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Giro d'Italia Femminile - 2.1 (W)
Italy, July 5-13, 2008
Photography
Stage 8 - July 13: Desio - Desio , 118.5 km
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by www.WomensCycling.net
- A piazza, a fountain, lots of fans - the teams are presented prior to the final stage.
- The Menikini - Selle Italia team led the race back into Desio for the first of seven laps.
- Marta Vilajosana Andreu (Team Dila) was off the front for almost two laps.
- Olga Slyusareva (Menikini - Selle Italia) leads race leader and team-mate Fabiana Luperini safely around a corner.
- Fabiana Luperini (Menikini - Selle Italia) in the maglia rosa.
- Andrea Thurig (Team Bigla) in the race procession in Desio.
- Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team Columbia) corners in the points jersey.
- Zoulfia Zabirova (Team Bigla) tries to escape, but is chased by Kate Bates (Team Columbia).
- A line of Australian soigneurs ensure that Carlee Taylor has some options, after missing the first bidon.
- Fabiana Luperini (Menikini - Selle Italia) lines up with her team prior to the final stage.
- Fabiana Luperini (Menikini - Selle Italia) at the start line putting on her helmet and ready to take victory in the 2008 Giro Donne.
- Amber Neben (Flexpoint) rode an attacking race in the mountains.
- Young rider competition winner Claudia Hausler (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung).
- Marta Bastianelli (Team Dila) was prominent all week near the front in the rainbow stripes.
- Ina-Yoko Tuetenberg (Team Columbia) took four stage wins overall.
- Zoulfia Zabirvoa (Team Bigla) and Julia Martissova (RDZ Gauss) escaped and were 50 seconds up with a lap to go.
- Team Columbia's Linda Villumsen leads the chase to catch Zoulfia Zabirvoa (Team Bigla) and Julia Martissova (RDZ Gauss).
- Fabina Luperini (Menikini - Selle Italia) with just a few kilometres to go before her fifth Giro victory.
- Giorgia Bronzini (Titanedi Frezza Acca Due O) winds up the sprint, but Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team Columbia) is already on the front and heading for the win.
- Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team Columbia) enjoyed her fourth stage win, which secured her the points jersey.
- Fan club members carry Fabina Luperini (Menikini - Selle Italia) to the presentation ceremony.
- Direct hit: Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team Columbia) gets Giorgia Bronzini (Titanedi Frezza Acca Due O) full-on.
- Claudia Hausler (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung) won the young rider competition with strong performances all race.
- Fabina Luperini (Menikini - Selle Italia) also won the climber's jersey, which was fitting since it was on the climbs that she won this race.
- Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team Columbia) in the points jersey.
- Another confetti celebration for Fabina Luperini (Menikini - Selle Italia).
- Fabina Luperini (Menikini - Selle Italia) counts five Giro Donne victories.
- The Menikini Selle Italia Master Colours team which helped Fabina Luperini to victory.
Images by Giro Donne
- Fabina Luperini (Menikini - Selle Italia) puts on the pink jersey for the final time this week.
- Fabina Luperini (Menikini - Selle Italia) shows off her new silverware.
- Overall podium (L-R): Amber Neben (Team Flexpoint), Fabiana Luperini (Menikini - Selle Italia) and Claudia Häusler (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung)
Images by Davide Tricarico/ladiescycling.net
- Irish Champion Siobhan Dervan rides for the Fenixs team.
- Tiffany Cromwell (Austrialian National) has some stylish braids.
- The last winner of Olympics road race, Sara Carrigan (Austrialian National)
- The start in Desio
- The Menikini team of leader Fabiana Luperini chased down all the breaks.
- Miho Oki (Menikini Selle Italia) leading and closing the group to the roads of Brianza
- The first breakaway of the day. Marta Villajosana Andreu (Cmax Dilà) gained one minute.
- After two laps Villajosana Andreu (Cmax Dilà) is reached by Andrea Thurig (Bigla) with Judith Arndt (Columbia High Road) Charlotte Becker (Nurnberger) and Silvia Valsecchi (Menikini Sele Italia)
- Alessandra D'Ettorre (Top Girls Fassa Bortolo) trying a solo breakway of the women's Giro.
