02/06/2004 LE TOUR du GRAND MONTREAL - 4^ tappa - Schleicher sprint vincente, Arndt successo finale Stage 4 - June 2: Terrebonne circuit race, 80 km Schleicher sprints to final stage win; Arndt wins overall With solid help by her two remaining teammates, German Judith Arndt (Nurnberger-Versicherung) manages to hold on to her yellow jersey and win the final victory in the Tour of Greater Montreal tonight in Terrebonne, a Montreal suburb. Regina Schleicher (Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan) won the stage, outsprinting Norwegian Anita Valen (S.A.T.S.) and 20-year old Laura Yoisten, of the Canadian Development team. The 15 first finishers tonight were credited with the same time -- 2 hours, 1 minute and 8 seconds, for an average speed of 39.62 km/h. Arndt won overall with a slim 5-second lead over Anita Valen, who climbed up from fourth to second spot tonight, and a 10-second lead over third-place Canadian Lyne Bessette (Quark). Genesis Scuba won the team general classification, 16 seconds in front of Team RONA. The Terrebonne stage, raced on a 10-kilometre course, offers no serious difficulty and always ends in a massive sprint. Arndt started this last stage of the Tour with an 11-second lead over Dede Demet Barry and 12-second over Lyne Bessette. With a possibility of 19 bonus seconds for any one rider, between the intermediary sprints and the stage win, the race was far from over. Petra Rossner, Arndt's teammate and one of the best sprinters in the world, won the three intermediary sprints - and a total of 9 bonus seconds - thus minimizing the take for the contenders. It then behooved Arndt to prevent any serious break to form. She had to chase herself several attempts to leave the pack. The race was not particularly aggressive, but a few riders attacked several times. Among those who did were Erinne Willock (RONA), Amy Moore (Quark), Arantzazu Azpiroz (Spain) and especially Lyne Bessette, who tried in vain to generate a break during the last 20 kilometres. But each time the pack prevented anything to materialize. Regina Schleicher won the final sprint. "I knew I could win that," she said. "My teammate Diana (Ziliute) led me out from the last turn, shortly after the 200-metre mark. Then I passed Anita at the last moment." For her part, Arndt was as relieved as she was happy. "We made it," she said, referring to her minimal team. "I'm cooked in my head. Small gaps like that are tough on the nerves. Anita was making up seconds in the sprints, but my teammates were amazing." "I love this race," she said about the Tour of Greater Montreal. "I love the Little Italy criterium, with so many people watching, here in Terrebonne too, it's really fun." (Official report) Results 1 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 2.01.08 2 Anita Valen (Nor) Team S.A.T.S. 3 Laura Yoisten (Can) Canadian National Development Team 4 Petra Rossner (Ger) Nurnberger Versicherung 5 Oenone Wood (Aus) Australian National Team 6 Annette Beutler (Swi) World Team 7 Lyne Bessette (Can) Quark Cycling Team 8 Katrina Berger-Grove (USA) Équipe Cycliste RONA 9 Anna Gusmini (Ita) Nobili Rubinetterie Guerciotti 10 Dede Demet-Barry (USA) T-Mobile Professional Cycling Team 16 Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 0.07 20 Anna Zugno (Ita) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 25 Modesta Vzesniauskaite (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 37 Zita Urbonaite (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 54 Yulia Razenkova (Rus) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan Final general classification 1 Judith Arndt (Ger) Nurnberger Versicherung 6.50.43 2 Anita Valen (Nor) Team S.A.T.S. 0.05 3 Lyne Bessette (Can) Quark Cycling Team 0.10 4 Dede Demet-Barry (USA) T-Mobile Professional Cycling Team 0.12 5 Tina Mayolo-Pic (USA) Genesis Scuba/FFCC 0.15 6 Katrina Berger-Grove (USA) Équipe Cycliste RONA 0.16 7 Anne Samplonius (Can) Équipe du Québec 0.18 8 Teodora Ruano Sanchon (Spa) Spanish National Team 0.19 9 Amber Neben (USA) T-Mobile Professional Cycling Team 0.23 10 Kori Kelly (USA) Genesis Scuba/FFCC 0.26 11 Susan Palmer-Komar (Can) Genesis Scuba/FFCC 0.27 12 Manon Jutras (Can) Team S.A.T.S. 0.28 13 Amy Moore (Can) Quark Cycling Team 14 Christine Thorburn (USA) Webcor Cycling Team Composite 0.29 15 Geneviève Jeanson (Can) Équipe Cycliste RONA 0.30 16 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 0.32 17 Erinne Willock (Can) Équipe Cycliste RONA 0.35 18 Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 0.36 19 Trine Hansen (Den) Team S.A.T.S. 20 Margaret Hemsley (Aus) Australian National Team 0.37 26 