13th Giro d'Italia Femminile - NE

Italy, July 5-14, 2002

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Stage 4 - July 9: Correggio-Correggio, 118 km

Spijerman strongest in shortned stage

"Dutch rider Bertine Spijkerman (Power Plate Bik) has won the fourth stage of the women's iro d'Italia. Australian national team rider Olivia Gollan was second and Roberta Bonanomi (MeH Figurella) third."

Svetlana Boubnenkova (Team Aliverti Kookai) remains in the maglia rosa of race leader.

The stage was delayed by a traffic jam on the A1 between Florence and Bologna, causing organisers to shorten the stage from 118km to 106km.

The stage was marked by an eight-rider escape that stayed away for the final 85km, just fending off a fast-closing peloton in the final kilometres.

In the finale, Spijkerman was the strongest sprinter in the group. She said, "It's my first win outside Holland. Two years ago I got bronze at the junior worlds time trial in Plouay, and I hope to do as well in the European under 23 championships in less than a month in Bergamo," said Spijkerman.

Race leader Boubenkava was calm. "Today was not a day to force it. The Giro will be decided ther day after tomorrow in the time trial, and on Saturday on the hard circuit at Barzago," she said.

Tomorrow's 94km stage from Lesmo to Triuggio takes the riders over the hills of the Brianzole region.

Results

1 Bertine Spijkerman (Ita) Ola-Power Plate Bik         2.37.15 (40.407 km/h)
2 Olivia Gollan (Aus) Australian National Team
3 Roberta Bonanomi (Ita) MeH Figurella
4 Lucille Hunkeler (Swi) U.S.C. Chirio Forno d.Asolo
5 Ghita Beltman (Ned) Acca Due O-Pasta Zara
6 Alessandra D'Ettorre (Ita) Team 2002
7 Volha Hayeka (Blr) Team Raschiani Alfa Lum
8 Letizia Giardinelli (Ita) S.C. Michela Fanini-Rox
9 Zinaida Stahurskaja (Blr) U.S.C. Chirio Forno d.Asolo   0.07
10 Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Acca Due O-Pasta Zara

General classification after stage 4

1 Svetlana Boubnenkova (Rus) Team Aliverti Kookai     11.51.16 (38.112 km/h)
2 Zinaida Stahurskaja (Blr) Chirio Forno d.Asolo          0.04
3 Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Acca Due O-Pasta Zara               0.12
4 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) MeH Figurella                   0.24
5 Nicole Brandli (Swi) Acca Due O Pasta Zara              0.31
6 Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu) Acca Due O-Pasta Zara       0.32
7 Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) Acca Due O-Pasta Zara          0.52
8 Nataliya Kachalka (Ukr) Deia Pragma Colnago             1.05
9 Rhonda Quick (USA) MeH Figurella
10 Rosalisa Lapomarda (Ita) Team 2002