Energiewacht Tour 2013

03 - 07.04.2013 Official Site
Netherlands, Road Race, 5 stages, 543.6km (Elite), 214.4km (Juniors)
UCI 2.2

2012 winner Ina-Yoko Teutenberg 

Last year the Energiewacht Tour, previously not especially well known outside the Netherlands, finally got the attention it deserves thanks to a first rate start list and a beautiful parcours that encouraged attacks on almost every kilometre leading to some top-notch racing - for many fans, including this one, it was one of the highlights of the 2012 women's cycling calendar. The newly-revealed 2013 parcours looks set to offer more of the same - it's as flat as last year, so expect plenty of high-speed stage finishes in what promises to be the best edition of the race yet.

As was the case for the first time last year, the race will once again run over five days; this year there'll also be a three-stage race for women in the Junior category, to run on the final three days of the Elite event and using part of the Elite parcours. This is excellent news in times when even races as big as the Giro Donne have faced uncertainties and provides evidence that, given sufficient determination on the part of advertisers and faith from sponsors, women's cycling can survive and even grow in a difficult economic climate. Race organisers applied for and were granted UCI 2.1 status for the Junior event; 25 teams - including national squads from both Great Britain and Wales - have signed up.

The Stages
Stage 1 (03.04.2013)

Stage 1 - click to enlarge

The Elite race began on the 3rd of April at Oldambt with Stage 1, started by local mayor Pieter Smit, taking the form of a figure of eight around which the riders completed three laps, totaling 107.9km. With numerous tight bends followed by long, fast straights, it looked to be an ideal opportunity for the neo-pros and new signings to strut their stuff, knowing that they're in women's cycling's heartland where press cameras would be trained on them for sponsor-pleasing photos; in fact, the established names that took the points at the two intermediate bonification sprints (1st sprint: 1. Lisa Brennauer (Specialized-Lululemon), 2. Ellen van Dijk (Specialized-Lululemon), 3. Adrie Visser (Boels-Dolmans); 2nd sprint: Visser, 2. Trixi Worrack (Specialized-Lululemon), 3. Annemiek van Vleuten (Rabobank)) indicate that the big names were in full control all the way.

Kirsten Wild wins Stage 1

The race didn't go exactly according to plan: first off, wrong directions sent the lead group off the course, resulting in the race being temporarily neutralised. News of the neutralisation apparently didn't reach police and marshalls further ahead and so when riders got there, they found that vehicles including a large truck had been permitted access to the course and stopped riding until the roads could be cleared; some time later they had to stop again and wait for a bridge that had been raised to allow a boat to pass underneath. Unhappy riders staged a protest by stopping at the beginning of the fourth lap with some stating that they were considering abandoning the race altogether; following an apology from organisers and, presumably, realisation that events following the misdirections were the result of circumstance rather than mistakes that could be blamed on someone, all riders decided to continue.

Once the race was restarted van Dijk,  Loes Gunnewijk (Orica-AIS), Iris Slappendel (Rabobank) and Kirsten Wild (Argos-Shimano) escaped the pack, maintaining a healthy lead through the final lap; then as the finish came into view van Dijk and Wild called a duel and powered away together. Wild, aged 30 to van Dijk's 26, is proof that women maintain their athletic peak for longer than men and seems to get faster and faster with every season that passes; she held off her rival all the way. Van Dijk recorded the same time for second place, with Slappendel and Gunnewijk 3" slower for third and fourth.

Stage 1 Top Ten
1 Kirsten WILD (Argos-Shimano) 3h10'02"
2 Ellen VAN DIJK (Specialized-Lululemon) ST
3 Iris SLAPPENDEL (Rabobank) +03"
4 Loes GUNNEWIJK (Orica-AIS) ST
5 Adrie VISSER (Boels-Dolmans) +10"
6 Anna VAN DER BREGGEN (Sengers) ST
7 Lisa BRENNAUER (Specialized-Lululemon) ST
8 Annemiek VAN VLEUTEN (Rabobank) ST
9 Christine MAJERUS (Sengers) ST
10 Dani KINGm (Wiggle-Honda) ST
Full result and GC standings here


Stage 2 (04.04.2013)

Stage 2

Starting in freezing conditions at Oude Pekela, Stage 2 made its way out of the town and headed initially south into a short loop, then returned to the start line where the riders embarked upon a series of fast straight sections that looked guaranteed to encouraged breakaway attempts en route for Veendam; however, as was the case yesterday the GC contenders remained at the head of the race and the first sprint went to Adrie Visser (Boels-Dolmans) with Orica-AIS team mates Loes Gunnewijk and Annette Edmondson taking second and third.

A superb effort earned Chloe Hosking
second place

A group of thirteen riders was well away in the lead by the second sprint where Kirsten Wild (Argos-Shimano) was first through, hotly pursued by Ellen van Dijk and Lisa Brennauer of Specialized-Lululemon. When a lead group includes most of the GC contenders - in addition to Wild, van Dijk and Brennauer, it included Trixi Worrack (Specialized-Lululemon), Adrie Visser and Lizzie Armitstead (Boels-Dolmans), Iris Slappendel (Rabobank-Liv/Giant) and Loes Gunnewijk (Orica-AIS), as well some serious up-and-coming talent in the shape of Chloe Hosking (Hitec Products-UCK; a rider who is already well on her way to the very top of the sport) - gets a significant advantage so late in the race, there's only so much the pack can do about it and there was therefore no surprise that the stage ended with a thirteen-strong sprint. Neither did it come as a shock that Wild again was strongest, crossing the line just ahead of Hosking and Visser to end the day with a 13" GC advantage over second place van Dijk.

Stage 2 Top Ten
1 Kirsten WILD (Argos-Shimano) 2h39'37"
2 Chloe HOSKING (Hitec Products-UCK) ST
3 Adrie VISSER (Boels-Dolmans) ST
4 Lisa BRENNAUER (Specialized-Lululemon) ST
5 Ellen VAN DIJK (Specialized-Lululemon) ST
6 Anna VAN DER BREGGEN (Sengers) ST
7 Jolanda NEFF (Rabobank-Liv/Giant) ST
8 Trixi WORRACK (Specialized-Lululemon) ST
9 Loes GUNNEWIJK (Orica-AIS) ST
10 Iris SLAPPENDEL (Rabobank) ST
Full result and GC standings here


Stages 3a and 3b (05.04.2013)

Stage 3a

Stage 3b

Stage 3a winner Ellen van Dijk

Stage 3a, an individual time trial on a testing 21.1km route, started and ended at Winsum - an interesting parcours for the Dutch riders as it's thought likely to also be used in June's National Time Trial Championships; Winsum having been given the honour of hosting the event largely as a result of the success of last year's Energiewacht Tour.

