February 25/03 8:30 am - Canadian Espoir Road Project, Fly Gurlz 2003, Geelong Final

Posted by Editoress on 02/25/03
 

The Spring Canadian Espoir Road Project
Courtesy CCA

For spring 2003, the Canadian Cycling Association has decided to try something new with its promising Espoir road athletes. Thanks to Sports Canada and the 2003 Hamilton road worlds, the CCA created the Canadian Cycling Center in Europe (CCCE).

For its trial year, the CCCE will function out of Castelsarrasin, a town 80kms North-West of Toulouse in France. The goal of this centre is primarily to help young athletes progress to a competitive international level through more complete racing, while establishing a more familiar North-American environment when in Europe.

The first Espoir athletes to partake in this program were selected according to results in national and international races in 2002. They are:

Ian Condron
Cameron Evans
Andrew Davidson
Jean-Sébastien Maheu
Ryan Roth
Warren Tilbrook

The CCCE's racing program will start on March 2nd, after a week long training camp at the end of February. For the most part, the races chosen are listed on the national French racing calendar and, in some cases, are UCI Espoir races. The following is the proposed racing program:

- GP d'ouverture Pierre Pinel - March 2nd
- Circuit des 4 Cantons - March 8th
- Prix Mathias Nomblot - March 9th
- Circuit des Monts du Lubéron - March 15th
- Souvenir Francis Delpech - March 16th
- La Durtorccha - March 22nd
- Tour du Canton de St-Ciers - March 29th & 30th
- Tour de l'Indre - April 3rd - 6th
- Circuit des vins du Blayais - April 13th
- GP des fêtes de Cenac - April 14th
- Tour du Canton de Dun le Palestel - April 19th
- Circuit des monts du Livradois - April 20th
- Trophée national de Pujols - April 21st
- Ruban Granitier Breton - April 25th to May 1st
- Tarbes-Sauveterre - May 8th
- Tour de Corrèze - May 10th
- Tour du Périgord - May 11th
- Olympia's tour - May 17th - 25th
Note : Racing program is subject to change

As Spring 2003 will be the first attempt in creating a more competitive development scheme, through the CCCE, we anticipate that the benefits will appear as early as the end of the 2003 season.

In 2004, it is the CCA's intention to expand the CCCE's facilities to the young women's development program as well as using the CCCE as a European nerve center for all national team programs.

Jacques Landry
National development coach


Fly Gurlz 2003 Team
Courtesy Michelle Ward

It is with great pleasure that we are able to announce the 2003 Fly Gurlz National Trade Team Roster, Ontario Trade Team Roster, Ladies Learn to Mountain bike clinic schedule and sponsors. Fly Gurlz is committed to growing a community of projects that support and encourage women of all ages and ability levels in the sport of mountain bike riding and racing. We are proud to be the "Everyday woman in action" with the team roster spanning four decades of Canadian women! We will also continue to develop and nurture our Freeride Club which now has chapters in Toronto and Ottawa. Please visit our website for Ladies day & Freeride club details at www.flygurlz.com.

The addition of McNeil Consumer Healthcare (MOTRIN brand), Devinci Bicycles & Modrobes asTitle/Affiliate level sponsors is a huge step forward for the project. We are also proud to be affiliated with Louis Garneau, Smith Eyewear, Blast Protein Bars, Squire John's, Running Tide Inc., Twist Multimedia & Design, Banana Seat Productions and Art for the Ears.

Michelle Ward & David Solursh - Team Owners

2003 National Trade Team
Karley Cunningham - Elite XC
Julie Ruest - Elite XC
Sarah Hills - Elite XC
Kathy Watkins - Expert XC
Ingrid Coney - Expert XC
Heather Pardon - Expert XC
Anne Bock - Expert XC & DH

2003 Provincial Trade Team
Tracy Ryder - Sport
Katrina Burton - Sport
Terri Gregotski - Sport
Marcia Blaschke - Sport
Marianna Knights - Sport
Jacquelin Burton - Beginner
Sophie Daviau - Sport


Geelong Women's Tour Australia
Courtesy Gennie Sheer, Cycling Australia

Mactier Takes Stage - Gollan Holds Lead

Reigning Australian road champion, Olivia Gollan, 29, (Australian Institute of Sport) has taken out overall honours in the inaugural Geelong Bellarine Tour which finished today in Lara, north of Geelong, Victoria.

Gollan went into today's final stage wearing the race leader's blue jersey with a solid lead of 50 seconds over her nearest rival for champion honours in the three day international race which boasted four of the world's top six world ranked women's cyclists. The Newcastle school teacher, who has raced full time since only last year, claimed the race lead after an audacious solo attack on the opening stage on Sunday night and her Australian Institute of Sport team mates worked tirelessly yesterday and today to make sure she held it until the end.