- Charlotte Becker leads the chase.
- Julia Martisova (Gauss) leads Zulfia Zabirova (Bigla) on a late break, but their 45 seconds wasn't enough.
- The women come into the final stretch full gas, with Teutenberg pulling ahead.
- Ina Teutenberg (Team Columbia) gets another sprint win.
- Ina Teutenberg tops the stage podium after taking her 4th stage win.
- It took ten years to get number five for Fabiana Luperini.
- Fabiana Luperini and the trophy for the overall winner.
- A dousing of champagne from Fabiana Luperini showers folks on the podium.
- The team podium is a bit crowded when Menikini-Selle Italia tries to get everyone up there.
Stage 7 - July 12: Macherio - Montevecchia , 83.8 km
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Images by Giro Donne
- Luperini crosses the line in first and looks to win the entire race now.
- Luperini gets the champagne ready
- Luperini defended the lead by winning
- A smiling Luperini on the podium
Images by www.WomensCycling.net
- Anna Sanchis Chafer (Spanish National Team) gets to wear the young rider jersey because Claudia Hausler (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung) is in the green mountains jersey.
- Claudia Hausler (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung) takes a look at Ina-Yoko Teutenberg's Giant as she holds it for the German before the start.
- The beautiful view from the summit at Montevecchia
- Marta Bastianelli (Dila) and Fabiana Luperini (Menikini - Selle Italia) prepare for the day.
- The Menikini - Selle Italia team in a line for race leader Fabiana Luperini.
- Amber Neben (Team Flexpoint) had a good day, finishing second and moving into second on general classification.
- Amber Neben (Team Flexpoint) leads Fabiana Luperini (Menikini - Selle Italia) and a small breakaway group through a hairpin on a climb.
- Noemi Cantele (Team Bigla) leads the chase group after the group of Amber Neben (Team Flexpoint) leads Fabiana Luperini (Menikini - Selle Italia).
- Kim Anderson (Team Columbia) has had a good Giro so far.
- Rochelle Gilmore (Menikini - Selle Italia) enjoyed the climb, even though she's a sprinter.
- A victory salute from Fabiana Luperini (Menikini - Selle Italia) at the summit of Montevecchio.
- Amber Neben (Team Flexpoint) worked hard to keep the gap down as she rode into second place.
- Susanne Ljungskog (Team Flexpoint) finished eighth, having gained form all through the Giro.
- Mexican champion Giuseppina Grassi (Team System Data) finished strongly today.
- Stage podium (L-R): Amber Neben (Team Flexpoint), Fabiana Luperini (Menikini Selle Italia Master Colors) and Tatiana Guderzo (G.S. Gauss Rdz Ormu).
- Claudia Hausler (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung) throws her bouquet to a fan.
- Fabiana Luperini (Menikini - Selle Italia) knows how to spray the champagne.
- Thumbs up for tomorrow from Fabiana Luperini who looks set to claim the overall victory.
Images by Davide Tricarico/ladiescycling.net
- Vera Carrara and Marta Villajosana Andreu (Cmax Dilà) have some fun before the start.
- Rasa Leleyvite (Michela Fanini) is the Under 23 European champion.
- Giuseppina Grassi (System Data Fanini) is the Mexican champion.
- Miko Oki (Menikini - Selle Italia) is the Japanese champion for her 11th consecutive time,
- Swiss champion Jennifer Hohl (Bigla)
- Oenone Wood (Team Columbia), the Australian champion, will contest August's Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
- Estonian champion Grete Treier with Russian champion Julia Martisova (Gauss RDZ).
- Maribel Moreno Allue (Spanish National Team) in the Spanish champion colours.
- Linda Villumsen Serup (Team Columbia) is the Danish champion.
- The peloton was controlled by Menikini - Selle Italia for many kilometers until the first ascent.
- Noemi Cantele (Bigla) attacks on the hill of Colle Brianza.
- Amer Neben (Flexpoint) wins the first mountains points on Colle Brianza.