With several sharp corners and fast straights riders needed to be able to keep up a high average speed in order to avoid losing serious time to the time trial specialists here. On the other hand, a fast time trial specialist would be able to make up significant time, perhaps even move into the overall lead. Someone such as, for example, Specialized-Lululemon's Ellen van Dijk, who was widely expected to be the fastest rider today; she didn't disappoint, blasting around the parcours in a winning 28'12", giving her overall control of the General Classification with an advantage over team mate Lisa Brennauer of 1'07". Kirsten Wild (Argos-Shimano), previous GC leader after winning Stages 1 and 2, was ninth with 30'06"; putting her into fifth place overall with a deficit of 1'41" to van Dijk.

Three riders arrived 1'24" later; then a group of four including Les Déesses favourite Emily Kachorek came in 7'05" after Wild. The Swiss National Team's Doris Schweizer did not finish.

Stage 3a Top Ten
1 Ellen VAN DIJK (Specialized-Lululemon) 28'12"
2 Lisa BRENNAUER (Specialized-Lululemon) +51"
3 Shara GILLOW (Orica-AIS) +1'03"
4 Loes GUNNEWIJK (Orica-AIS) +1'07"
5 Trixi WORRACK (Specialized-Lululemon) +1'22"
6 Carmen SMALL (Specialized-Lululemon) +1'38"
7 Gracie ELVIN (Orica-AIS) +1'44"
8 Marijn DE VRIES (Lotto-Belisol) +1'52"
9 Kirsten WILD (Argos-Shimano) +1'54"
10 Kristin MCGRATH (USA National Team) +1'57"
Full result here

Stage 3b bore many similarities to last year's Stage 1, only this time the riders traveled in the opposite direction. The start was in Appingedam, followed by a long and straight blast alongside the canal and past some grand country houses to Garrelsweer where the teams crossed a bridge over the water ready for an even straighter, faster ride on the south bank of the canal back to Appingedam. This route was completed six times for a total distance of 77.3km; it also formed Stage 1 of the Junior race with the Junior riders also completing six laps.

Belgian sprinter Jolien d'Hoore
was second fastest to the line
behind Kirsten Wild

An in-and-home race over a short distance such as that seemed certain to end in a sprint and no fewer than 98 riders came in together, completing the route in a shared time of 1h57'52". Not one of them could match Kirsten Wild (Argos-Shimano), who wasn't going to pass up an opportunity to claw back some of the time she lost earlier in the day. However, van Dijk also finished in 1h57'52", so Wild climbs only one place and has a disadvantage reduced by only 9" to 1'32", including three bonification seconds picked up when she won the first intermediate sprint. With only two stages left, she'll have to work hard if she wants to win this race.

Stage 3b Top Ten
1 Kirsten WILD (Argos-Shimano) 1:57:52
2 Jolien D'HOORE (Lotto-Belisol) ST
3 Chloe HOSKING (Hitec Products-UCK) ST
4 Annette EDMONDSON (Orica-AIS) ST
5 Laura TROTT (Wiggle Honda) ST
6 Emily COLLINS (Wiggle Honda) ST
7 Danielle KING (Wiggle Honda) ST
8 Emilie MOBERG (Hitec Products-UCK) ST
9 Christine MAJERUS (Sengers) ST
10 Jessy DRUYTS (Belgian National Team) ST
Full result here


Stage 4 (06.04.2013)

Stage 4

Corinne Smit, post-dunking!
(image used c/o @crazycyclefan)

Stage 4 started in Uithizen and took a winding 35km route around the little villages that dot the flat countryside, crossing several canals (Water, Land en Dijken rider Corinne Smit fell into one of them - @crazycyclefan was there to get a photo) before arriving back at Uithizen. Four laps make up a total of 134.6km for the Elite riders; two laps make 67.1km for the Juniors.

Before the race began, it looked to be the decisive stage if no single rider had emerged as likely victor following yesterday's Individual Time Trial - or at the very least is likely to whittle down the number of General Classification contenders. Since Specialized-Lululemon time trial specialist Ellen van Dijk's superb Stage 3a peformance, it's looked very much as though she'll be crowned overall winner - but this is a sprinters' race, and sprinter Kirsten Wild (Argos-Shimano) is going to do what she can to take back the lead she had when she won the first two stages.

A five-rider break shook things up on the road; its members Lizzie Armitstead (Boels-Dolmans), Jolien d'Hoore (Lotto-Belisol), Annette Edmondson (Orica-AIS), Lucinda Brand (Rabobank) and Charlotte Becker (Argos-Shimano) all being ideally placed and more than capable of completely rearranging the Top Ten . As a result, the group that went after them (a selection of chasers and helpers) was equally as impressive: van Dijk, Wild, Loes Gunnewijk (Orica-AIS) and Adrie Visser (Boels-Dolmans); the two groups eventually combining to become one.

Annette Edmondson took a hiatus from racing after
losing her passion for the sport. She's evidently
got it back - and will become a household name among
women's cycling fans with consistent performances
like those she's achieved in this race

As the finish drew closer, individuals and team mate partnerships began attacking one another but found themselves too evenly matched and nobody could get away, setting the scene for yet another bunch sprint - and for another Wild victory: the powerful Dutch rider once again proved just too strong and too fast for anyone to get past her, winning with a time of 3h36'43" and climbing one more place in the General Classification to third place overall. However, with van Dijk still 1'25 ahead of her and 1'22" ahead of second place Gunnewijk, it seems the outcome of the race has already been decided.

Stage 4 Top Ten
1 Kirsten WILD (Argos-Shimano) 3h36'43"
2 Ellen VAN DIJK (Specialized-Lululemon) ST
3 Adrie VISSER (Boels-Dolmans) ST
4 Jolien D'HOORE (Lotto-Belisol) ST
5 Lucinda BRAND (Rabobank) ST
6 Loes GUNNEWIJK (Orica-AIS) ST
7 Tatiana ANTOSHINA (MCipollini Giordana) +03"
8 Elizabeth ARMITSTEAD (Boels-Dolmans) ST
9 Charlotte BECKER (Argos-Shimano) +13"
10 Anna VAN DER BREGGEN (Sengers) +38"
Full result and GC here


Stage 5 (07.04.2013)

Stage 5

Energiwacht Tour stages always promise to end in one of two ways - either a bunch sprint made up of the GC contenders, or a breakaway group that's managed to hold off the peloton and preserve a small advantage at the line. Because of the fast parcours and wind, it almost invariably takes the first option - but not on the finishing stage this year.

