May 24/02 10:32 am - Tour de l'Aude: Stage 7

Posted by Editoress on 05/24/02
 

Tour de l'Aude
Report courtesy Team Saturn


Symington Wins in the Cold and Rain, Teutenberg Still in Yellow - Dedicates her Win to Teammate Sue Carter, injured in a crash three days ago

Thursday's seventh stage of the Tour de L'Aude started under a cold rain, washing over the competitors with a strong, chilly wind. The first 35 uphill kilometers offered some riders out of the contention for the overall title an opportunity to race for the stage win. Great Britain was persistent in their attacks, finally launching Sarah Symington free of the group, and by kilometer 25 she was solo with a substantial gap. After a descent at kilometer 40 a group of ten cleared the field in pursuit of Symington, while the Yellow Jersey, Saturn's Ina Teutenberg was content to remain with the other GC riders, all racing at cruising speed.

Meanwhile, at the front of the race, Symington, fueled by the thought of her British teammate, Sue Carter, in the hospital after a terrible crash three days ago, held off the pursuing break. In an incredible show of force, the Brit soled in after 85 kilometers by herself in the rain and wind for an outstanding win of 1:30 over the group of ten. Arenda Grinberg (Farm Frites) finished second, out-sprinting Magali Lefloch (France). The rest of the bunch arrived around five minutes after Symington. Teutenberg's lead of the Tour remains the same, with her Saturn teammate, Judith Arndt sitting in second.

The sun is scheduled to return tomorrow (Friday) as the Tour hits the Pyrenées with the scenic 120 kilometer stage of Quillan -Quillan. The riders will face two major climbs, the second coming at 60 kilometers to go. Saturn's Petra Rossner, Kristy Scrymgeour, Catherine Marsal and Arndt, will have to work hard to help Teutenberg defend her yellow jersey. However, Teutenberg has shown that she does not intend to give it up, and with only three days to go it is looking good for the Saturn Team to finish in Yellow.

Stage 7: Castelnaudary to Castelnaudary, 108 km

1 Sarah Symington (GBr) British National Team 3:13:38
2 Anouska Van Der Zee (Ned) Team Farm-Frites Hartol 0:48
3 Magali Le Floc'h (Fra) French National Team 1:06
4 Elena Tchalykh (Rus) Itera Team
5 Marcia Eicher Vouets (Sui) C:A: Mantes La Ville
6 Anke Wichmann (Ger) Frankfurt/Oder-Red Bull 1:25
7 Arenda Grimberg (Ned) Team Farm-Frites Hartol 1:45
8 Silvia Parietti (Ita) Figurella Dream Team
9 Sharon Van Essen (Ned) Power Plate - Bik
10 Sandra Rombouts (Ned) Nurnberger Versicherung all s.t.
14 Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) Lithuanian National Team 4:12
16 Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu) Lithuanian National Team
18 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Figurella Dream Team
23 Judith Arndt (Ger) Saturn Cycling Team
24 Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Team Farm-Frites Hartol
28 Ina Yoko Teutenberg (Ger) Saturn Cycling Team
29 Erin Carter (Can) Canadian National Team
32 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Vlaanderen T Interim
56 Leah Goldstein (Can) Canadian National Team
57 Catherine Marsal (Fra) Saturn Cycling Team
62 Nicole Demars (Can) Canadian National Team all s.t.
63 Petra Rossner (Ger) Saturn Cycling Team 4:51
69 Sue Smith (Can) Canadian National Team 12:17
81 Rhonda Quick (USA) Figurella Dream Team 29:27
84 Gina Grain (Can) Canadian National Team
85 Kristy Scrymgeour (Aus) Saturn Cycling Team both s.t.

GC

1 Ina Yoko Teutenberg (Ger) Saturn Cycling Team 15:35:04
2 Judith Arndt (Ger) Saturn Cycling Team 1:20
3 Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Team Farm-Frites Hartol 1:29
4 Olga Zabelinskaia (Rus) Itera Team 1:42
5 Valentina Polkhanova (Rus) Itera Team 2:32
6 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Figurella Dream Team 2:47
7 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Vlaanderen T Interim 2:56
8 Jenny Algelid Bengtsson (Swe) Nurnberger Versicherung 4:02
9 Margaret Hemsley (Aus) Nurnberger Versicherung 5:08
10 Jolanta Polikeviciute (Ltu) Lithuanian National Team 5:49

12 Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) Lithuanian National Team 6:03
14 Leah Goldstein (Can) Canadian National Team 6:14
18 Magali Le Floc'h (Fra) French National Team 10.17
26 Pia Sundstedt (Fin) Figurella Dream Team 12:17
39 Catherine Marsal (Fra) Saturn Cycling Team 19:21
41 Petra Rossner (Ger) Saturn Cycling Team 20:58
49 Nicole Demars (Can) Canadian National Team 26:19
50 Laurence Restoin (Fra) French National Team 26:19
51 Sonia Huguet (Fra) French National Team 26:32
52 Elisabeth Chevanne Brunel (Fra) C:A: Mantes La Ville 27:38
53 Erin Carter (Can) Canadian National Team 27:53
63 Rhonda Quick (USA) Figurella Dream Team 45:40
78 Sue Smith (Can) Canadian National Team 1:04:39
83 Gina Grain (Can) Canadian National Team 1:23:58
84 Kristy Scrymgeour (Aus) Saturn Cycling Team 1:44:47