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7th Le Tour du Grand Montréal - 2.1
Canada, June 2-5, 2008
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Stage 4 - June 4: Petite-Italie criterium, 50km
De Goede victory gives Nürnberger a narrow race lead
By Kirsten Robbins in Little Italy, Montreal
Equipe Nürnberger enjoyed a triumphant day at the Tour du Grand Montreal, with Suzanne de Goede storming to victory at the criterium held in Little Italy. De Goede's win over Australian duo Oenone Wood (High Road) and Rochelle Gilmore (Menikini-Selle Italia) saw her reclaimed the leader's jersey with one stage remaining.
"Of course there was a lot of competition out there for the time bonuses and for the finish, not just from the GC riders," said De Goede, regarding the endless threat of breakaways during the 50-lap event. "So Nürnberger did a great job keeping things together and Regina is a really good sprinter, knows how to bring me to a really good finish and having her lead me out was great."
De Goede rolled up to the start line trailing Judith Arndt (High Road) by five seconds in the overall classification after the morning's time trial. The Netherlands sprinter put on a show for the crowd when she won the first intermediate sprint, followed by the finale sprint, earning enough seconds to take the lead over Arndt and team-mate Wood.
"Our plan was only to go for the first time bonus and then save the legs for the finish," said De Goede. "It wasn't easy to get the time bonus today. Judith Arndt is a very strong rider and High Road is a great team. But we showed today that we are a strong team also and that we could finish with a win."
High Road made the race necessarily difficult for De Goede, forcing her Nürnberger team to do most of the chasing when a break slipped up the road.
"We wanted to make it hard for Suzanne and for Nürnberger," said Wood, who is confident in High Road's capability to capture the overall win. "It didn't entirely work out for us today but we certainly tried and we'll be doing it again tomorrow.
"Nürnberger covered a lot of moves tonight," continued Wood. "Tomorrow's a hard day and hopefully Team High Road wins the race and we win the tour, we just need to figure out how we're going to do that."
Despite not racing for over a month, Gilmore ignited her sprint legs and landed on the podium for a second time in the tour. The Australian sprinter attributed her success to Kori Seehawfer and Trine Schmidt, who took third in this morning's time trial and celebrated her twentieth birthday.
"I had high expectations for the race but then I had the realization that after not racing for a month," said Gilmore. "It's impossible to train to prepare for this with out racing and tonight I didn't have great legs. So I'm trying to take podiums as much as I can here.
"The two girls were on the front for the last two laps, they are giving me every opportunity to get on the podium have to thank them for that," she added. "For Trine to have been on the podium this morning and have done all the work she did today, means she is an invaluable rider for me and for this team."
How it unfolded
The sun beat down on the tarmac in downtown Little Italy for the fourth stage. The 50-lap criterium would see the 100 strong peloton stomp on their pedals in hopes of forming an early break away.
Just 10 laps into the race former Olympic gold medallist Sara Carrigan (Australian National Team) spent a couple of laps off the front. The move forced Nürnberger, hungry for the approaching time bonus sprint, to chase.
"The plan was to try to keep the race close together so that I could go for the seconds," said De Goede. "But I saw my team-mates the whole time at the front and closing the gaps to help me in the sprints."
Teams Tibco, Uniqa, Aaron's, Canada and Webcor were amongst the most aggressive teams in the field, represented in several of the evening's break aways.
The first time bonus sprint was at the 20 lap mark. Both Nürnberger and High Road sent their respective teams to the front to make sure no flyers snuck away. De Goede narrowly won the first sprint ahead of Arndt and Wood, moving the rider two seconds closer to Arndt's overall lead.
Tibco's all rounder Lauren Franges separated herself from the field for more than six laps. Franges stayed away until a combination of Nürnberger, Aaron's and Webcor efforts at the front pulled her back in.