Stage 5's long straight sections made it an ideal place for breakaways and attacks in search of second and third place - a really powerful effort could have enabled a rider to jump several places up the final classifications. The start was in Groningen and followed the city streets for 3km, then traveled through Haren before passing first south and then west of Paterswoldsmeer, a large lake and wetland area that makes this stage perhaps the most beautiful of the race. After 12km the riders arrived back at Groningen with the last 2km on city streets and a very tight right-hand corner just before the finish line. The Elite riders completed seven laps of 14.3km for a total distance of 99.9km; the Juniors completed five laps for 70km.

Local star Julia Soek

Specialized-Lululemon's Ellen van Dijk began the day with an advantage following her spectacular ride in the time trial that seemed insurmountable, even had lightning-fast Kirsten Wild (Argos-Shimano) gone for a fourth stage; but it would be a mistake and even something of an insult to claim that this was the sole reason for the break's success because the not-so-well-known riders that led for much of the race put in a stirling performance. Following a slow start to the race, Senger's Julia Soek was the first rider to attack. She didn't get far but it didn't matter much - she's a native of Groningen and doubtless delighted friends and family among the spectators. Lauren Hall (USA National Team) had a go a little further up the road too, but got no further and the pack remained together going into Lap 2, during which she teamed up with Aafke Eshuis (Parkhotel Valkenburg), Cecilie Gotaas Johnsen (Hitec Products-UCK) and Nicole Hanselmann (Bigla), working together to form a lead group before being caught and passed just before the first intermediate sprint. Wild moved into pole position to take the bonification points with Adrie Visser of Boels-Dolmans and Orica-AIS' Loes Gunnewijk coming through right after her.

The USA National Team women were evidently aiming to make sure everybody knew they'd been in the race during this stage, because Ruth Winder was the next to attack and managed to build a lead of 30" before being joined by Sanne van Paassen (Rabobank), Emilie Moberg (Hitec-UCK), Amy Pieters (Argos-Shimano), Romy Kasper (Boels-Dolmans), Gu Sung Eun (Orica-AIS) and Valentina Carretta (MCipollini-Girodana). Maaike Polspoel (Sengers) joined them soon afterwards; meanwhile, the lack of Specialized-Lululemon chasers was indication that as the highest-ranked rider in the break, van Paassen, was 6'57" down in 19th place in the GC, the team didn't have any worries regarding van Dijk's overall lead - though it was seen when the Dutch rider spent time conferring with team mates that they were closely monitoring the situation, ready to take matters in hand should it become necessary to do so. Noticing that Lululemon's attention was diverted, Marijn de Vries (Lotto-Belisol), Tone Hatteland Lima (Hitec-UCK), Monike Tenniglo (ARC Jan van Arckel) and Kristin McGrath (USA) sprang into action with an attack, but were rapidly swept up just as Best Young Rider Jolanda Neff (Rabobank) got a puncture; fortunately, she had a new wheel and was on her way before losing too much time and retains the white jersey.

At the second intermediate sprint, Carretta led with Sung Eun and Kasper taking second and third. The lead group now had two minutes on the peloton and it looked certain that one of their number would win the stage, but they refused to sit on their laurels and quickly added another 20", then another 20" to lead a second group headed by Judith Bloem (Restore) by 2'40" and the peloton by 3'25". Then, with 9km still to go, Carretta attacked sufficiently hard to get herself 35" up the road - and then kept going, making it 40" with only 5km to the line. After looking for several minutes as though they were going to let her do whatever she pleased, the other riders in the lead group finally gave chase and managed to reduce the gap to 18" with 3km to go. However, at such a late point in the race, the majority of them seemed to decide the outcome was settled; except, that is, for Sung Eun and Kasper, who kept working away in pursuit of podium placings.

A superb stage win for Valentina
Carretta of MCipollini

A final effort in front of the crowds saw Carretta finish with a 22" advantage - a good win by a rider who, having taken eighth place overall at the Trophée d'Or Féminin last year, is emerging as a force to be reckoned with in women's cycling. Sung Eun took second place while Kasper shared her time of +22" for third place; Pieters, Polspoel, Winder, Moberg and van Paassen (who jumped ten places in the GC from 19th after Stage 4 to 9th today) were next at +32" before Bloem arrived 2'37" later, then Andrea Grauss (Bigla) crossed the line 16" after her. The remaining 85 riders, including this year's General Classification winner Ellen van Dijk, finished 3'35" after Carretta.

Stage 5 Top Ten
1 Valentina CARRETTA(MCipollini-Girodana) 2h33'08"
2 Gu SUNG EUN(Orica-AIS) +22"
3 Romy KASPER(Boels-Dolmans) ST
4 Amy PIETERS(Argos-Shimano) +32"
5 Maaike POLSPOEL (Sengers) ST
6 Ruth WINDER (USA National Team) ST
7 Emilie MOBERG(Hitec Products-UCK) ST
8 Sanne VAN PAASSEN (Rabobank) ST
9 Judith BLOEM (Restore) +3'09"
10 Andrea GRAUS (Bigla) +3'25"
Full result here

General Classification Top Ten
1 Ellen VAN DIJK (Specialized-Lululemon) 14h28'53"
2 Loes GUNNEWIJK (Orica-AIS) +1:21
3 Kirsten WILD (Argos-Shimano) +1:22
4 Lisa BRENNAUER (Specialized-Lululemon) +1:51
5 Adrie VISSER (Boels-Dolmans) +2:44
6 Gracie ELVIN (Orica-AIS) +2:48
7 Elizabeth ARMITSTEAD (Boels-Dolmans) +3:09
8 Iris SLAPPENDEL (Rabobank) +3:40
9 Sanne VAN PAASSEN (Rabobank) +3:54
10 Anna VAN DER BREGGEN (Sengers) +4:08
Full result here

Another victory for Specialized-Lululemon (pictured at the Brainwash Tour; van Dijk on the left)

Video
Compared to the rest of the world, women's cycling enjoys considerable popularity in Groningen and the rest of the Netherlands, receiving an admirable amount of TV and newspaper coverage as a result. Regional TV station RTL7 has been broadcasting highlights each day and making non-geo-restricted video available on their website.