- Fabiana Luperini (Menikini Selle Italia) breaks the group on the hard Giovenzana climb.
- Only Amber Neben (Flexpoint) can resist the attacks of Fabiana Luperini (Menikini Selle Italia).
- Fabiana Luperini (Menikini - Selle Italia) wins the second mountains points on Giovenzana.
- Fabiana Luperini (Menikini - Selle Italia) transforms herself into a good downhiller.
- Fabiana Luperini (Menikini - Selle Italia) wins the third mountains points at Sirtori.
- Amber Neben (Flexpoint) caught Fabiana Luperini (Menikini Selle Italia) back on the flat sections.
- Fabiana Luperini (Menikini - Selle Italia) detaches Amber Neben (Flexpoint) on the road for the last climb.
- Fabiana Luperini (Menikini - Selle Italia) wins the stage and the last mountains points on Montevecchia.
- Amber Neben (Flexpoint) finished second and took the same position on general classification.
- Tatiana Guderzo (Gauss RDZ) finished third.
- Fiorenzo Magni, the Lion of Flanders, rewards Fabiana Luperini (Menikini - Selle Italia) for her victory.
- Podium (L-R): Amber Neben (Flexpoint), Fabiana Luperini (Menikini - Selle Italia) and Tatiana Guderzo (Gauss RDZ).
- Fabiana Luperini (Menikini - Selle Italia) gives her flowers to her former team-mate Roberta Bonanomi.
- The overall jerseys heading into the final day.
- Fabiana Luperini (Menikini - Selle Italia) won this citybike for her victory... will she ride with this one tomorrow?
Stage 6 - July 11: Cardano Al Campo - Laveno Mombello , 113.4 km
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Davide Tricarico/ladiescycling.net
- Paulina Brzezna (AA Drink) is the Polish champion.
- Modesta Vzeniauskaite (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung) is the Lithuanian champion.
- Clemilda Fernandes Silva (Chirio Forno D'Asolo) is the Brasilian champion.
- The pink crowd on the road to support riders in the Giro Donne.
- The breakaway in the early kilometres on Passo Sette Termini led by Iulia Martisova (Gauss RDZ) and Kimberly Anderson (Team Columbia).
- Martina Corazza (Gauss RDZ) was in the breakaway on Passo Sette Termini.
- Marta Bastianelli (Cmax Dilà) looking at her elbow after a fall on the Passo Sette Termini descent.
- Fabiana Luperini order Kori Kelley Seehafer (Menikini Selle Italia) to chase the two breakaway riders.
- Nicole Brandli and Noemi Cantele (Bigla) were the pair that broke away.
- Nicole Brandli (Bigla) alone in the firsts kilometres of Passo Cuvignone.
- Judith Arndt (Team Columbia) and Jolanta Polikeviciute (Chirio Forno D'Asolo) ride into the dark forest of Passo Cuvignone.
- Edita Pucinskaite (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung) and Marta Bastianelli (Cmax Dilà) caught the Luperini group in front of them.
- Tatiana Guderzo (Gauss RDZ) trying to leave Luperini's company.
- The fantastic trio in action on Passo Cuvignone. Amber Neben (Flexpoint) Claudia Hausler (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung), with the jersey for best young rider, and Nicole Brandli (Bigla).
- Fabiana Luperini (Menikini Selle Italia) trying to chases the three fugitives ahead with Tatiana Guderzo (Gauss RDZ) and Anna Sanchis Chafer (Spanish National Team).
- Claudia Hausler (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung) wins the hard stage with a scream. She beat Amber Neben (Flexpoint) and Nicole Brandli (Bigla).
- Tatiana Guderzo (Gauss RDZ) came home ahead of Fabiana Luperini (Menikini Selle Italia) and Anna Sanchis Chafer (Spanish National Team).
- Edita Pucinskaite (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung), Marta Bastianelli (Cmax Dilà) and Jolanta Polikeviciute (Chirio Forno D'Asolo).
- Stage podium (L-R): Amber Neben (Flexpoint), Claudia Hausler (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung) and Nicole Brandli (Bigla).
- Claudia Hausler (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung) wears the white jersey for best young rider...