Lorian Graham (Australian National Team) was the next to tackle five laps alone until both Carissa Wilkes (Pro Feminin Les Carroz) and the event's earlier break away rider Franges bridged across to her with 12 laps to remaining. After absorbing the second set of time bonuses the trio were brought back to with in striking distance for an inevitable bunch sprint.
Menikini-Selle Italia set the stage for the field sprint using its two workhorses Seehawfer and Schmidt to pull back the break away. The due started an early lead out for their Australian sprinter Gilmore.
Both High Road and Nürnberger battled for the leading train on the final lap, but when it came down to who had the faster train Nürnberger's former world champion Regina Schleicher rounded the last corner out front with De Goede tucked in safely on her wheel.
"I'm so proud of my whole team, they all rode so great today," said De Goede. "I have a lot of confidence in my team for tomorrow after the way they raced today. We just do our best and we cannot do more than that. Today was really great and tomorrow's a new day."
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net
- Gregor from High Road waits for the 'staff race'.
- Jens was all smiles on the start line of the mechanics race.
- Karen and Avery were the Webcor entry in the pre women's race warm-up.
- Klas is given encouragement by Menikini-Selle Italia directeur sportif Walter Ricci.
- Jim Williams had a good time, but didn't win.
- What can you say? What she lacks in speed, Avery has in style.
- Cascades took the staff race with a dominant performance.
- The women line up in Little Italy in the early evening sun.
- Lorian Graham (Australian National Team) was aggressive all evening. She was eventually in a break with two others.
- Kate Bates (High Road) leads the bunch early in the race.
- Race leader Judith Arndt (High Road) corners in the bunch.
- Christine Thorburn (Webcor) was wearing the jersey of best over 35 year-old.
- Lorian Graham (Australian National Team) attacked on her own for several laps
- Lauren Franges (Team TIBCO) in the bunch, she was also out on a break solo.
- Sarah Grab (Team Specialized Designs) accelerates out of a corner.
- Nikki Egyed (Australian National Team) grits her teeth as the pace goes up just before a sprint lap.
- Clarissa Wilkes (Team Les Carroz) checks over her shoulder for attacks as she leads the race.
- Lauren Franges (Team TIBCO) leads Lorian Graham (Australian National Team) and Clarissa Wilkes (Les Carroz).
- Kori Kelley Seehafer (Menikini-Selle Italia Master colour) shows the way out of a corner.
- Felicia Gomez (Aaron's Pro) wears the mountains competition jersey into Stage 5.
- The bunch is led by Menikini Selle Italia as the sprinters prepare for the race finale.
- Suzanne De Goede (Equipe Nürnberger Versicher) sprints to victory ahead of Oenone Wood (High Road) and Rochelle Gilmore (Menikini-Selle Italia Master colour).
- Podium (L-R): Oenone Wood (High Road Women), Suzanne De Goede (Equipe Nürnberger Versicher) and Rochelle Gilmore (Menikini-Selle Italia Master colour).
- Suzanne De Goede (Équipe Nurnberger) is the new race leader.
- Kristin Sanders (Aaron's Professional Cycling) takes the inside line on a corner.
- Lauren Franges (Team TIBCO) was out on her own for several laps, then in a small group later.
- The crowds were treated to evening sunshine and exciting racing in Little Italy.
- Felicia Gomez (Aaron's Pro) will defend a 17 point lead over next placed, Tanja Hennes in the mountains competition in Stage 5.
Images by Mitch Friedman/www.mitchophoto.com
- Lauren Franges (Team TIBCO) leads in the early laps.
- Marie Lindberg (Equipe Nürnberger Versicher) leads Katherine Bates (High Road).
- Oenone Woods (High Road) goes into turn two.
- Katherine Bates (High Road) leads Marie Lindberg (Equipe Nürnberger Versicher) and the pack into turn two.
- Judith Arndt (High Road) in the yellow jersey.
- Trine Schmidt (Menikini-Selle Italia) and Judith Arndt (High Road) head down the back straightaway.