Trophée d'Or Féminin 2012

For enlargements, click on this or any other
image.

18-22.08 Official site Facebook Downloadable race bible Meredith Miller's Race Reports
France, 499.1km, six stages, UCI 2.2

Stage reports, results, previews and start list below

There are many fun things about this fantastic race - as would be expected, since it involves 108 of the world's greatest cyclists fighting for supermacy on a 500km route round the French countryside.

One of the most amusing aspects is that while it at first seems like a sprinter's race with a number of flat stages and a lack of big climbs (likely to be something of a relief for those riders who were at the Route de France last week) the organisers have ensured that everyone else has a chance to win by inserting some difficult sections, in many cases right in the last few kilometres of the stages. This makes each stage - and the eventual General Classification - exceptionally difficult to predict with any degree of certainty.

Chapeau to the organisers for that, then; it looks all set to be a race that will keep us all guessing right to the very end.

Results and news from each stage will be added here as it becomes available.

18.08.2012 Stage 1 Saint-Amand-Montrond - Mehun-sur-Yèvre, 89.8 km
19.08.2012 Stage 2 Orval - Orval, 9.6 km (team time trial)
19.08.2012 Stage 3 Vierzon - Graçay, 95 km
20.08.2012 Stage 4 Cosne-sur-Loire - Cosne-sur-Loire, 101 km

Stage 1

21.08.2012 Stage 5 Avord - Avord, 118.3 km
22.08.2012 Stage 6 Saint-Amand-Montrond - Saint-Amand-Montrond, 85.4 km

Stage 1
A relatively straight-forward leg-stretcher of a stage with three easy Category 3 climbs, the Cote de la Gazonnerie 4.5km from the start, the Cote de Berry-Bouy at 57.3km and the Cote du Beauregard at 77.2km. Gazonnerie looked to be the hardest at 1.4km in length and with a vertical gain of 57m, creating a gradient of 4.1%.

The race began at 16:20 local time, by which point the reason for the late starts had become clear - as reported by Bart Hazen, who is at the race, it was hot. Very hot; around 40C. The first stage of any race is rarely the most exciting as the riders spend more time getting the measure of one another's form rather than going all-out to win, but in conditions such as that racing is pretty much off the menu entirely and riders simply try to get themselves from one end of the parcours to the other, ideally without anyone fainting along the way.

Stage 1

At 65.8km, they passed the finish line for the first time in a group and began a 17.8km circuit that included the final climb. At 83.6km, they passed the finish line for a second time, still in a group, to begin the first of two identical 3.1km circuits. As the stage had no hard climbs, the peloton was xpected to arrive at this point all together, and they remained so all the way; though Luisa Tamanini  (Faren-Honda) had a go at a solo break with 15km to go before apparently deciding it was too hot to be worth the effort and dropping back.

The stage finished, therefore, in a bunch sprint - Mcipollini-Giambenini had taken control at the front of the group and their tactics worked well, placing Elena Cecchini in precisely the right position to power over the line in first place. Cecchini's team mate Marta Tagliaferro took second place with current European Under-23 Champion Evelyn Arys (Kleo) hot on her heels for third. Having taken the most points on the climbs and the intermediate sprints, Cecchini also leads the Mountains and Points competitions; as she's 20 years old, she is the leading rider in the Youth category too.

Hazen also reports that Joanne Hogan (Bizkaia-Durango), World Champion Giorgia Bronzini (Diadora-Pasta Zara) and many others were caught up in a big crash just before the finish line; fortunately all riders escaped without serious injury - though there were some painful-looking cuts and grazes as they finished and there'll be some impressive bruises in the morning. More news on the race, the riders in the crash and full results, as it become available.

Stage 1 Finish photograph (Bart Hazen)
Elena Cecchini (Fabrice Germes)
Cecchini in the maillot vert (Fabrice Germes)
Cecchini in polka dots (Fabrice Germes)
Cecchini in white (Fabrice Germens)

Stage 1 Result
1. Elena Cecchini (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) 2h20'48"
2. Marta Tagliaferro (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) ST
3. Evelyn Arys (Kleo) ST
4. Alona Andruk (Vaiana Tepso) ST
5. Megan Guarnier (Tibco To The Top) ST
6. Julia Martisova (Be Pink) ST
7. Aleksandra Sosenko (Vaiana Tepso) ST
8. Anastasiya Chulkova (Forno d'Asolo/Diadora-Pasta Zara) ST
9. Jacqueline Hahn (Scappa Speed Queens) ST
10. Anna Vanderbreggen (Sengers) ST
Full stage result 

General Classification (after bonification)
1. Elena Cecchini (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) 2h20'48"
2. Marta Tagliaferro (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) +04"
3. Evelyn Arys (Kleo) +06"
4. Alona Andruk (Vaiana Tepso) +10"
5. Megan Guarnier (Tibco To The Top) ST
6. Julia Martisova (Be Pink) ST
7. Aleksandra Sosenko (Vaiana Tepso) ST
8. Anastasiya Chulkova (Forno d'Asolo Colavita) ST
9. Jacqueline Hahn (Scappa Speed Queens) ST
10. Anna Vanderbreggen (Sengers) ST

Full GC

Stage 2 time trial

Stage 2
A team time trial held the morning before Stage 3, Stage 2 saw the teams pitting themselves against one another on what was predicted and turned out to be a very fast parcours - each team no more than 13 or 14 minutes to complete the 9.6km at an average speed of between 40-44kph. In fact, it would have been even faster were it not or a short hill with a 7% gradient at 4km, the only real technicality on an otherwise flat route. There were, however, several sharp corners: the worst of these came at the end of the Rue des Ecoles and the Rue des Escargots, both only a short way from the start line where the riders hadn't yet built up to full speed. There was also a very tight left as they joined the D925 and another just past the entry into the final kilometre as they reached the Route de Lignieres. Two long straight sections, the D951 and the Route de la Roche, generated very high speeds.

Elena Cecchini ((Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) retains her lead with an overall time of 2h33'44", but the rest of the General Classification has changed dramatically - Evelyn Arys (Kleo) has moved into second place with a disadvantage of 3" and several new names have appeared. Meanwhile, Lotto-Belisol now number four riders after two of their members were late enough to miss the time limit.

