August 22/01 5:49 am - GP Feminin Stage 1

Posted by Editor on 08/22/01
 

Grand Prix Feminin International du Quebec - Farnham, Quebec
Courtesy AutoTrader.com

Stage 1 was a 97 kilometer circuit road race with the start and finish in the small town of Farnham. The field of nearly one hundred of the world's most talented women cyclists began this first stage in a fierce and furious fashion. Within the first ten kilometers a break of 9 riders had escaped the peloton. Present in the breakaway were AutoTrader.com riders Julie Young and Sarah Ulmer, Julia Farell (VeriZon), Andrea Hannos (VeriZon), Pia Sundstedt (Intersports), Charlotte Hopkinson (Great Britain), Melissa Holt (Rona), Ina Teutenberg and Anke Erlank, (both Saturn). Missing from this dangerous break were Genevieve Jeanson (Rona) and Lynne Bessette (Saturn).

The break worked efficiently together and soon found themselves with a minute and a half lead on the field, at which point Melissa Holt (Rona) was called out of the break to help teammate Jeanson bridge to the group of eight leading riders. However, today was not the day for the Rona team, and Jeanson and Holt both found themselves back in the main bunch.

The Mountain Sprint claimed another casualty in the breakaway, as Saturn's Ina Teutenberg lost contact with the leaders and resumed her role in the peloton. With seven riders remaining in the break, including two AutoTrader.com riders, the small group began setting up for the finish. The AutoTrader.com team executed the finish perfectly, as Sarah Ulmer charged the final 500 meters and escorted teammate Julie Young to the finish line for the victory. Anke Erlank was 2nd and Pia Sundstedt was 3rd. This first stage victory puts AutoTrader.com's Julie Young into the Yellow Leader's
Jersey and the AutoTrader.com Team into first place in the Team Competition. Young also leads the Classification of Points by 3 over Saturn's Anke Erlank.

1. Julie Young-AutoTrader.com
2. Anke Erlank-Saturn
3. Pia Sundstedt-Intersports
4. Andrea Hannos-VeriZon
5. Julia Farell-VeriZon
6. Charlotte Hopkins-Great Britain National
7. Sarah Ulmer-AutoTrader.com all s.t.
8. Stacey Peters-800.com at 0:12
9. Catherine Marsal-Intersports 1:39
10. Lyne Bessette-Saturn 1:52

15. Katrina Berger-AutoTrader.com
23. Annie Gariepy-AutoTrader.com
54. Kim Smith-AutoTrader.com all s.t.
80. Amber Neben-AutoTrader.com 11:51

GC Following Stage 1
1. Young
2. Erlank at 0:05
3. Sundstedt 0:08
4. Hannos 0:13
5. Farell
6. Hopkinson
7. Ulmer
8. Peters 0:25
9. Marsal 1:52
10. Bessette 2:05