- Ukraine rider Yeugeniya Vysotska (Ukrainian National Team) goes into turn three.
- Lauren Franges (Team TIBCO) goes through turn three.
- Oenone Wood (High Road) was in strong form once again.
- Meredith Miller (Aaron's Professional Cycling) and Kori Seehafer Kelley (Menikini-Selle Italia Master colour) go head to head.
- Felicia Gomez (Aaron's Professional Cycling) and the pack.
- Lorian Graham (Australian National Team) tries to get away.
- Oenone Wood (High Road) on the outside of Regina Schleicher (Equipe Nürnberger Versicher) and Judith Arndt (High Road).
- Lauren Franges (Team TIBCO), Lorian Graham (Australian National Team) and Carissa Wilkes (Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz) tried to get away near the end of the race.
- Trine Schmidt (Menikini-Selle Italia) is at the front on the last lap.
- Suzanne De Goede (Equipe Nürnberger Versicher) wins over Oenone Wood (High Road) and Rochelle Gilmore (Menikini-Selle Italia).
Images by John Pierce/Photosport International
- Fei Wang (Giant Pro Cycling)
- Min Gao (Giant Pro Cycling)
- Christine Thorburn (Webcor) in the jersey of best over 35 year-old.
- Sufen Ma (Giant Pro Cycling)
Results
1 Suzanne De Goede (Ned) Equipe Nürnberger Versicher 1.13.15 (40.955 km/h) 2 Oenone Wood (Aus) High Road Women 3 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Menikini-Selle Italia Master colour 4 Brooke Miller (USA) Team TIBCO 5 Dalila Rodriguez (Cub) Cuban National Team 6 Nikki Egyed (Aus) Australian National Team 7 Iraida Garcia (Cub) Cuban National Team 8 Nathalie Lamborelle (Lux) UNIQA 9 Christine Majerus (Lux) ESGL 93 GSD Gestion 10 Joelle Numainville (Can) ESGL 93 GSD Gestion 11 Sophie Creux (Fra) ESGL 93 GSD Gestion 12 Alex Wrubleski (Can) Webcor Builders 13 Olena Andruk (Ukr) Ukrainian National Team 14 Louise Moriarty (Irl) Specialized Carrefour Multis 15 Lorian Graham (Aus) Australian National Team 16 Emmanuelle Merlot (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope 17 Yong Li Liu (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling 18 Jenny Trew (Can) Canadian National Team 19 Kristen Lasasso (USA) Specialized Designs for Women 20 Carissa Wilkes (NZl) Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz 21 Sara Carrigan (Aus) Australian National Team 22 Kori Kelley Seehafer (USA) Menikini-Selle Italia Master colour 23 Alison Testroete (Can) Aaron's Professional Cycling 24 Lang Meng (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling 25 Yeima Torres (Cub) Cuban National Team 26 Li Ping Zhang (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling 27 Judith Arndt (Ger) High Road Women 28 Audrey Lemieux (Can) Specialized Carrefour Multis 29 Leigh Hobson (Can) Canadian National Team 30 Trine Schmidt (Den) Menikini-Selle Italia Master colour 31 Tanja Hennes (Ger) Specialized Designs for Women 32 Audrey Cordon (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope 33 Bettina Hold (Can) Canadian National Team 34 Kimberly Anderson (USA) High Road Women 35 Chantal Beltman (Ned) High Road Women 36 Yoanka Gonzalez (Cub) Cuban National Team 37 Julia Farell (Can) Ultralink 38 Erinne Willock (Can) Webcor Builders 39 Felicia Gomez (Can) Aaron's Professional Cycling 40 Marie Lindberg (Swe) Equipe Nürnberger Versicher 41 Julie Bellerose (Can) Equipe Cascades 42 Karin Aune (Swe) UNIQA 43 Katherine Bates (Aus) High Road Women 44 Lauren Franges (USA) Team TIBCO 45 Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Australian National Team 46 Karol-Ann Canuel (Can) Specialized Carrefour Multis 47 Sufen Ma (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling 48 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicher 49 Monika Schachl (Aut) UNIQA 50 Larissa Kleinmann (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicher 51 Svitlana Galyuk (Ukr) Ukrainian National Team 52 Meredith Miller (USA) Aaron's Professional Cycling 53 Anne Samplonius (Can) Canadian National Team 54 Yumari Gonzalez (Cub) Cuban National Team 55 Sarah Grab (Swi) Specialized Designs for Women 56 Yeugeniya Vysotska (Ukr) Ukrainian National Team 57 Julie Dheruelle (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope 0.11 58 Christine Thorburn (USA) Webcor Builders 59 Clara Hughes (Can) Specialized Carrefour Multis 60 Jen Stephenson (Can) Ultralink 61 Min Gao (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling 62 Julie Beveridge (Can) Aaron's Professional Cycling 63 Andrea Knecht (Swi) Specialized Designs for Women 64 Janel Holcomb (USA) Webcor Builders 65 Helen Kelly (Aus) Team TIBCO 66 Daniela Pintarelli (Aut) UNIQA 67 Moriah Jo Macgregor (Can) Canadian National Team 68 Kristin Sanders (USA) Aaron's Professional Cycling 69 Aude Pollet (Fra) Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz 70 Joanie Caron (Can) Equipe Cascades 71 Thomas Béatrice (Fra) ESGL 93 GSD Gestion 72 Mary Zider (USA) Advil-Chapstick 73 Rachel Heal (GBr) Team TIBCO 74 Eugenie Mermillod (Fra) Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz 75 Kateryna Krasova (Ukr) Ukrainian National Team 76 Susan Palmer-Komar (Can) Advil-Chapstick 77 Bernadette Schober (Aut) UNIQA 78 Fiona Dutriaux (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope 79 Mara Abbott (USA) High Road Women 80 Julie Marceau (Can) Specialized Carrefour Multis 81 Modesta Vzesniauskaite (Ltu) Equipe Nürnberger Versicher 82 Emma Pooley (GBr) Specialized Designs for Women 83 Victoria Bastide (Swe) Team TIBCO 84 Jocelyn Loane (Aus) Australian National Team 85 Mathilde Hupin (Can) Specialized Carrefour Multis 86 Elisa Gagnon (Can) Advil-Chapstick 87 Johanne Cyr (Can) Equipe Cascades 88 Fanny Riberot (Fra) Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz 89 Mirjam Hauser-Senn (Swi) Specialized Designs for Women 90 Alyssa Mellon (Can) Ultralink 1.26 91 Sarah Coney (Can) Ultralink 2.07 92 Fei Wang (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling 2.10 93 Veronique Labonte (Can) Equipe Cascades 2.20 94 Brei Gudsell (NZl) Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz 2.55 DNF Jessica Burns (Can) Equipe Cascades DNF Elizaveta Bochkarova (Ukr) Ukrainian National Team DNS Nathalie Bates (Aus) Menikini-Selle Italia Master colour General Classification after Stage 4 1 Suzanne De Goede (Ned) Equipe Nürnberger Versicher 5.49.28 2 Judith Arndt (Ger) High Road Women 0.02 3 Oenone Wood (Aus) High Road Women 0.13 4 Katherine Bates (Aus) High Road Women 0.18 5 Larissa Kleinmann (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicher 0.24 6 Trine Schmidt (Den) Menikini-Selle Italia Master colour 7 Erinne Willock (Can) Webcor Builders 0.25 8 Brooke Miller (USA) Team TIBCO 9 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicher 0.27 10 Anne Samplonius (Can) Canadian National Team 11 Sara Carrigan (Aus) Australian National