Stage 2

Stage 2 photos by Fabrice Germes: 1 / 2 / Cecchini in yellow / Sengers on the podium / "Well, someone's got to get the results online..."

Stage 2 result

1. SENGERS 13:03
2. MCIPOLLINI-GIAMBENINI +03"
3. TIBCO-TO THE TOP +07"
4. TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN-RIDLEY 2012 +30"
5. LOINTEK +37"
6. VAIANO TEPSO ST
7. BE PINK +39"
8. FAREN-HONDA +42"
9. MIXED TEAM 4 +51"
10. VIENNE FUTUROSCOPE +52"
11, MIXED TEAM 2 +1'02"
12, FASSA BORTOLO-SERVETTO +1'17"
13. BIZKAIA-DURANGO ST
14. MIXED TEAM 1 +1'21"
15. TEAM STUTTGART +1'41"
16, ASPTT DIJON-BOURGOGNE +1'48"
17. LOTTO-BELISOL +1'49"
18. ESTEVE-GIRONA COSTA BRAVA-METROPOLITAN +2'42"

General Classification
1. Elena Cecchini (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) 2h33'44"
2. Evelyn Arys (Kleo) +03"
3. Marta Tagliaferro (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) +04"
4. Anna Vanderbreggen (Sengers) +07"
5. Vera Koedooder (Sengers) ST
6. Tatiana Guderzo (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) +10"
7. Malgorzata Jasinska (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) ST
8. Megan Guarnier (Tibco To The Top) +14"
9. Amanda Miller (Tibco To The Top) ST
10. Valentina Carretta (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) ST (Thanks again, Bart!)
Full GC

Stage 3

Stage 3
Despite setting out at 16:00, the riders once again faced 40C temperatures as they completed two crowd-pleasing 3.5km laps of another criterium-like circuit, this time in Vierzon, before turning left and heading off for the 60.3km journey to Graçay. The first climb, Cat 3 Cote de la Noue (0.55km, 23m, 4.2%) was at 8.7km; at 57.2km they arrived at Cat 2 Cote du Tertre aux Morts (1.1km, 58m, 5.3%).

Mcipollini were apparently planning to repeat their Stage 1 tactics and had made their way to the front of the pack by the time the bike computers showed 35km, but they weren't going to get away without challenge this time: Tibco and Topsport-Ridley were right there with them, as were Sengers - the first team to sound out the pack by sending Sarah Koedooder on a short-lived attack into the stidd head wind at 65km; she soon allowed herself to drop back into the peloton. Many riders were beginning to suffer from the heat 30km further on and were either hanging off the back or looking ready to drop as the race neared Graçay and the finish line - but there would be no let-up yet because, once over the line, they would continue towards the last and hardest climb of the day, Cat 2 Cote du Princay (0.6km, 40m, 6.7%).

Mcipollini remained in control as the peloton drew once more towards Graçay at 88.4km, where the riders passed over the finish line for a second time before embarking on a final circuit. Challenging and technical with a 24m hill (gradient 8.5%), a narrow section and a very tight right-hand corner onto the ominously-titled Rue de l'Enfer followed by an almost equally tight left 1km 1km from the line, these last 6.6km were always likely to be the most hard-fought part of the stage - as indeed turned out to be the case when Sengers launched an attack, revealing that Koedooder's attempt earlier had been an exploratory mission rather than an intended escape. Mcipollini were ready for them, however, and proved more than capable of fighting back - they got the 20-year-old Susanna Zorzi, who won the Italian Junior Championship independent time trial and road race two years ago, into a position so ideal she was able to beat the World Champion Giorgia Bronzini into second place in the bunch sprint.

Stage winner Susanna Zorzi

The first 50 riders finished together and thus recorded an equal time to Zorzi; a group of four led by Lotto-Belisol's Robyn de Groot were next at +14"; sixteen more arrived five seconds later and then the remaining seven at various times down to +51" for Tibco To The Top's Meredith Miller. Tomorrow brings six climbs - the GC is likely to look completely different by the end of the day.

(With thanks to Bart Hazen, Yaël Richard and Fabrice Germes for the invaluable updates!)

Stage results
1. Susanna ZORZI (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) 2h46'55"
2. Giorgia BRONZINI (Diadora-Pasta Zara) ST
3. Alona ANDRUK (Vaiano Tepso) ST
4. Barbara GUARISCHI (Fasso Bortolo-Servetto) ST
5. Marta TAGLIAFERRO (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) ST
6. Julia MARTISOVA (Be Pink) ST
7. Megan GUARNIER (Tibco To The Top) ST
8. Evelyn ARYS (Kleo) ST
9. Maria Giulia CONFALONIERI (Faren-Honda) ST
10. Roxane FOURNIER (ASPTT Dijon-Bourgogne) ST
Full stage result

General Classification (after bonification)
1. Elena CECCHINI (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) 5h20'39"
2. Evelyn ARYS (Kleo) +03"
3. Marta TAGLIAFERRO (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) +04"
4. Anna VANDERBREGGEN (Sengers) +07"
5. Tatiana GUDERZO (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) +10"
6. Malgorzta JASINSKA (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) ST
7. Megan GUARNIER (Tibco To The Top) +14"
8. Amanda MILLER (Tibco To The Top) ST
9. Valentina CARRETTA (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) ST
10. Vera KOEDOODER (Sengers) +26"
Full GC

Stage 3

Stage 4

Stage 4
Beginning a little earlier at 14:50 (and again in sweltering heat), Stage 4 was the hilliest of the race with six categorised climbs. The first was Cat 1 Route Forêt de Charmes (1.5km, 107m, 7.1%), the second was Cat 1 Route des Vignes (1.3km, 94m, 7.2%), the third was Cat 2 Sury-en-Vaux (0.78km, 53m, 6.7%), the fourth was Cat 1 Les Remparts (1.6km, 115m, 7.2%), the fifth was Cat 1 Orme aux Loups (1.5km, 130m, 8.7%) and the sixth was Cat 1 Cote des Loges (0.73km, 65m, 8.9%). They were located at 16.5km, 23.2km, 27.7km, 33.2km, 38.2km and 59.2km respectively.

Fabiana Luperini (Faren-Honda) and Noemi Cantele (Be Pink) were out in front by the time the race reached Orme aux Loups; since both are extremely effective and experienced all-rounders, the other teams were not letting them go without a battle and a strong chase group followed at +25". By 70km, they'd been caught and the lead group that formed as a result headed towards the first passage of the finish line in a 35-strong bunch.

