                                    
67 Lina Skujaute (Ltu) Lithuania                                 32.18
68 Urte Juodvalkyte (Ltu) Lithuania                              33.08
69 Carina Ketonen (Fra) Les Pruneaux D'Agen                           
70 Marieke Van Wanroij (Ned) Team DSB Bank                            
71 Carissa Wilkes (NZl) New Zealand                              34.53
72 Nathalie Jeuland (Fra) France                                      
73 Fanny Riberot (Fra) France                                         
74 Eleonora Van Dijk (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland                
75 Sufen Ma (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team                              
76 Kettj Manfrin (Ita) FRW - Gauss                                    
77 Iris Slappendel (Ned) Team Flexpoint                               
78 Sanne Van Paassen (Ned) Team DSB Bank                              
79 Marlen Johrend (Ger) Germany                                       
80 Linda Ringlever (Ned) Global Racing Team                           
81 Tanja Hennes (Ger) Bigla Cycling Team                              
82 Luise Keller (Ger) Team Flexpoint                                  
83 Agne Sukutyte (Ltu) Lithuania                                 39.03
84 Edita Janeliunaite (Ltu) Lithuania                                 
85 Agne Miliskeviciute (Ltu) Lithuania                                
86 Xiong Ying Ruan (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team                       
87 Anke Wichmann (Ger) T-Mobile Team - Women                     39.07
88 Jaccolien Wallaard (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland               
89 Fei Wang (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team                              
90 Ina Teutenberg (Ger) T-Mobile Team - Women                         
91 Miho Oki (Jpn) Menikini - Gysko                                    
92 Joelle Numainville (Can) Team Expresscopy.com                      
93 Alexandra Sontheimer (Ger) Germany                                 
94 Angela Brodtka (Ger) Germany                                       
95 Marina Duvnjak (NZl) New Zealand                                   
96 Linn Torp (Nor) Global Racing Team                            46.42
97 Silvia Tirado Marquez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana                   
98 Amanda Shaw (Can) Team Expresscopy.com                        49.35
99 Catherine Moncassin-Prime (Fra) Les Pruneaux D'Agen           50.19
100 Céline Nivet (Fra) Les Pruneaux D'Agen                            
101 Li Ping (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team                              
102 Xiaoning Gao (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team                         
DNS Eleonora Soldo (Ita) FRW - Gauss                                  
DNS Sigrid Jochems (Ned) Global Racing Team                           
DNF Madeleine Sandig (Ger) Team Flexpoint                             
DNF Aurore Jeudy (Fra) Les Pruneaux D'Agen                            
DNF Romy Kasper (Ger) Germany                                         
DNF Michelle Hyland (NZl) New Zealand                                 
DNF Daiva Tuslaite (Ltu) Lithuania                                    
DNF Maria Auxiliadora Martin Morales (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana       
 