Team 0.28 12 Felicia Gomez (Can) Aaron's Professional Cycling 0.29 13 Kori Kelley Seehafer (USA) Menikini-Selle Italia Master colour 14 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Menikini-Selle Italia Master colour 0.31 15 Chantal Beltman (Ned) High Road Women 16 Svitlana Galyuk (Ukr) Ukrainian National Team 0.33 17 Meredith Miller (USA) Aaron's Professional Cycling 18 Lauren Franges (USA) Team TIBCO 0.34 19 Lorian Graham (Aus) Australian National Team 0.37 20 Kimberly Anderson (USA) High Road Women 21 Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Australian National Team 22 Karin Aune (Swe) UNIQA 0.38 23 Nikki Egyed (Aus) Australian National Team 24 Christine Thorburn (USA) Webcor Builders 25 Marie Lindberg (Swe) Equipe Nürnberger Versicher 0.40 26 Louise Moriarty (Irl) Specialized Carrefour Multis 27 Yong Li Liu (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling 28 Alison Testroete (Can) Aaron's Professional Cycling 0.41 29 Dalila Rodriguez (Cub) Cuban National Team 30 Leigh Hobson (Can) Canadian National Team 0.42 31 Audrey Cordon (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope 0.43 32 Nathalie Lamborelle (Lux) UNIQA 0.44 33 Carissa Wilkes (NZl) Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz 34 Monika Schachl (Aut) UNIQA 0.45 35 Olena Andruk (Ukr) Ukrainian National Team 36 Christine Majerus (Lux) ESGL 93 GSD Gestion 0.46 37 Joelle Numainville (Can) ESGL 93 GSD Gestion 38 Modesta Vzesniauskaite (Ltu) Equipe Nürnberger Versicher 39 Sophie Creux (Fra) ESGL 93 GSD Gestion 0.47 40 Lang Meng (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling 41 Iraida Garcia (Cub) Cuban National Team 42 Mara Abbott (USA) High Road Women 0.48 43 Yeima Torres (Cub) Cuban National Team 0.49 44 Emma Pooley (GBr) Specialized Designs for Women 45 Kristen Lasasso (USA) Specialized Designs for Women 46 Kristin Sanders (USA) Aaron's Professional Cycling 0.50 47 Julie Beveridge (Can) Aaron's Professional Cycling 48 Janel Holcomb (USA) Webcor Builders 0.52 49 Sarah Grab (Swi) Specialized Designs for Women 50 Bettina Hold (Can) Canadian National Team 0.53 51 Audrey Lemieux (Can) Specialized Carrefour Multis 52 Karol-Ann Canuel (Can) Specialized Carrefour Multis 53 Rachel Heal (GBr) Team TIBCO 0.54 54 Emmanuelle Merlot (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope 55 Moriah Jo Macgregor (Can) Canadian National Team 56 Yumari Gonzalez (Cub) Cuban National Team 57 Yeugeniya Vysotska (Ukr) Ukrainian National Team 0.55 58 Fiona Dutriaux (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope 59 Daniela Pintarelli (Aut) UNIQA 0.56 60 Helen Kelly (Aus) Team TIBCO 61 Victoria Bastide (Swe) Team TIBCO 62 Jocelyn Loane (Aus) Australian National Team 0.58 63 Susan Palmer-Komar (Can) Advil-Chapstick 0.59 64 Mirjam Hauser-Senn (Swi) Specialized Designs for Women 1.00 65 Joanie Caron (Can) Equipe Cascades 1.01 66 Julie Bellerose (Can) Equipe Cascades 1.02 67 Tanja Hennes (Ger) Specialized Designs for Women 68 Min Gao (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling 1.03 69 Fanny Riberot (Fra) Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz 70 Mary Zider (USA) Advil-Chapstick 1.04 71 Li Ping Zhang (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling 1.05 72 Sufen Ma (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling 73 Julie Marceau (Can) Specialized Carrefour Multis 1.06 74 Kateryna