- ...and green jersey for best climber.
- The overall jersey podium after Stage 6.
Images by WomensCycling.net/WomensCycling.net
- Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team Columbia), Marta Bastianelli (Dila) and Claudia Hausler (Equipe Nurnberger) line up in Cardano Al Campo before the start
- Into the gloom, Kim Anderson (Team Columbia) removes her glasses as she leads the break up the first climb
- Peta Mullens (Australia) on the climb, in this, her first major European race
- Serena Traschel (Team Bigla) at the front of the chase group
- Edita Puckinskaite (Equipe Nurnberger) sits in the bunch
- Rasa Leleivyte (Michela Fannini Record Rox) is under 23 European RR Champion
- Claudia Hausler (Equipe Nurnberger) cheers as she crosses the line
- Nicole Brandli (Team Bigla) rode a very aggressive race on stage 6
- Tatiana Guderzo (RDZ Gauss) leads race leader, Fabiana Luperini (Menikini) at the finish
- Edita Puckinskaite (Equipe Nurnberger) arrives with Marta Bastianelli (Dila) three minutes after Hausler
- Grete Treier (RDZ Gauss) was unlucky to slide off on the final corner
- A celebratory confetti shower for the podium presentation
- Nicole Brandli (Team Bigla) attacked at the bottom of the second climb
- Noemi Cantele (Team Bigla) reaches for a gel, she has just slowed, having delivered Brandli to the base of the climb
- Race leader, Fabiana Luperini (Menikini), safely in pink for another day
Stage 5 - July 10: Novara (ITT), 9.3 km
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Images by Davide Tricarico/ladiescycling.net
- Giorgia Bronzini and Gintare Gaivenyte (Titanedi Frezza) relaxing and listening to some music before the Time Trial.
- Cmax Dilà sports director Max Bonanomi is also mechanic and prepares the bikes.
- Estonian national champion Grete Treier (Gauss RDZ) has a hard stretching session.
- Mireia Epelde Bikendi (Bizkaia Durango) gets back on her bike after a fall.
- Kazakh Zulfia Zabirova (Bigla) claimed second position.
- Modesta Vzesniauskaite (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung) finished down in 74th spot.
- Alessandra D'Ettorre (Top Girls-Fassa Bortolo) was 46 seconds slower than the winner.
- Iulia Martisova (Gauss RDZ) trying to climb up the overall standings.
- Chirio Forno D'Asolo sports director Antonio Fanelli scream at Clemilda Fernandes Silva in encouragement.
- Carlee Taylor (Australian National Team) took a fall while her team-mate won overall.
- Vicki Whitelaw (Australian National Team) posted a great time to claim victory.
- Alona Andruk (Chirio Forno D'Asolo) was nearly one and a half minutes down.
- Marta Vilajosana Andreu (Cmax Dilà) had a good time trial for a climber, finishing inside the top 10.
- Noemi Cantele (Bigla) will attack tomorrow, on her home stage.
- Kimberly Anderson (Columbia High Road), the oldest athlete in the race, managed 34th spot.
- Amber Neben (Flexpoint) went on to finish third.
- Nicole Brandli (Bigla) wasn't in good enough shape this year to win the Girodonne.
- Italian time trial champion Tatiana Guderzo (Gauss RDZ) holds third place on general classification.
- Edita Pucinskaite (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung) was only able to take a few seconds out of the pink jersey.
- Fabiana Luperini (Menikini Selle Italia) is again pink.
- Stage podium (L-R): Zulfia Zabirova (Bigla), Vicki Whitelaw (Australian National Team) and Amber Neben (Flexpoint).
- Vicki Whitelaw (Australian National Team) spays the photographers.
- Overall jerseys (L-R): Claudia Hausler (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung), Ina Yoko Teutenberg (Team Columbia), Fabiana Luperini (Menikini Selle Italia) and Vera Carrara (Cmax Dilà).
- Pink jersey leader Fabiana Luperini (Menikini Selle Italia) with a bouquet of flowers.
