Wendy's International Cycling Classic - NE

Ohio, USA, July 2-7, 2002

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Stage 3 - July 4: Hilliard Criterium, 30/45 miles

Marsal takes Independence Day crit

Team RONA report

French rider Catherine Marsal of the Saturn team robbed the Americans of an Independence Day victory today at the Wendy's International Sports Festival. However all was not lost for the Americans as Ohio native Gail Longenecker of Team RONA finished second. Tina Mayolo-Pic of Diet Rite took third place, beating Nicole Freedman of Team RONA by a bicycle length.

Mayolo-Pic now leads Freedman by four points in general classification. General Classification is determined by adding points earned in each of the races.

Today's race was a 48-km criterium, being 50 laps around a short, flat course. About 20 laps into the race, a six-member break formed, which included Cathy Marsal, Joanne Kiesanowski (Diet Rite) and Gail Longenecker. "Joanne was well-placed in General Classification", said Longenecker, "so she was on our short list of girls to watch to protect Nicole's (Freedman) chances for overall. One of us had to join the break and I went."

Marsal, Kiesanowski and Longenecker earned the points for the half-race sprint. With 20 laps to go, Marsal attacked again and left the break behind her. On a short course, she quickly lapped the field. Five laps later, Longenecker attacked, three other raiders bridged to her, but she attacked again. This time she made a gap, while the rest of the break was absorbed by the peloton. Longenecker crossed the line alone, a few seconds behind Marsal.

Behind the break there were a few crashes and Freedman was one of the victims. "I had no help", she said, "I just cornered badly and slipped." She got back on her bicycle and eventually positioned herself at the front of the pack for the final sprint. Mayolo-Pic was a little quicker and beat her by a bicycle length. "I'm sore, said Freedman, but I think I'm OK, we'll see tomorrow how it feels. I'm just four points behind first place overall, so this is very winnable."

A happy Longenecker said, "It's nice to have a podium in my home state, but that's not the main point today. The team was counting on me to execute the strategy and that went well. That's what feels great. I'm just sorry that Nicole crashed, I hope she'll be OK tomorrow."

Tomorrow, the riders will compete in the Worthington Criterium, a 48-km race dubbed 'The Hardest Criterium in America".

Results

1 Cathy Marsal (Fra) Saturn
2 Gail Longenecker (USA) RONA
3 Tina Mayolo-Pic (USA) Diet Rite
4 Nicole Freedman (USA) RONA
5 Tania Duff-Miller (NZl) Freddie Fu 
6 Joanna Kiesanowski (NZl) Diet Rite 
7 Sherri Stedje (USA) BBC 
8 Charm Breon (USA) Freddie Fu 
9 Cythia Maree (USA) Helens/Trek/VW 
10 Sarah Uhl (USA) Dansko/Wheelworks 
11 Sheba Farrin (USA) Lateral Stress Velo 
12 Emily Gloeckner (USA) Veritas 
13 Lara Kroepsch (USA) Trek Plus 
17 Brooke O'Connor (USA) NEBC/Cycle Loft 
18 Amy Jarvis (Can) Rona 
19 Cheryl Roth (USA) Helens/Trek/VW 
20 Amanda Lawarence (USA) Yale University 
21 Margel Abel (USA) Veritas 
22 Beth Leasure (USA) Team Cabot 
23 Kim Davidge (USA) Saturn 
24 Melissa Holt (NZl) Rona 
25 Mary Georgetti (USA) MEBC/Cycle Loft 

General Classification after stage 3
 
1 Tina Mayolo-Pic (USA) Diet Rite       116 pts
2 Nicole Freedman (USA) RONA            112