Krasova (Ukr) Ukrainian National Team 1.07 75 Yoanka Gonzalez (Cub) Cuban National Team 76 Bernadette Schober (Aut) UNIQA 1.08 77 Thomas Béatrice (Fra) ESGL 93 GSD Gestion 1.09 78 Eugenie Mermillod (Fra) Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz 79 Aude Pollet (Fra) Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz 1.15 80 Julie Dheruelle (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope 1.17 81 Elisa Gagnon (Can) Advil-Chapstick 1.18 82 Julia Farell (Can) Ultralink 1.22 83 Alyssa Mellon (Can) Ultralink 2.26 84 Veronique Labonte (Can) Equipe Cascades 2.57 85 Fei Wang (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling 3.02 86 Alex Wrubleski (Can) Webcor Builders 3.17 87 Brei Gudsell (NZl) Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz 3.48 88 Clara Hughes (Can) Specialized Carrefour Multis 5.46 89 Jen Stephenson (Can) Ultralink 5.47 90 Andrea Knecht (Swi) Specialized Designs for Women 9.54 91 Johanne Cyr (Can) Equipe Cascades 15.56 92 Jenny Trew (Can) Canadian National Team 20.40 93 Mathilde Hupin (Can) Specialized Carrefour Multis 21.02 94 Sarah Coney (Can) Ultralink 21.42 Sprint classification 1 Suzanne De Goede (Ned) Equipe Nürnberger Versicher 46 pts 2 Judith Arndt (Ger) High Road Women 23 3 Oenone Wood (Aus) High Road Women 20 4 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicher 17 5 Katherine Bates (Aus) High Road Women 13 6 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Menikini-Selle Italia Master colour 13 7 Brooke Miller (USA) Team TIBCO 6 8 Lorian Graham (Aus) Australian National Team 5 9 Larissa Kleinmann (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicher 5 10 Anne Samplonius (Can) Canadian National Team 5 11 Trine Schmidt (Den) Menikini-Selle Italia Master colour 5 12 Louise Moriarty (Irl) Specialized Carrefour Multis 4 13 Iraida Garcia (Cub) Cuban National Team 3 14 Carissa Wilkes (NZl) Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz 3 15 Erinne Willock (Can) Webcor Builders 3 16 Lauren Franges (USA) Team TIBCO 2 17 Tanja Hennes (Ger) Specialized Designs for Women 1 18 Nathalie Lamborelle (Lux) UNIQA 1 19 Dalila Rodriguez (Cub) Cuban National Team 1 Mountains classification 1 Felicia Gomez (Can) Aaron's Professional Cycling 27 pts 2 Tanja Hennes (Ger) Specialized Designs for Women 10 3 Modesta Vzesniauskaite (Ltu) Equipe Nürnberger Versicher 7 4 Joelle Numainville (Can) ESGL 93 GSD Gestion 7 5 Christine Majerus (Lux) ESGL 93 GSD Gestion 5 6 Nikki Egyed (Aus) Australian National Team 5 7 Elizaveta Bochkarova (Ukr) Ukrainian National Team 5 8 Rachel Heal (GBr) Team TIBCO 4 9 Emma Pooley (GBr) Specialized Designs for Women 3 10 Yong Li Liu (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling 1 Teams classification 1 High Road Women 17.29.32 2 Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 0.18 3 Menikini-Selle Italia Master colors 0.22 4 Aaron's Professional Cycling Team 0.33 5 Australian National Team 0.35 6 Webcor Builders 0.36 7 Canadian National Team 0.47 8 Team TIBCO 0.49 9 Ukrainian National Team 0.54 10 UNIQA 0.59 11 Specialized Designs for Women 1.08 12 Cuban National Team 1.09 13 Specialized Carrefour Multisport Mazda G 1.10 14 ESGL 93 GSD Gestion 1.11 15 Giant Pro Cycling 16 Vienne Futuroscope 1.24 17 Equipe Cascades 1.30 18 Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz 1.45 19 Advil-Chapstick 2.13 20 Ultralink 8.27
