GP de Plouay - CDM

France, August 24-25, 2002

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German thunder on the Breton village

By Jean François Quénet in Plouay

Petra Rossner of Saturn is the new leader of the women's world cup after taking second place in the 7th leg in Plouay, France. The race winner was her compatriot Regina Schleicher from the Michela Fanini team. Aged 28, she was European champion back in 1998.

The race was a battle between Saturn and Farm Frites-Hartöl. Leontien van Moorsel was on a mission to drop Rossner, and she managed three times. But three times Rossner came back with the help of her Saturn team.

In the last climb, Simona Parente of Italy broke clear but got caught with 300 metres to go. "Rossner started sprinting from too far," Schleicher explained. So I managed to overtake her. My goal was to make a top 3 here but I wasn't necessarily confident in winning."

Coming 2nd, Rossner becomes the new leader of the World Cup, as she was 14 points behind Melchers, who finished 4th in Plouay where the women were welcomed by a very enthusiastic crowd. Rossner now has 259 points, Melchers 253 and Schleicher 168.

In the morning, the amateur GP Plouay was won by Marc Thévenin of CR4C Roanne. It was the final of the www.velomania.net challenge d'or who crowned former professional Samuel Plouhinec now riding for AVC Aix.

Last-lap drama as Arndt tows Rossner back to break

By Giana Roberge, Saturn team

In a battle of wills, Petra Rossner and her Saturn Team were able to overcome a series of attacks from World Cup Leader Mirjam Melchers. Despite a very aggressive attempt to defend her jersey, at the end of the day, Melchers succumbed to Rossner's determination to reclaim the rainbow jersey.

The seventh event in the nine-race series was held on a circuit course around the French town of Plouay. The field raced eight, fourteen kilometer laps for a total of 113 kilometres. The course was very suitable for a World Cup course, challenging the riders with two climbs per lap but a fast finish for those left in the front group at the end of the 113 kilometres. With the majority of the field still recovering from the Grand Boucle which finished only six days ago, Melchers and her Farm Frites-Hartöl Team took every opportunity to shake Rossner loose. Melchers began the day with a lead of fourteen points over the Saturn rider. Rossner and Melchers have already exchanged the jersey two times along the way to the final round in Rotterdam on September 15.

With the World Cup Overall so close, many teams were satisfied to wait it out as Saturn and Farm Frites battled it out, looking for an opportunity to capitalize. About half way through the race, a group went away with Melchers in it. Rossner and her Saturn Team were left to bring it back, which they eventually did with Ina Teutenberg, Catherine Marsal, Kimberly Bruckner and Judith Arndt working to bring Rossner back onto terms with Melchers.

The final time up the last climb before the finish, Rossner arrived at the top in the front group of six, but without any of her Saturn teammates. After covering two attacks, Rossner was unable to respond as Melchers gained a gap and flew away up the road. While watching the World Cup Lead move away from her, Rossner radioed to Arndt, in the group behind her. In a strong show of strength, Arndt was able to clear the chase group, bridge to Rossner and in four kilometers bring Rossner back to the front group. Catching the group with only five hundred metres remaining, Arndt delivered Rossner with just enough time to sprint. At the finish line, it was fellow German, Regina Schleicher just edging out Rossner for the win, for her second World Cup win. However, Rossner finished second in front of Susanne Lunjskog, hot off her second place finish in the Grand Boucle and Melchers was fourth.

Melchers received 30 points for her fourth place finish, with Rossner taking 50. Rossner now leads the series by nine points. The eighth World Cup round is in Switzerland on September 9. Held on another circuit race with two climbs per lap, Rossner and her Saturn Team will have their work defending the jersey from Melchers. However, in a similar position last year, with Anna Millward leading the series over Melchers, the Saturn team managed to defend on the same Suisse course.

Results - 115 km

1 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Michela Fanini Record Rox   2.52.38 (39.96 km/h)
2 Petra Rossner (Ger) Saturn
3 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Vlaanderen-T Interim
4 Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Farm Frites-Hartol
5 Encritz Iturriaga Etxeberria (Spa) Spain
6 Sandrine Marcuz (Fra) France
7 Joane Somarriba Arrola (Spa) Deia-Pragma-Colnago
8 Susan Palmer-Komar (Can) Reste du Monde
9 Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Edilsavino
10 Aline Camboulives (Fra) France
11 Simona Parente (Ita) Edilsavino                      0.06
12 Judith Arndt (Ger) Saturn                            0.11
13 Sophie Creux (Fra) France                            0.33
14 Lisbeth Simper (Den) Michela Fanini Record Rox
15 Magali Le Floch (Fra) France
16 Emma James (Aus) Australia National Team
17 Madeleine Lindberg (Swe) Team Farm Frites-Hartol
18 Sylvie Riedle (Fra) C.A. Mantes La Ville
19 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Swiss National Team
20 Elisabeth Chevanne-Brunel (Fra) CA Mantes 78
21 Teodora Ruano Sanchon (Spa) Spain
22 Edwige Pitel (Fra) France
23 Marcia Eicher-Vouets (Swi) CA Mantes 78
24 Miho Oki (Jpn) CA Mantes 78                          0.54
25 Véronique Belleter (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim
26 Letizia Giardinelli (Ita) SC Michela Fanini
27 Kimberly Bruckner (USA) Saturn
28 Dede Demet-Barry (USA) USA T Mobile
29 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Reste du Monde                1.35
30 Laure Werner (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim              1.37
31 Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel (Ned) Farm Frites-Hartol
32 Maria Isabel Moreno (Spa) Spain
33 Alexandra Nohles (Ger) Power-Plate Bik               4.09
34 Annetta Beutler (Swi) Swiss National Team            4.58
35 Sarah Grab (Swi) Swiss National Team
36 Frances Newstead (GBr) British National Team
37 Mélanie Sears (GBr) British National Team            5.51
38 Andrea Bosman (Ned) Power-Plate Bik
39 Kristin Armstrong (USA) USA T Mobile
40 Marina Khodtchenkova (Rus) Edilsavino
41 Cindy Pieters (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim
42 Maryline Salvetat (Fra) France
43 Stacey Peters (USA) USA T Mobile
44 Daniela Veronesi (Ita) Edilsavino
45 Sanne Schmidt (Ger) Power-Plate Bik
46 Virgine Moinard (Fra) France                         6.06

World Cup standings after round 7

1 Petra Rossner (Ger) Saturn                           259 pts 
2 Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Farm Frites-Hartol             253 
3 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Michela Fanini Record Rox    168 
4 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Swiss National Team            120 
5 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Australia National Team       100 
6 Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Edilsavino                     98 
7 Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) Nurnberger                    92 
8 Deirdre Demet-Barry (USA) USA T-Mobile                75
9 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Vlaanderen-T Interim          75 
10 Lyne Bessette (Can) Quebec Regional Team             74 
11 Anna Millward (Aus) Saturn                           50 
12 Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Acca Due O                       50 
13 Judith Arndt (Ger) Saturn                            45 
14 Hayley Rutherford (Aus) Australia National Team      44 
15 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Figurella Dream Team         39 
16 Aline Camboulives (Fra) France                       37 
17 Nicole Brändli (Swi) Acca Due O                      36 
18 Geneviève Jeanson (Can) RONA                         35 
19 Chantal Beltman (Ned) Acca Due O                     35 
20 Sandrine Marcuz (Fra) France                         34