Anna Zugno (Ita) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 0.43 29 Modesta Vzesniauskaite (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 0.57 45 Zita Urbonaite (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 4.53 46 Yulia Razenkova (Rus) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 4.55 Points classification 1 Petra Rossner (Ger) Nurnberger Versicherung 36 pts 2 Anita Valen (Nor) Team S.A.T.S. 29 3 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 17 4 Amy Moore (Can) Quark Cycling Team 10 5 Judith Arndt (Ger) Nurnberger Versicherung 10 Teams classification 1 Genesis Scuba/FFCC 20.33.14 2 Équipe Cycliste RONA 0.16 3 Quark Cycling Team 0.20 4 Team S.A.T.S. 0.22 5 Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 0.47 Stage 3 - June 1: St-George road race, 120 km Today's third stage of the Tour of Montreal will go down in the history of the race as an epic day. Not only was the course one to remember but the torrential rain and cold temperatures will leave a memory not soon forgotten. In the end though, it was German Judith Arndt persevering to win the stage in a classic exchange of the yellow leader's jersey from the shoulders of her Nurnberger teammate Petra Rossner. The difficulty of the stage lay with the steep terrain and three times up the very steep one kilometer climb outside of the quaint town of Rigaud. After the first time up the climb, a small group of three wedged their way off the front. Amy Moore (Quark) was the highest placed in the overall in the group, at only 14 seconds back. Joining Moore was Australian Alison Wright and Rona's Helen Kelly. The threesome worked well together, gaining up to 2'45 with about 40 kilometers to go. Initially the break did not attract a lot of attention from the peloton, however, as the final kilometers ticked away the remaining group of 30 began to chase with heart despite the pouring rain and cold temperatures. The final time up the climb, Moore lost her companions and forced the pace alone. In an outstanding effort in which she hoped to set up her teammate Lyne Bessette, Moore was able to hold off the baying chase until only four kilometers to go. However, the chase that ensued behind Moore was captained by Nurnberger's Madeleine Lindberg, who had the field strung out single file the last three kilometers, setting up her teammate Arndt beautifully for the sprint. Behind Arndt, T-Mobile's Dede Demet Barry tried to come around for the victory, but Arndt had one thing in mind - a win and the leader's jersey. With 10 seconds bonus time on the line for the finisher, Arndt's win put her in the lead by mere seconds over Demet-Barry, who finished fourth and will move into second in the overall. Anita Valen (Team S.A.T.S.) was second and Teodora Ruano Sanchon (Spanish National Team) third. Today's finish did shake up the overall a bit, but only by seconds. Tomorrow's circuit race has more seconds up for grabs, as well as the hefty 10 seconds at the finish. Arndt's lead over Demet is lean, but with Rossner and Lindberg assisting her to scoop some of the time bonuses, Arndt may end the tour in yellow. She will have to fend off very strong and determined T-Mobile and Quark teams, only seconds out of the lead. Hopefully, the weather will smile on the peloton, and make the Quebec area a much more pleasant area so that the foreigners will want to return sometime in the future. (Giana Roberge - Quark Cycling Team) Results 1 Judith Arndt (Ger) Nurnberger Versicherung 3.36.10 2 Anita Valen (Nor) Team S.A.T.S. 3 Teodora Ruano Sanchon (Spa) Spanish National Team 0.02 4 Dede Demet-Barry (USA) T-Mobile Professional Cycling Team 5 Magali Le Floch (Fra) Quark Cycling Team 6 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 7 Andrea Graus (Aut) World Team 8 Lyne Bessette (Can) Quark Cycling Team 9 Trine Hansen (Den) Team S.A.T.S. 10 Kori Kelly (USA) Genesis Scuba/FFCC 15 Anna Zugno (Ita) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 23 Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 0.09 30 Modesta Vzesniauskaite (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 43 Yulia Razenkova (Rus) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 4.09 48 Zita Urbonaite (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 4.15 General classification 1 Judith Arndt (Ger) Nurnberger Versicherung 4.49.36 2 Dede Demet-Barry (USA) T-Mobile Professional Cycling Team 0.11 3 Lyne Bessette (Can) Quark Cycling Team 0.12 4 Anita Valen (Nor) Team S.A.T.S. 0.14 5 Amber Neben (USA) T-Mobile Professional Cycling Team 0.15 6 Katrina Berger-Grove (USA) Équipe Cycliste RONA 7 Tina Mayolo-Pic (USA) Genesis