May 24/07 6:51 am - Tour de l'Aude: Stage 6

Posted by Editoress on 05/24/07
 

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

Stage six of the tour was based in Rieux Minervois and was a typical Tour de l'Aude race day with the course being hard, fast and buffeted by strong crosswinds. Providing some relief from yesterday the route was relatively flat but included a number of technical sections where the riders entered the small villages that dot 113km the course.

Team expresscopy.com started strong with Amanda Shaw, Erinne Willock and Meshy Holt all taking turns to attack off the front. "We were really trying to make things happen", said Amanda, "but as soon as the crosswinds hit it started to string everyone out and it was hard to put something together".

With 30km to go three girls went off the front, Linda Villumsen Serup(T-Mobile,), Joanne Kiesanowski(Raleigh Lifeforce) and Loes Gunnewijk(Flexpoint), and with no one in the peloton prepared to commit to bridging the gap, the three placed first, second and third respectively.

With everyone exhausted after the race and heading back to their chalets Anne and Meshy discuss the race and admit that they expect to return to the North America a lot stronger than when they left. "A day like today is really going to pay off," nods Anne wisely. Meshy looks at her blankly before replying, "it bloody well better!". They laugh together momentarily and then the focus moves to tomorrows race.

Stage 6: Rieux Minervois to Rieux Minervois, 113 km

1. Linda Villumsen Serup (Den) T-Mobile Team - Women, 2:42:50
2. Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team, at s.t.
3. Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Team Flexpoint, 0:20
4. Svetlana Bubnenkova (Rus) Fenixs - HPB, 0:29
5. Julia Martisova (Rus) FRW - Gauss
6. Marlen Johrend (Ger) Germany, both s.t.
7. Olga Slyusareva (Rus) Fenixs - HPB, 2:33
8. Marianne Vos (Ned) Team DSB Bank
9. Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung
10. Sarah Duster (Ger) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team

44. Anne Samplonius (Can) Team Expresscopy.com
51. Melissa Holt (NZl) Team Expresscopy.com, all s.t.
58. Joelle Numainville (Can) Team Expresscopy.com, 3:34
76. Amanda Shaw (Can) Team Expresscopy.com, 13:06
78. Erinne Willock (Can) Team Expresscopy.com, s.t.
DNS Jessica Phillips (USA) Team Expresscopy.com

GC

1. Judith Arndt (Ger) T-Mobile Team - Women, 16:19:19
2. Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Team Flexpoint, at 0:18
3. Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung, 0:43
4. Priska Doppmann (Sui) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team, 1:07
5. Nicole Brandli (Sui) Bigla Cycling Team, 1:08
6. Marianne Vos (Ned) Team DSB Bank, 1:11
7. Andrea Bosman (Ned) Team DSB Bank, 1:59
8. Amber Neben (USA) Team Flexpoint, 2:03
9. Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung, 2:48
10. Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team, 2:52

40. Anne Samplonius (Can) Team Expresscopy.com, 34:43
52. Melissa Holt (NZl) Team Expresscopy.com, 45:07
72. Joelle Numainville (Can) Team Expresscopy.com, 1:09:18
74. Erinne Willock (Can) Team Expresscopy.com, 1:09:33
89. Amanda Shaw (Can) Team Expresscopy.com, 1:25:39