General classification after stage five
 
1 Judith Arndt (Ger) T-Mobile Team - Women                    13.33.56
2 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Team Flexpoint                          0.18
3 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung              0.43
4 Nicole Brändli (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team                         1.08
5 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team        1.10
6 Marianne Vos (Ned) Team DSB Bank                                1.11
7 Andrea Bosman (Ned) Team DSB Bank                               1.59
8 Amber Neben (USA) Team Flexpoint                                2.04
9 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung          2.48
10 Maryline Salvetat (Fra) France                                 3.01
11 Kimberly Anderson (USA) T-Mobile Team - Women                  5.19
12 Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team    5.34
13 Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) Germany                                5.50
14 Marina Jaunatre (Fra) France                                   6.14
15 Svetlana Bubnenkova (Rus) Fenixs - HPB                         6.26
16 Julia Martisova (Rus) FRW - Gauss                              6.30
17 Sigrid Corneo (Ita) Menikini - Gysko                           6.37
18 Elena Kuchinskaya (Rus) FRW - Gauss                            7.05
19 Andrea Graus (Aut) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung              7.25
20 Toni Bradshaw (NZl) New Zealand                                7.26
21 Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Team Flexpoint                           10.24
22 Sarah Düster (Ger) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team         10.49
23 Suzanne De Goede (Ned) T-Mobile Team - Women                  11.33
24 Serena Sheridan (NZl) New Zealand                             14.17
25 Claudia Häusler (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung          16.13
26 Dorte Lohse Rasmussen (Den) Menikini - Gysko                  16.18
27 Tanja Slater (GBr) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team         19.52
28 Debby Van De Berg (Ned) Global Racing Team                    21.09
29 Andrea Thürig (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team                        21.12
30 Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Menikini - Gysko                       21.57
31 Karine Gautard (Fra) France                                   23.26
32 Olga Slyusareva (Rus) Fenixs - HPB                            23.51
33 Georgina Waibl (NZl) New Zealand                              24.16
34 Tatsiana Sharakova (Blr) FRW - Gauss                          25.43
35 Patricia Schwager (Swi) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team    26.59
36 Oxana Kozonchuk (Rus) Fenixs - HPB                            28.49
37 Maria Rosario Rodriguez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana            31.08
38 Linda Villumsen Serup (Den) T-Mobile Team - Women             31.10
39 Charlotte Becker (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung         31.43
40 Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Fenixs - HPB                          31.55
41 Zoulfia Zabirova (Kaz) Bigla Cycling Team                     32.05
42 Christelle Ferrier-Bruneau (Fra) Les Pruneaux D'Agen          33.05
43 Daphny Van Den Brand (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland        33.20
44 Fabienne Sandig (Ger) Germany                                 34.25
45 Marlyn Brinnendijk (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland          34.31
46 Anne Samplonius (Can) Team Expresscopy.com                    34.43
47 Luise Keller (Ger) Team Flexpoint                             34.50
48 Jessica Phillips (USA) Team Expresscopy.com                   34.53
49 Tanja Hennes (Ger) Bigla Cycling Team                         35.26
50 Lang Meng (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team                        35.42
51 Jennifer Hohl (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team                        37.10
52 Helen Wyman (GBr) Global Racing Team                          38.29
53 Maribel Moreno Allue (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana               42.23
54 Ana Garcia Antequera (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana                    
55 Natalia Boyarskaya (Rus) Fenixs - HPB                         43.39
56 Eva Lutz (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                 44.36
57 Béatrice Thomas (Fra) France                                  44.39
58 Olivia Gollan (Aus) Menikini - Gysko                          44.46
59 Melissa Holt (NZl) Team Expresscopy.com                       45.07
60 Sanne Van Paassen (Ned) Team DSB Bank                         45.41
61 Noemi Cantele (Ita) Bigla Cycling Team                        45.51
62 Sharon Van Essen (Ned) Team DSB Bank                          50.13
63 Janne Brok (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland                  50.57
64 Liane Bahler (Ger) Fenixs - HPB                               51.18
65 Silvia Valsecchi (Ita) Menikini - Gysko                       52.46
66 Carissa Wilkes (NZl) New Zealand                              55.52
67 Ina Teutenberg (Ger) T-Mobile Team - Women                    55.59
68 Eleonora Van Dijk (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland           56.41
69 Nathalie Jeuland (Fra) France                                 57.01
70 Urte Juodvalkyte (Ltu) Lithuania                              58.45
71 Alexandra Sontheimer (Ger) Germany                            58.55
72 Erinne Willock (Can) Team Expresscopy.com                     59.00
73 Miho Oki (Jpn) Menikini - Gysko                               59.42
74 Linda Ringlever (Ned) Global Racing Team                    1.00.57
75 Iris Slappendel (Ned) Team Flexpoint                        1.01.38
76 Carina Ketonen (Fra) Les Pruneaux D'Agen                    1.02.01
77 Jaccolien Wallaard (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland        1.02.59
78 Edita Janeliunaite (Ltu) Lithuania                          1.03.03
79 Tania Belvederesi (Ita) FRW - Gauss                         1.03.28
80 Linda Van Rijen (Ned) Team DSB Bank                         1.04.44
81 Marieke Van Wanroij (Ned) Team DSB Bank                     1.06.34
82 Fei Wang (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team                       1.06.41
83 Fanny Riberot (Fra) France                                  1.06.47
84 Sufen Ma (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team                       1.06.50
85 Lina Skujaute (Ltu) Lithuania                               1.07.59
86 Joelle Numainville (Can) Team Expresscopy.com               1.08.17
87 Marlen Johrend (Ger) Germany                                1.09.26
88 Angela Brodtka (Ger) Germany                                1.10.14
89 Marina Duvnjak (NZl) New Zealand                            1.11.26
90 Anke Wichmann (Ger) T-Mobile Team - Women                   1.13.34
91 Amanda Shaw (Can) Team Expresscopy.com                      1.15.06
92 Silvia Tirado Marquez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana            1.16.33
93 Kettj Manfrin (Ita) FRW - Gauss                             1.16.47
94 Xiaoning Gao (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team                   1.19.17
95 Linn Torp (Nor) Global Racing Team                          1.19.35
96 Catherine Moncassin-Prime (Fra) Les Pruneaux D'Agen         1.20.39
97 Li Ping (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team                        1.23.37
98 Xiong Ying Ruan (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team                1.26.11
99 Agne Miliskeviciute (Ltu) Lithuania                         1.34.27
100 Agne Sukutyte (Ltu) Lithuania                              1.45.44
101 Céline Nivet (Fra) Les Pruneaux D'Agen                     2.00.07

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