Images by WomensCycling.net/WomensCycling.net
- Zoulfia Zabirova (Team Bigla) showed her TT skills with second place in Novarra
- Vera Carrara (Team Dila) holds the blue jersey after the time trial
- Susanne Ljungskog (Team Flexpoint) came seventh in the TT, eleven seconds slower than Whitelaw
- Vicki Whitelaw (Australia) on her way to the stage win
- Danish Champion, Linda Villumsen (Team Columbia) was fourth fastest in 11m 54 sec
- Charlotte Becker (Equipe Nürnberger) rode strongly to finish fifth, just 3 seconds slower than the winner
- Sara Carrigan (Australia) showed her form with 8th place in the test against the clock
- Marta Vilajosana Andreu (Team Dila) looked determined on her way to ninth place, just 13 seconds slower
- Mirjam Melchers van Poppel (Team Flexpoint) was tenth
- Amber Neben (Team Flexpoint) was third on the time trial
- Claudia Hausler (Equipe Nurnberger) rode in the green skinsuit, as next-best in the mountains competition, but leads the young rider competition
- Italian TT Champion, Tatiana Guderzo (RDZ Gauss) started late in the field, thanks to her third place on GC after stage 4
- Edita Puckinskaite (Equipe Nurnberger) was penultimate starter, as second on GC after the fourth stage
- Race leader, Fabiana Luperini (Menikini) retained the race lead after the time trial
- The time trial podium - Zabirova, Whitelaw and Neben
- The jersey wearers after the time trial are Hausler, Teutenberg, Luperini and Carrara
Stage 4 - July 9: Calcinaia - Prato A Calci/Monte Serra , 106.4 km
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Images by WomensCycling.net/WomensCycling.net
- Race leader, Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team Columbia) made the first break of the day, just a few kilometres from the start
- Runner up in 2006, Susanne Ljungskog (Team Flexpoint) in the bunch
- The bunch rolls along on the flat, the first mountains of the Giro 2008 await
- Another breakaway attempt keeps the pace high before the climbs
- Yet another breakaway, Linda Villumsen (Team Columbia) just ahead of the bunch
- Fabiana Luperini (Menikini) on the first climb from Calci, at the front of the race
- Claudia Hausler (Equipe Nurnberger) was next over the GPM point
- Nicole Brandli (Team Bigla) and Edita Puckinskaite (Equipe Nurnberger), both previous winners chase Luperini
- Puckinskaite puts the effort in
- A novel approach to the feed zone for World Champion, Marta Bastianelli (Dila)
- Christina Becker (Equipe Nurnberger) rides in the shade of the trees on the climb
- Race leader, Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team Columbia) knew she would concede her jersey to a climber today
- Eva Lutz (Equipe Nurnberger) stays cool before the start
- Fabiana Luperini (Menikini) shows the effort as she wins on Monte Serra, close to her home
- Edita Puckinskaite (Equipe Nurnberger) finished second, 54 seconds down on Luperini
- Tatiana Guderzo (RDZ Gauss) was third, just over a minute after Luperini
- The stage podium - Puckinskaite, Luperini, Guderzo in the sun on the mountaintop podium
Stage 3 - July 8: S.M. Maddalena Occhiobello - Altedo Malalbergo , 122.8 km
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Images by WomensCycling.net/WomensCycling.net
- Team Bigla lines up for the stage. Bigla's two national champions are Zoulfia Zabirova (Ukraine) and Jennifer Hohl (Switzerland)
- Team Columbia includes race leader, Ina-Yoko Teutenberg and also two national champions - Linda Villumsen (Denmark) and Oenone Wood (Australia)
- The jersey wearers line up on the front row at the start. Also there are World Champion, Marta Bastianelli (Dila) and Italian Champion, Fabiana Luperini (Menikini)
- The first three stages have been through flat roads, where the largest climbs have been over bridges
- The bunch approaches
- Race leader, Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team Columbia) follows a wheel
- Zoulfia Zabirova (Team Bigla) and Kim Anderson (Team Columbia) in the bunch with Vera Carrara (Dila)
- Olympic Champion, Sara Carrigan (Australia) leads Giro points leader, Mirjam Melchers van Poppel
- Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team Columbia) leads the sprint into Altedo
- Teutenberg (Team Columbia) makes it three in a row in the 2008 Giro Donne
- Rochelle Gilmore (Menikini) was third on the stage
- Monica Holler (Team Bigla) took second place in the sprint in Altedo
- Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team Columbia) on the top of the podium again
- Teutenberg takes the race lead jersey to stage 4 a mountainous stage with 2 major climbs
- Flowers for a fan - Ina-Yoko Teutenberg throws her bouquet to someone in the crowd
- The jersey wearers : L-R - Teutenberg, Markerink, Melchers van Poppel, Bronzini
Stage 2 - July 7: Ca’ Tiepolo Porto Tolle - Rosolina Mare , 122.7 km
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Images by WomensCycling.net/WomensCycling.net
- With two national champions, RDZ Gauss line up prior to Stage 2 (Champions are : Julia Martisova (Russia) and Grete Treier (Estonia)
- Race leader, Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Columbia) chats with points leader, Mirjam Melchers van Poppel (Flexpoint) before the start
- The peloton approaches the pontoon bridge at Santa Giulia
- Crossing the bridge at Santa Giulia
- A corner, just after the feed zone, meant that some riders were juggling brakes and bidons
- Winner in 2006 and 2007, Edita Puckinskaite (Equipe Nurnberger) corners in the bunch
- Regina Schleicher (Nürnberger) corners next to race leader, Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Columbia)
- Teutenberg makes it two in a row in Rosalina Mare
- The stage podium : Wild, Teutenberg and Schleicher
- Ina-Yoko Teutenberg is watched by Mirjam Melchers van Poppel and Giorgia Bronzini from the podium
- The jersey wearers line up for photos L-R : Melchers van Poppel, Teutenberg, Bronzini and Markerink
Stage 1 - July 6: Asola - Lendinara , 131.5 km
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Images by WomensCycling.net/WomensCycling.net
- Equipe Nurnberger riders, Eva Lutz and Christina Becker ride together in the bunch
- Tightly packed, the bunch takes a corner
- Miho Oki (Menikni Selle Italia) is Japanese RR Champion
- The Menikini Selle Italia squad is interviewed before the start
- Race leader, Mirjam Melchers van Poppel (Team Flexpoint) waits to start with Noemi Cantele (Team Bigla)
- World Champion, Marta Bastianelli (Dila) changed teams in June so that she could start the Giro
- The sprinters take the front with 75 metres to go. Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team Columbia) is already at the front
- Teutenberg enjoys the win ahead of Kirsten Wild (AA Drink) and Giorgia Bronzini (SAFI)
- The stage podium - Wild, Teutenberg and Bronzini
- Teutenberg sprays race staff from the podium watched by Bronzini
- The jersey wearers line up - with new race leader, Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team Columbia) flanked by Loes Markerink (Flexpoint), Mirjam Melchers van Poppel (Flexpoint) and Giorgia Bronzini (SAFI)
Prologue - July 5: Mantova (ITT), 1.2 km
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Images by WomensCycling.net/WomensCycling.net
- Kirsten Wild (AA Drink) was third fastest.
- Loes Markerink (Flexpoint) buries herself near the finish.
- The stage podium - Vera Carrara (Dila), Mirjam Melchers van Poppel (Flexpoint) and Kirsten Wild (AA Drink).
- Mirjam Melchers van Poppel (Flexpoint) celebrates in the traditional manner.
- Its late, its dark, but there was still a crowd to see all the jersey wearers on the podium.
- Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team Columbia) was the first of the team to set off in the new colours.
- Italian TT Champion, Tatiana Guderzo, Gauss RDZ was one of the early starters to ride in the setting sunlight.
- Mirjam Melchers van Poppel (Flexpoint) on her way to the prologue win.
- Nicole Brandli (Team Bigla) rode strongly to fifth place.
- Judith Arndt (Columbia) finished tenth.
- TV attention for Tour de l'Aude winner, Susanne Ljungskog (Flexpoint).
- Monica Holler (Bigla) puts her head down and goes for it in the final 100 metres.
- Kate Bates (High Road) rides in the dark.
