May 19/07 3:05 am - Tour de L'Aude: Stage 1

Posted by Editoress on 05/19/07
 

Tour de L'Aude France
Report courtesy Team Expresscopy.com

Stage One of the Tour de l'Aude, the 115.5 km Port La Nouvelle road race gave riders and teams their first opportunity to stretch their legs against each other, rub shoulders and speculate on race tactics.

Team expresscopy.com came off the line firing on all cylinders and were by far the most aggressive team of the day, with Anne Samplonius leading the charge and expected to win Most Aggressive Rider of the Day. "I had good legs today," Anne said after the race, "it is great to be back riding in Europe and our plan for today was to get out there and shake it up a bit".

Meshy Holt (Team expresscopy.com) placed second in a sprint, which also put her on the point's board.

Heading into the last 20km the peloton was still together, Team expresscopy.com still attacking off the front. "Without our sprinter we had nothing to lose so Anne and I decided to keep pushing it," said Meshy Holt (Team expresscopy.com), "we aren't giving anything away". As a result of their efforts the tempo remained high with the sprinters teams controlling the front, chasing down attacks and maneuvering for position for the final sprint.

The stage ended with a big sprint finish

Stage 1: Port La Nouvelle to Port La Nouvelle , 115.5km

1. Marianne Vos (Ned) Team DSB Bank, 3:00:54
2. Ina Teutenberg (Ger) T-Mobile Team - Women
3. Angela Brodtka (Ger) Germany
4. Tanja Hennes (Ger) Bigla Cycling Team
5. Priska Doppmann (Swi) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team

15. Anne Samplonius (Can) Team Expresscopy.com
46. Joelle Numainville (Can) Team Expresscopy.com
62. Jessica Phillips (USA) Team Expresscopy.com
69. Melissa Holt (NZl) Team Expresscopy.com, all s.t.
75. Amanda Shaw (Can) Team Expresscopy.com, 2:58
92. Erinne Willock (Can) Team Expresscopy.com, s.t.

GC
1. Marianne Vos (Ned) Team DSB Bank, 3:05:57
2. Christiane Soeder (Aut) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team, at s.t.
3. Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) Germany, 0:05
4. Eleonora Van Dijk (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland, s.t.
5. Zoulfia Zabirova (Kaz) Bigla Cycling Team, 0:08

26. Anne Samplonius (Can) Team Expresscopy.com, 0:22
42. Jessica Phillips (USA) Team Expresscopy.com, 0:32
48. Melissa Holt (NZl) Team Expresscopy.com, 0:35
70. Joelle Numainville (Can) Team Expresscopy.com, 1:11
79. Amanda Shaw (Can) Team Expresscopy.com, 3:38
86. Erinne Willock (Can) Team Expresscopy.com, 3:50