It didn't last long before a six-rider break, including Stage 3 winner Susanna Zorzi, splintered off and put a gap that grew to almost a minute between themselves and their pursuers and lasted right into the last of the four laps around the 5.3km circuit that finished the stage. The circuit, like yesterday's, was technical with narrowed sections, a central reservation along the Rue du Dahomey, several tight corners and a small 5.5% climb a little under 3km from the finish line; making the stage seem to be one that a break might win. Once again, however, the race finished in a bunch sprint - the teams without riders in the break made sure of it by increasing the pace to a speed that the six riders simply couldn't beat.

This time, Giorgia Bronzini (Forno d'Asolo/Diadora-Pasta Zara) wasn't about to be taken by surprise - when the World Champion switched on the power, nobody could match her; Megan Guarnier (Tibco To The Top) came closest for a very impressive second place after crashing earlier on between Orme aux Loups and the Cote des Loges . The next 25 riders recorded the same time, six more finished over the next 7'31", the main group of 41 riders arrived 12' after the leaders and ten more came in afterwards. Audrey Cordon, Emma Crum, Genevieve Whitson, Fanny Riberot, Karen Verhestraeten and Maaike Polspoel did not finish.

Bronzini crosses the line (photo by Bart Hazen)

2009 US National Champion Meredith Miller (Tibco To The Top) deserves special recognition today - having been caught solo in between two groups following Guarnier's crash she rode alone for 40km and wasn't caught until the last 5km (she describes how in her excellent race report here), using the same kind of strength and determination that won her the Air Force (Crystal City) Classic's "Most Heroic" award back in June. Simply finishing a stage in the draining heat experienced this year at the race is an achievement; to ride without the benefits of drafting behind another rider for so much of the stage is heroic. Chapeau, Meredith.

Stage 4

Meredith Miller

Stage 4 results
1. Giorgia Bronzini (Forno d'Asolo/Diadora-Pasta Zara) 2h46'38"
2. Megan Guarnier (Tibco To The Top) ST
3. Elena Cecchini (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) ST
4. Malgorzata Jasinska (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) ST
5. Julia Martisova (Be Pink) ST
6. Anna Vanderbreggen (Sengers) ST
7. Katarzyna Sosna (Vaiano Tepso) ST
8. Marta Tagliaferro (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) ST
9. Sandrine Bideau (Vienne Futuroscope) ST
10. Lauren Hall (Tibco To The Top) ST
Full stage results

General Classification (after bonification)
1. Elena CECCHINI (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) 8h07'13"
2. Marta TAGLIAFERRO (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) +06"  
3. Anna VANDERBREGGEN (Sengers) +11"  
4. Megan GUARNIER (Tibco To The Top) +12"  
5. Tatiana GUDERZO (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) +14" 
6. Malgorzta JASINSKA (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) ST  
7. Valentina CARRETTA (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) +15" 
8. Amanda MILLER (Tibco To The Top) +18"
9. Anishka Vekemans (Topsport Vlaanderen-Ridley) +40"
10. Giorgia Bronzini (Forno d'Asolo/Diardora-Pasta Zara) +48"

Full GC

Stage 5

Stage 5
At 118.3km, Stage 5 was the longest of the race, starting as a result at 14:50 - temperatures at the start line were, mercifully, slightly cooler than the last few days; though 36C is still uncomfortably hot and more than enough to get a rider into real difficulties if she fails to take in sufficient fluids. The first part was a flat, fast 59.9km circuit heading west out of Avord, then via Vornay, Crosses, Savigny-en-Septeaine, Osmoy, Nohant-en-Gout and Farges-en-Septaine before arriving back at Avord; a route that presented the riders with no problems. After an hour of riding, the group remained all together.

Once the riders had crossed the finish line for the first time, they begin the hillier second half of 58.4km. A seven-rider break had escaped the main group by this time; with some talented GC contenders such as Marta Tagliaferro, Malgorzata Jasinska (both Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss), Anna Vanderbreggen (Sengers) and Amanda Miller (Tibco To The Top) among them they'd soon created a gap of 35" and showed no sign of slowing - potentially a big problem for the rest of the field.

The first hill was an easy Cat 3 known as Cote du Combes at 68.3km (2km, 40m, 2%); the second  the more difficult Cat 2 Cote de Villequiers at 81.5km (0.4km, 25m, 6.2%) and the third wass Cat 3 Cote de la Vigne à Reinche at 88.7km (0.5km, 22m, 4.4%). By the time the climbs were over and done, the lead group's advantage had increased to 1'30; meaning that with 25km to go they'd either have to up their efforts to prevent the peloton catching them, or the peloton would have to do something to make sure it did - the latter proved to be the case and, as the race neared the second passage of the finish line at 114.1km, the break was caught. Almost immediately, Noemi Cantele (Be Pink) started attacking with four riders assisting but had not been allowed to get away by the time the computers on the bikes showed 114.1km, at which point the race arrived at the finish line for a second time.

Second consecutive stage win
for World Champ Bronzini

Once again the riders passed straight over, this time beginning a final 4.2km lap. A far simpler affair than yesterday's closing circuit, the sharp left 0.7km in and a fairly tight right with 3km to go were the only complications before a fairly straight section leading into an easy left to the 2km to go point, then a 90 degree left at 1.5km to go led through a pair of fast and easy left and right bends and into the straight, flat final kilometre punctuated by a single roundabout. Since the climbs were small this stage had always looked like the best chance the sprint specialists would have to show what they can do, a fact recognised by Giorgia Bronzini (Forno d'Asolo/Diadora-Pasta Zara), who repeated her simple and devastatingly effective tactic from yesterday by pointing herself at the line and applying the explosive power that has made her such a successful rider.

When the World Champion does that, there is almost invariably only one outcome and she took her second stage win of the race; also reducing her General Classification time by 10". However, she remains 38" behind race leader Elena Cecchini and with several other good riders so close, an overall Bronzini victory is anything but guaranteed. Meanwhile, Cecchini's already-precarious advantage has been shortened to only five seconds - far too little for any happy dreams this evening of success tomorrow. Just as the organisers planned, the outcome of tomorrow's final stage is impossible to predict.