Scuba/FFCC 8 Anne Samplonius (Can) Équipe du Québec 0.17 9 Kori Kelly (USA) Genesis Scuba/FFCC 0.18 10 Teodora Ruano Sanchon (Spa) Spanish National Team 18 Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 0.28 25 Anna Zugno (Ita) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 0.35 27 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 0.41 30 Modesta Vzesniauskaite (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 0.49 45 Zita Urbonaite (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 4.45 46 Yulia Razenkova (Rus) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 4.47 Stage 2 - May 31: Little Italy criterium, 50 km The second stage of the Tour of Montreal was held in a dynamic area of Montreal called Little Italy. The perfect setting for a downtown criterium, the course was one kilometer of flat and fast bumpy roads. The crowd was huge, with the noise level making it almost impossible for the riders to hear the orders from their directors on the race radios. There was a Leader's Jersey at stake, with the morning stage winner's lead being less than a second. Tina Mayolo Pic and her Genesis Scuba Team had their work cut out for them defending the slight lead over T-Mobile's Dede Demet Barry and Quark's Lyne Bessette - both very good criterium riders in the their own right. Only three seconds behind Mayolo was also Petra Rossner (Nurnberger), and with only a three second gap to the lead and nine seconds of bonus seconds, Rossner could have yellow by night's end. The race began fast and furious with a series of attacks from the Rona and Quark Teams. However, with such a high caliber field, there was plenty of horsepower to keep any breaks in check. The $100 and $200 primes kept the pace high, and by the end, as the bell kept ringing it was clear a field sprint would be inevitable. Having captured the mid-way time bonus sprint for three seconds over Mayolo, Rossner had the lead in her sites. With two laps to go, her Nurnberger teammate, Judith Arndt went to the front and strung the field to the breaking point. Coming out of the final corner, Rossner jumped hard on the pedals, clearing the field. Regina Schleicher (Safi-Past Zara Manhattan) tried to come to terms with the German, but she was unable to close the gap. Rossner had plenty of time to celebrate her victory as she soared across the line. Rossner's win of both the stage and the midway time bonus moved her into the lead, however, tomorrow's 120 very hilly road race will certainly test her climbing abilities, and may compliment her teammate Arndt. Bessette is not far behind Rossner, and Demet Barry is still well within striking range. With tomorrow's forecast for wet and cold, the stage promises to be yet another showdown (Giana Roberge - Quark Cycling Team) Results 1 Petra Rossner (Ger) Nurnberger Versicherung 1.09.38 2 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 3 Anita Valen (Nor) Team S.A.T.S. 4 Magali Le Floch (Fra) Quark Cycling Team 5 Annette Beutler (Swi) World Team 6 Oenone Wood (Aus) Australian National Team 7 Mari Holden (USA) T-Mobile Professional Cycling Team 8 Audrey Lemieux (Can) Quark Cycling Team 9 Anna Gusmini (Ita) Nobili Rubinetterie Guerciotti 10 Nicole Freedman (Isr) Basis Aude 16 Anna Zugno (Ita) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 23 Modesta Vzesniauskaite (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 33 Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 54 Zita Urbonaite (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 79 Yulia Razenkova (Rus) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan General classification 1 Petra Rossner (Ger) Nurnberger Versicherung 1.13.29 2 Tina Mayolo-Pic (USA) Genesis Scuba/FFCC 0.03 3 Dede Demet-Barry (USA) T-Mobile Professional Cycling Team 0.06 4 Lyne Bessette (Can) Quark Cycling Team 0.07 5 Judith Arndt (Ger) Nurnberger Versicherung 6 Candice Blickem (USA) Genesis Scuba/FFCC 0.08 7 Amber Neben (USA) T-Mobile Professional Cycling Team 0.10 8 Katrina Berger-Grove (USA) Équipe Cycliste RONA 9 Jessica Phillips (USA) Nurnberger Versicherung 10 Anne Samplonius (Can) Équipe du Québec 0.12 19 Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 0.16 47 Zita Urbonaite (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 0.27 55 Anna Zugno (Ita) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 0.30 61 Yulia Razenkova (Rus) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 0.35 62 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 0.36 67 Modesta Vzesniauskaite (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 0.37 Stage 1 - May 31: René-Lévesque Park, Lachine ITT, 