"My team did a tremendous job every day to protect my lead and to keep things under control," said Gollan. "I'm just really emotional about this win, it's great!"

Stage honours today went to another Australian Katie Mactier, 27, (Victorian Institute of Sport - Saturn) who won the sprint across the line in Lara in a time of 3hr05min06sec from World Number Two, Miriam Melchers, 27, (City of Greater Geelong World Team) with Gollan third.

The stage set off from Lara under overcast skies which threatened rain but for the field, which included riders from twelve countries, the cooler temperatures were a welcome relief from yesterday's hot (36 degrees) and windy conditions. The 115 kilometre stage headed north through the You Yangs Ranges toward Bacchus Marsh before heading back to Lara for the finish.

The AIS was in charge from the start setting the pace on front to deter any riders with plans to break away. Several attacks were tried but Gollan's team mates shut them down.

As the race approached the climb up Mt Wallace at the 57 kilometre mark a group of six did manage to ride clear with the major threat to Gollan's lead coming from New Zealander, Rosalind Reekie-May. However the AIS reorganised and the break was caught by the foot of the steep, twisting two kilometre climb which shattered the field. Dozens of riders found the steep incline too hard to negotiate on a bike and opted to walk up instead. Several others simply fell sideways onto the road, bike and all.

Meantime, Gollan surged up the mountain alongside yesterday's stage winner Margaret Hemsley, 31, (Team Nurnberger) and remained securely in a lead group of seven after the descent.

"That climb was really, really tough and I was so happy to be in the front three going over the top of it," explained Gollan. "Nurnberger made it really hard towards the end as they were just attacking and all the time and putting it (the following riders) in the gutter the whole time."

"Absolutely the climb made the difference today and getting over first won it for me," said Gollan. "A lot of girls struggled in the back half of the race and over the climb and that plus the cross winds really affected the day."

A further eight riders joined Gollan's group to form a leading bunch of 15 which included Queensland's Sara Carrigan, 22, (Power Plate BIK) and Canberra's Alison Wright,22, (Road Racer - Guerciotto). Wright and Carrigan had gone into the final stage tied on nine points each in the battle for the red sprint leader's jersey with Carrigan ahead on a count back. On the second of today's two intermediate sprints at the 86 kilometre mark Wright managed to pick up a third place for one point which edged her ahead of Carrigan and secured her victory in the sprint classification.

American Kimberley Bruckner, 32, (T-mobile) slipped away but the leaders kept her within 40 seconds with German road champion Judith Arndt and her Nurnberger team mate Hemsley putting on the pressure behind her.

"Judith (Arndt) was launching lots of attacks so I just stayed on Margie's (Hemsley) wheel because Judith was trying to set her up like yesterday," said Mactier of the Nurnberg tactic which yesterday had given Hemsley a stage win. "But today I had good legs and the funny feeling coming into the last kilometre when I thought ‘I can win this'."

As the leaders sprinted across the line Gollan's front tyre exploded off the rim giving her and several others a scare.

"That was a bit of a nasty shock," said Gollan. "It just blew apart but luckily it was right on the line and not earlier or I might have been in trouble."

But nothing could overshadow the joy she felt in winning the Tour just a month after claiming the title of 2003 Australian road champion.

"I'm feeling pretty emotional about this win," she explained. "I have to say though that it's a real team win because without all of them I couldn't have done it.

"My team mates Natalie (Bates) and Amy (Safe) really drove it to the bottom of climb which put me in first wheel going up and that made such a difference because a lot of girls were getting knocked around at the back," said Gollan. "I knew halfway up the climb I was going to be all right as it wasn't a very long climb just a really steep one."

But Gollan admitted she would have been happier if she had a smaller gear on her bike.

"I rode up in 39-23 (gear ratio) but I wish I had a 25 tooth cog on which would have made it easier," said Gollan.

One rider who did have a 25 tooth cog was Mactier who came to the race fresh from a training camp with her US registered Saturn professional team.

"I came in with some good form as we had a training camp in the US early last month and the plan was to then come here and race this event and the World Cup on Sunday," said a beaming Mactier happy to pick up an early season win. "It was terrific today and I particularly enjoyed the better racing weather.

"Yesterday was more gruelling but today was more tactical and the climb really sorted everyone out."

Elizabeth Williams, 19, (Aus - Victorian Institute of Sport), crashed after a clash of wheels in the chasing group and rode home three minutes later but she did enough to confirm her victory in the U/23 Best Young Rider classification.