Bronzini wins Stage 5 (copyright Bart Hazen)
On the road, On the podium, Cecchini still in yellow (by Fabrice Germes)

Stage 5

Stage 5 result
1. Giorgia Bronzini (Forno d'Asolo/Diadora-Pasta Zara) 3h08'21"
2. Anna Vanderbreggen (Sengers) ST
3. Anastasiya Chulkova (Forno d'Asolo/Diadora-Pasta Zara) ST
4. Kelly Druyts (Topsport Vlaanderen-Ridley 2012) ST
5. Marta Tagliaferro (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) ST
6. Christina Perchtold (Scappa Speed Queens) ST
7. Daniela Gass ST
8. Barbara Guarishi (Fasso Bortolo-Servetto) ST
9. Roxane Fournier (BigMat-Auber 93) ST
10. Julia Martisova (Be Pink) ST
Full stage result

General Classification result (after bonification)
1. Elena CECCHINI (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) 11h15'34"
2. Anna VANDERBREGGEN (Sengers) +05"
3. Marta TAGLIAFERRO (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) +06"  
4. Megan GUARNIER (Tibco To The Top) +12"
5. Tatiana GUDERZO (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) +14" 
6. Malgorzta JASINSKA (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) ST
7. Amanda MILLER (Tibco To The Top) +18"
8. Valentina CARRETTA (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) +25"
9. Giorgia Bronzini (Forno d'Asolo/Diardora-Pasta Zara) +38"
10. Anishka Vekemans (Topsport Vlaanderen-Ridley) +40"
Full GC

Stage 6

Stage 6
Beginning at 14:30, the final stage consisted of an 85.4km T-shaped loop that headed first south out of Saint-Amand-Montrond - famous for its many jewelry shops - to the Cat 2 Cote du Calvaire at 7.4km (0.7km, 39m, 5.6%), then turns north at La Celette before continuing west to Cat 1 Cote du Nozières at 27.4km (0.6km, 45m, 7.5%). A short while later it turned north again before arriving at Cat 2 Cote des Roches after 37.7km (1km, 40m, 4%), then began a long route east and finally heading south again to Cat 2 Côte des Massés at 68km (1.6km, 80m, 5%).

The group stayed together over the Calvaire, then Noemi Cantele (Be Pink) lauched an attack on Nozières but was followed by race leader Elena Cecchini of Mcipollini (who, apparently, was determined not to let go of the yellow jersey that she'd unexpectedly held since Stage 1), World Champion Giorgia Bronzini (Forno d'Asolo/Diadora-Pasta Zara), Anna Vanderbreggen (Sengers), Nicole Cooke (Faren-Honda) and Tibco To The Top team mates Megan Guarnier and Amanda Miller. That was a tough break in two senses of the term:  the experience, strength and power of the riders around her and the awful decision she'd have to make should the group decide to go for it - either hang on for dear life and hope she could keep her slim 5" advantage or drop back to the peloton and pray they'd chase down the escapees later on. Fortunately, the Cote des Roches took the wind out of the breakaway's sails and by 45km the two groups had merged back together. Had it not have done, the outcome may have bee very different.

2012 winner Elena Cecchini

The peloton remained intact all the way to the final climb, then Katazyna Sosna (Vaiano Tepso) fired off an attack of her own. She'd started the day in 12th place overall, but with only 48" between her and Cecchini there was no way the riders in the top ten would let her go without a fight - Vanderbreggen, Guarnier and the rest of them were on her immediately, joined by an assortment of useful team mates who happened to be around to give support at the time (and Cantele again, who never gives up  even when she has little chance of winning). With less than 10km to go, Sosna had a 10" lead, but Mcipollini had arranged themselves at the head of the peloton and looked as though they were about to start driving the pace higher. They caught her within a few kilometres and the riders were all back together by they began the last of the three laps around a 3.6km circuit. This one bore even more of a resemblance to a criterium than the earlier stages due to its shorter length and roughly rectangular shape; and with a flat kilometre leading ti the finish line the race was obviously destined to end once again with a bunch sprint.

It was no real surprise that Bronzini won for the third consecutive day - she's a remarkable sprinter. Cecchini took second, recording the same time and thus keeping her 5" lead and winning overall, a superb victory for the 20-year-old who is in her second professional year. Anna Vanderbreggen was third over the line, also taking the same time, and thus retains second place overall.

Stage 6

Stage 6 result
1. Giorgia Bronzini (Forno d'Asolo/Diadora-Pasta Zara) 2h11'46"
2. Elena CECCHINI (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) ST
3. Anna Vanderbreggen (Sengers) ST
4. Kelly Druyts (Topsport Vlaanderen-Ridley 2012) ST
5. Barbara Guarishi (Fasso Bortolo-Servetto) ST
6. Megan GUARNIER (Tibco To The Top) ST
7. Elke Gebhardt (Be Pink) ST
8. Julia Martisova (Be Pink) ST
9. Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Faren-Honda) ST
10. Eneritz Iturriagaechevarria Mazaga (Lointek) ST

Full stage result

Overall General Classification (after bonification)

1. Elena CECCHINI (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) 13h27'14"
2. Anna VANDERBREGGEN (Sengers) +7
3. Marta TAGLIAFERRO (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) +12
4. Megan GUARNIER (Tibco To The Top) +18
5. Tatiana GUDERZO (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) +20
6. Malgorzta JASINSKA (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) +20 
7. Amanda MILLER (Tibco To The Top) +24 
8. Valentina CARRETTA (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) +31 
9. Giorgia BRONZINI (Forno d'Asolo/Diadora-Pasta Zara) +34
10. Anisha VEKEMANS (Topsport Vlaanderen-Ridley 2012) +46