3 km Tina Mayolo-Pic (Genesis Scuba) today won the first stage of the Tour of Greater Montreal. She completed the 3.5-kilometre time trial in 3 minutes, 56 seconds, at an average speed of 53.38 km/h. Dede Demet-Barry (USA, T Mobile) and Lyne Bessette (CAN, Quark) completed the podium, finishing respectively one and two seconds behind Mayolo-Pic. "I'm happy and a little bit surprised", said Pic, in spite of her fame as an explosive, fast racer. "The wind had calmed down a bit when I started; it may have given me a small break. But my clock was all messed up, I didn't have any references, I figured, 'maybe I'll manage to break 4 minutes', but I had no idea!" joked Mayolo-Pic after the race. A strong criterium rider, she intends to "watch everybody" and to defend her leader's jersey tonight, in Montreal's Little Italy. The Tour's next stage will be 50 times around a 1-kilometre course, before a crowd - and a party - livened up by Montreal's Italian community. Official report Results 1 Tina Mayolo-Pic (USA) Genesis Scuba/FFCC 3.56 2 Dede Demet-Barry (USA) T-Mobile Professional Cycling Team 0.01 3 Lyne Bessette (Can) Quark Cycling Team 0.02 4 Judith Arndt (Ger) Nurnberger Versicherung 5 Candice Blickem (USA) Genesis Scuba/FFCC 0.03 6 Petra Rossner (Ger) Nurnberger Versicherung 7 Amber Neben (USA) T-Mobile Professional Cycling Team 0.05 8 Katrina Berger-Grove (USA) Équipe Cycliste RONA 9 Jessica Phillips (USA) Nurnberger Versicherung 10 Anne Samplonius (Can) Équipe du Québec 0.07 19 Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 0.11 48 Zita Urbonaite (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 0.22 55 Anna Zugno (Ita) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 0.25 63 Yulia Razenkova (Rus) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 0.30 69 Modesta Vzesniauskaite (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 0.32 76 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan 0.35 The Tour du Grand Montréal will hold 4 stages this year: For its third year of existence, the Tour du Grand Montréal had its 2.9.1. sanction renewed. This elevates the event to the very same level as the Giro Feminile de Italia. There are only ten Tours around the world of this level. · The 1st stage is an individual time trial held on May 31st at the René-Lévesque Park in Lachine (next to the marina), first start will be given at 11h30 am. · The second stage is a 50 km criterium in the Little Italy district of Montreal. Start time is at 19h15 on May 31st. There will be hot spot sprints awarded during the race. As to renew the fantastic atmosphere of Italian cycling kermesse spectators will offer during the race prizes for lap sprints. · The third stage will be held on Tuesday June 1st at 1h30 pm in the beautiful Rigaud area. The very hilly 120 km road race circuit, which will end at the top of Rang St-George, will offer to all climbers an opportunity to present us with a race similar to a World Championship. · On Wednesday 2nd of June, the city of Terrebonne will host for its third year the last and final stage of the Greater Montreal Tour. The stage will consist in a 8-lap-10-km circuit. Again this year the start finish will be in the historic site of l’Ile des Moulins in the Vieux-Terrebonne. The event will start a 5pm with ‘’Le Défi des Jeunes des Affluents”. More than 25 000 enthused amateurs were present on the circuit last year. In addition to individual rankings for each stage, there will be 3 GC (time, points, teams) and the following distinctions: · Best Quebecoise · Best Canadian · Best senior athlete The participants 2004 : As an Olympic year, the best professional and national teams will compete in Montreal. Therefore, we are glad to welcome those who are used to the mountain: the national team of Great Britain as well as the trade teams T-Mobile, Genesis/Scuba and Victory Brewing (United States), Rona and Basis (Canada), Zara Pasta Manhattan with Diana Ziliute and Nubili Robinettori-Guertiotti with the Russian Olga Slyusareva (Italia) and Team Nurmberger (Germany). We will also have the visit of the national teams of France, New-Zealand and Australia with the 2004 World Cup leader, Oenone Wood. Other teams are to be confirmed. The Jeanson (Rona) and Bessette (Quark) duel will still be on this year. As for Manon Jutras, she will race with the Danish team SATS. Stage 1 - May 31: René-Lévesque Park, Lachine ITT, 3 km Stage 2 - May 31: Little Italy criterium, 50 km Stage 3 - June 1: St-George road race, 120 km Stage 4 - June 2: Terrebonne circuit race, 80 km La volata vincente di Regina Schleicher (Photo ©: Rob Karman by www.cyclingnews.com)