Overall Gollan won by 53 seconds to Mactier, whose stage win moved her to second overall, with Hemsley third at 57 seconds. The sprint queen was claimed by Wright with ten points ahead of Carrigan on nine and Gollan on seven points.

The riders will now focus on Sunday when Geelong will host the opening round of the 2003 UCI Women's Road World Cup Series which features the top five riders of the 2002 Series, including defending champion Petra Rosner (Ger - Team Nurnberger). All are keen to claim and early lead and the honour of wearing the World Cup Leader's Jersey.

Stage 3: Lara to Lara (via You Yangs & Bacchus Marsh), 129km
1. Katie Mactier (Aus) VIS 3.05.06
2. Mirjam Melchers (Ned) World Team
3. Olivia Gollan (Aus) AIS both s.t.
4. Rosalind Reekie-May (NZl) New Zealand National Team at 0:01
5. Margaret Hemsley (Aus) Nurnberger s.t.
6. Kimberley Bruckner (USA) T Mobile 0:04
7. Judith Arndt (Ger) Nurnberger 0:10
8. Emma James (Aus) AIS 0:13
9. Alison Wright (Aus) Road Racer
10. Oenone Wood (Aus) AIS
11. Sara Carrigan (Aus) Powerplate-BIK
12. Kym Shirley (Aus) Road Racer
13. Hayley Rutherford (Aus) Road Racer
14. Suzie Wood (NZl) New Zealand National Team all s.t.
15. Jessica Ridder (Aus) ACTAS-Cyclecooma.com.au 1.04
16. Miho Oki (Jpn) Japan 2.52
17. Stacey Peters (USA) T Mobile s.t.
18. Elizabeth Williams (Aus) VIS 3.07
19. Emily Williams (Aus) ACTAS-Cyclecooma.com.au
20. Sally Cowman (Aus) Alchemy
21. Sigrid Corneo (Ita) Road Racer
22. Louise Yaxley (Aus) Alchemy
23. Melisa Holt (NZl) New Zealand National Team
24. Lorian Graham (Aus) Alchemy
25. Miyoko Karami (Jpn) World Team
26. Meredith Miller (USA) Team Grace
27. Amy Safe (Aus) AIS
28. Sharon Van Essen (Ned) Powerplate-BIK
29. Natalie Bates (Aus) AIS
30. Mari Holden (USA) T Mobile
31. Mary Grigson (Aus) ACTAS-Cyclecooma.com.au
32. Kim Anderson (USA) T Mobile
33. Kristen Armstrong (USA) T Mobile
34. Helen Kelly (Aus) VIS
35. Christina Peick-Andersen (Den) Team Grace
36. Hiroko Shimada (Jpn) Team Grace
37. Priska Doppmann (Sui) World Team
38. Zoe Southwell (Aus) Vic. Partner
39. Cristine Foster (Aus) Vic. Partner
40. Penny Warring (NZl) New Zealand National Team all s.t.
41. Emma Rickards (Aus) VIS 3.16
42. Trine Hansen (Den) Team Grace 4.21
43. Katie Brown (Aus) FRF-NSW
44. Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) FRF-NSW
45. Andrea Bosman (Ned) Powerplate-BIK
46. Kerryn Charman (Aus) Vic. Partner
47. Annalisa Farrell (NZl) New Zealand National Team
48. Alexis Rhodes (Aus) ACTAS-Cyclecooma.com.au
49. Jodie Till (Aus) FRF-NSW
50. Natasha Harrigan (Aus) FRF-NSW all s.t.
51. Madeleine Lindberg (Swe) Nurnberger 6.30
52. Petra Rossner (Ger) Nurnberger 6.31
53. Jenny MacPherson (Aus) Vic. Partner 11.01
54. Mayuko Konomi (Jpn) Japan 11.03
55. Christine Riakos (Aus) FRF-NSW
56. Ayumu Otsuka (Jpn) Japan
57. Tamamo Nakamura (Jpn) Japan
58. Wendy Walker (Aus) Alchemy
59. Belinda Goss (Aus) ACTAS-Cyclecooma.com.au
60. Jessie Maclean (Aus) ACTAS-Cyclecooma.com.au
61. Karina Louise Sorensen (Den) Team Grace
62. Kate Nichols (Aus) FRF-NSW all s.t.
63. Cornelia Cyrus (Ger) Nurnberger 30.37
64. Jennifer Manefield (Aus) AIS
65. Sari Saarelainen (Fin) World Team both s.t.
DNF Barbara Cazzaniga (Ita) Road Racer
DNF Katherine Bates (Aus) Powerplate-BIK
DNS Nadene Boyle (NZl) Alchemy