11. Eneritz ITURRIAGAECHEVARRIA MAZAGA (Lointek) +54"
12. Katarzyna SOSNA (Be Pink) ST
13. Julia MARTISOVA (Be Pink) +56"
14. Fabiana LUPERINI (Faren-Honda) +59"
15. Noemi CANTELE (Be Pink) +1'06"
16. Tetyana RIABCHENKO (Forno d'Asolo/Diadora-Pasta Zara) +1'08"
17. Andrea GRAUS (Vienne Futuroscope) +1'09"
18. Mélodie LESUEUR +1'19"
19. Sandrine BIDEAU (Vienne Futuroscope) +1'28"
20. Anna SANCHIS CHAFER (Bizkaia-Durango) +1'34"
21. Ane SANTESTEBAN GONZALEZ (Bizkaia-Durango) ST
22. Jennifer FIORI (Fasso Bortolo-Servetto) ST
23. Luisa TAMANINI (Faren-Honda) +1'39"
24. Martina RITTER +1'58"
25. Susanna ZORZI (Mcipollini-Giambenini-Gauss) +2'01"
26. Rachel NEYLAN (Forno d'Asolo/Diadora-Pasta Zara) +2'02"
27. Ashleigh MOOLMAN (Lotto-Belisol) +2'16"
28. Valentina BASTIANELLI (Vaiano Tepso) +2'22"
29. Patricia SCHWAGER (GSD Gestion) +2'29"
30. Flavia OLIVEIRA (Forno d'Asolo/Diadora-Pasta Zara) +3'13"
31. Lauren HALL (Tibco To The Top) +4'40"
32. Nicole COOKE (Faren-Honda) +8'49"
33. Kelly DRUYTS (Topsport Vlaanderen-Ridley 2012) +12'47"
34. Latoya BRULEE (Topsport Vlaanderen-Ridley 2012) ST
35. Aleksandra SOSENKO (Vaiano Tepso) +12'54"
36. Elke GEBHARDT (Be Pink) +12'56"
37. Maria Giulia CONFALONIERI (Faren-Honda) +12'59"
38. Anastasiya CHULKOVA (Forno d'Asolo/Diadora-Pasta Zara) +13'04"
39. Manon SOUYRIS (Vienne Futuroscope) +13'09"
40. Anna POTOKINA RUS (Lointek) +13'10"
41. Els BELMANS (Topsport Vlaanderen-Ridley 2012) +13'12"
42. Jenifer LETUE (Vienne Futuroscope) +13'19"
43. Barbara GUARISCHI (Fasso Bortolo-Servetto) +13'34"
44. Joanne HOGAN (Bizkaia-Durango) ST
45. Jacqueline HAHN (Scappa Speed Queens) +13'38"
46. Giulia DONATO (Be Pink) +13'42"
47. Gracie ELVIN (Faren-Honda) +13'45"
48. Daniela PINTARELLI (Scappa Speed Queens) +13'48"
49. Elena BERLATO (Fasso Bortolo-Servetto) ST
50. Elodie HEGOBURU ST
51. Sarah-Lena HOFMANN +13'58"
52. Cristina ALCALDE HUERTANOS (Bizkaia-Durango) +14'03"
53. Viviana GATTO (Fasso Bortolo-Servetto) +14'07"
54. Alexandra TONDEUR (ASPTT Dijon-Bourgogne) +14'34"
55. Dorleta ESKAMENDI GIL (Bizkaia-Durango) +14'37"
56. Roxane FOURNIER (ASPTT Dijon-Bourgogne) +16'18"
57. Christina PERCHTOLD (Scappa Speed Queens) +16'37"
58. Birgit LAVRIJSSEN (Sengers) +17'08"
59. Emmanuelle MERLOT (Vienne Futuroscope) +17'18"
60. Ann-Sofie DUYCK (Lotto-Belisol0 +17'29"
61. Daniela GASS +17'55"
62. Meredith MILLER (Tibco To The Top) +18'35"
63. Alice ALGISI (Be Pink) +18'43"
64. Vera KOEDOODER (Sengers) +18'55"
65. Joanne DUVAL (ASPTT Dijon-Bourgogne) +19'12"
66. Yulia ILIYNIKH (Lointek) +23'36"
67. Irene BITTO (Fasso Bortolo-Servetto) +23'50"
68. Béatrice THOMAS (ASPTT Dijon-Bourgogne) +30'27"
69. Samantha SCHNEIDER (Tibco To The Top) +31'31"
70. Alna BURATO +46'31"
71. Evelyn ARYS (Kleo) +49'16"
72. Geerike SCHREURS (Sengers) +50'33"
73. Cristina NAVARRO TAPIA +52'44"
74. Steffi JAMONEAU +1h03'46"
75. Rimma LUCHSHENKO (Be Pink) +1h04'23"
76. Heike NOEVER +1h05'22"
77. María CASANOVA +1h24'51"
78. Elena BUCHLER +1h32'56"
Did Not Finish
Audrey CORDON (Vienne Futuroscope)
Robyn DE GROOT (Lotto-Belisol)
Nathalie NIJNS (Lotto-Belisol)
Lise OLIVIER (Lotto-Belisol)
Joanna VAN DE WINKEL (Lotto-Belisol)
Elisabeth REINER
Chiara NADALUTTI (Faren-Honda)
Gunda HÄUSLER
Lisa SCHÖNEGG
Emma CRUM (ASPTT Dijon-Bourgogne)
Céline ONDET (ASPTT Dijon-Bourgogne)
Genevieve WHITSON (ASPTT Dijon-Bourgogne)
Fanny RIBEROT (Lointek)
Mireia EPELDE BIKENDI (Lointek)
Belen LOPEZ (Lointek)
Gloria RODRIGUEZ SANCHEZ
Anna PLANAS
Eva JACOMET
Leslie Ana REKON
Karen VERHESTRAETEN (Sengers)
Francesca CAUZ (Fasso Bortolo-Servetto)
Maaike POLSPOEL (Topsport Vlaanderen-Ridley 2012)
Ine BEYEN (Topsport Vlaanderen-Ridley 2012)
Whitney GAGGIOLI (Forno d'Asolo/Diadora-Pasta Zara)
Alona ANDRUK (Vaiano Tepso)

Afterword

The 2012 Trophée d'Or Féminin has been a superb race, not least of all for the organisers' successful efforts to keep us guessing right until the very end. The level of competition has been first-rate, just as anyone who knows anything at all about women's cycling would have expected (know what I mean, McQuaid?), and Elena Cecchini is a deserving winner who will surely go on to great things.

As was the case with the Route de France, race coverage has been exceptionally bad. We expect this in the mainstream media, of course, because the majority of the bike magazines and websites devote at best only a few lines of text to women's races. However, the organisers could also do with learning a lesson or two here - they've provided very little information on how the race has panned out. Yes they're running on a tight budget, but providing Twitter updates and a brief report on each stage every day would have cost very little; a local fan probably would have done it for them in exchange for a few free keepsakes. If fans - who have, as always, risen to the occasion and swapped as much news as they can - can't get the news without making an effort to do so (and believe me, covering this race has been a real headache and wouldn't have been at all possible without Tweets from Bart Hazen and Fabrice Germes) then race organisers can't really complain that their race is overlooked. An overlooked race will soon find its sponsors backing out - and we've already lost far too many women's race in the last few years.