Newsgroup: it.sport.ciclismo
Titolo: Another triumph for Cooke

NICOLE COOKE has won the women’s equivalent of the Tour de France for the
second year running.
The 24-year-old Welshwoman defended her title in the five-stage Grande
Boucle Feminine, holding on to the lead she took in Friday’s third stage.
And there was further cause for British cheer as Cambridge’s Emma Pooley
claimed third place overall behind Cooke’s Raleigh team-mate, Swiss rider
Priska Doppmann.
Cooke and Doppman had broken away on the Col de Tourmalet but Pooley
impressed as she attacked the peloton over the summit of the Col d’Aspin
before building a big enough advantage to take her on to the podium in
Arreau.
Cooke returns to the UK this week and will ride the first stage of the Ras
de Cymru before heading to Yorkshire to defend her title in the national
road race championships.
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 second year running.
Its not the tour of old, neither the number of stages, or the depth of
competition. Winning the Grande Boucle today, means almost nothing.
GBMT

 Arreau.
Pooley, big deal. Where was Brandli, Edita, Luperini, and the other great
riders? They wouldn't touch the Grande Boucle with a ten foot pole!
GBMT

 Pooley, big deal. 
IMHO, Emma Pooley is one of the best pure climber in the world.


 IMHO, Emma Pooley is one of the best pure climber in the world.
I doubt Pooley could be called a pure climber. That's reserved for a very
select few, like Pantani in his time, but it's not just about climbing, they
have to win, and win often to be considered good. My point is, the Grande
Boucle has again failed to offer the robust fields like the Grand Boucle, so
it's not to be taken seriously, but this is partly the fault of timing, but
the Giro has captured all the attention for the best riders, and that's
pretty much ok with me for now. Pierre will have to figure out a way to
bring the creme back to his race.
GBMT

 > IMHO, Emma Pooley is one of the best pure climber in the world.
Who are the pure climbers?
The only pure climbers I know offhand are Luperini, Brandli, Edita,
Somaribba, ah, Doppman climbs ok, but I wouldn't call her a pure climber
anymore then I would call Cooke a pure climber. Rasa was good in her day, so
was Cappellotto. Neben is good, almost a pure climber. Andrea Ratkovic was a
pure climber. Anita Valen was a good climber, Longo and Marsal were good.
Jeanson was a pure climber. Inga Thompson was good, Judith Arndt is an
awesome climber but I wouldn't call her a pure climber. Baldwin was good
too, but not pure, Leontien was good climber winning the Grande Boucle
twice, but not a pure climber. Linda Jackson was a very good climber, almost
pure. Canins was a pure climber, or close to it. Michela Fanini was good,
but not pure I don't think. Pia Sundsteadt was good too but not pure.
But I wouldn't call Pooley pure anymore then I would call half a dozen of
these girls pure. Pure is a very elite group, who usually excel at very
little else except climbing, and they are so good at it, its all they need
to win. This is the case with the fabulous four I mentioned.
GBMT
Best,
Bruce