Final GC
1. Olivia Gollan (Aus) AIS 6:38:51
2. Katie Mactier (Aus) VIS 0:53
3. Margaret Hemsley (Aus) Nurnberger 0:58
4. Mirjam Melchers (Ned) World Team 1:06
5. Sara Carrigan (Aus) Powerplate-BIK 1:07
6. Alison Wright (Aus) Road Racer 1:12
7. Rosalind Reekie-May (NZl) New Zealand National Team 1:15
8. Kimberley Bruckner (USA) T Mobile 1:19
9. Hayley Rutherford (Aus) Road Racer 1:20
10. Kym Shirley (Aus) Road Racer 1:26
11. Oenone Wood (Aus) AIS 1:28
12. Emma James (Aus) AIS 1:31
13. Judith Arndt (Ger) Nurnberger 2:40
14. Suzie Wood (NZl) New Zealand National Team 2:43
15. Miho Oki (Jpn) Japan 4:05
16. Elizabeth Williams (Aus) VIS 4:14
17. Melisa Holt (NZl) New Zealand National Team 4:20
18. Kim Anderson (USA) T Mobile 4:20
19. Mari Holden (USA) T Mobile 4:22
20. Mary Grigson (Aus) ACTAS-Cyclecooma.com.au 4:25
21. Helen Kelly (Aus) VIS 4:25
22. Meredith Miller (USA) Team Grace 4:29
23. Amy Safe (Aus) AIS 5:37
24. Priska Doppmann (Sui) World Team 5:37
25. Emily Williams (Aus) ACTAS-Cyclecooma.com.au 5:41
26. Zoe Southwell (Aus) Vic. Partner 5:41
27. Sigrid Corneo (Ita) Road Racer 6:00
28. Christina Peick-Andersen (Den) Team Grace 6:03
29. Hiroko Shimada (Jpn) Team Grace 6:20
30. Cristine Foster (Aus) Vic. Partner 6:26
31. Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) FRF-NSW 6:49
32. Jessica Ridder (Aus) ACTAS-Cyclecooma.com.au 6:57
33. Andrea Bosman (Ned) Powerplate-BIK 7:20
34. Miyoko Karami (Jpn) World Team 7:21
35. Trine Hansen (Den) Team Grace 7:21
36. Alexis Rhodes (Aus) ACTAS-Cyclecooma.com.au 7:40
37. Natalie Bates (Aus) AIS 8:46
38. Louise Yaxley (Aus) Alchemy 9:49
39. Sally Cowman (Aus) Alchemy 9:50
40. Kristen Armstrong (USA) T Mobile 9:52
41. Sharon Van Essen (Ned) Powerplate-BIK 10:15
42. Lorian Graham (Aus) Alchemy 10:18
43. Jodie Till (Aus) FRF-NSW 13:23
44. Christine Riakos (Aus) FRF-NSW 13:59
45. Stacey Peters (USA) T Mobile 14:20
46. Emma Rickards (Aus) VIS 14:59
47. Penny Warring (NZl) New Zealand National Team 15:01
48. Natasha Harrigan (Aus) FRF-NSW 15:11
49. Annalisa Farrell (NZl) New Zealand National Team 16:15
50. Madeleine Lindberg (Swe) Nurnberger 17:58
51. Tamamo Nakamura (Jpn) Japan 18:14
52. Petra Rossner (Ger) Nurnberger 18:25
53. Karina Louise Sorensen (Den) Team Grace 20:02
54. Mayuko Konomi (Jpn) Japan 22:46
55. Jenny MacPherson (Aus) Vic. Partner 22:55
56. Belinda Goss (Aus) ACTAS-Cyclecooma.com.au 22:57
57. Jessie Maclean (Aus) ACTAS-Cyclecooma.com.au 22:57
58. Wendy Walker (Aus) Alchemy 27:09
59. Ayumu Otsuka (Jpn) Japan 29:39
60. Katie Brown (Aus) FRF-NSW 30:54
61. Kerryn Charman (Aus) Vic. Partner 38:27
62. Kate Nichols (Aus) FRF-NSW 42:55
63. Jennifer Manefield (Aus) AIS 44:19
64. Cornelia Cyrus (Ger) Nurnberger 1:06:29
65. Sari Saarelainen (Fin) World Team 1:07:57

Points
1. Alison Wright (Aus) Road Racer 10 points
2. Sara Carrigan (Aus) Powerplate-BIK 9
3. Olivia Gollan (Aus) AIS 7
4. Elizabeth Williams (Aus) VIS 3
5. Sharon Van Essen (Ned) Powerplate-BIK 3

U23
1. Elizabeth Williams (Aus) VIS