Newsgroup: it.sport.ciclismo
Titolo: 3° tappa Giro donne

Tappa per velociste e vittoria della Bronzini sulla Wood.
http://62.101.83.30/ficr/risultati/Ciclismo/NAZ/ITALIASVIZZERA0107200501/mas/04/09/cicittcimas04l09ord.html
-- 
Gandhi: "Vivi come se dovessi morire domani. Impara come se dovessi 
vivere per sempre."

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Prediction for the final GC Win?
Brandli?
Bruce

 Brandli?
Nicole is a very consistent rider and also highly motivated since the 
Giro is her main objective of the season. Yes, I think she is definitely 
the strongest rider at the moment.
Of course the Giro is not over: Edita, Bouba (but I think that she 
reached her peak form too early), Zinaida, Faby and Somarriba could 
still be very dangerous. Today Bouba and Zinaida attacked but they were 
caught in the last kilometers, and it was a completely flat stage. 
Women's cycling is less predictable than men's cycling: you also have to 
pay attention in easy stages like this one.
-- 
Il segreto della felicita' non e' di far sempre cio' che si vuole, ma di 
voler sempre cio' che si fa. (Lev Tolstoj)

 pay attention in easy stages like this one.
My summary of the girls...
Nicole Brandli (Swi) Team Bigla Great climber and a real threat to overall
victory.
Chantal Beltman (Ned) Team Vrienden Van Het Platteland Great dutch rider but
not really a contender. The Beltman sisters are quite well known like the
famous Polikeviciute sisters.
Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Nobilirubinett.-Menikini-Cogeas This is a great
champion and always a threat in any tour. Watch out for her.
Mirjam Melchers Van Poppel (Ned) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint Team Mirjam has been
around quite a while actually going back into the 90's but she hasn't come
into her own until the last few years. She is a fair climber and more then
likely a top ten finish, but not really a threat for the final GC.
Zoulfia Zabirova (Kaz) Team Bigla Zolfia is always a threat, but usually
only the top five, she is great sprinter and should take out some flat stage
wins. Her glory is for the sprinters and the final stage sprint.
Svetlana Bubnenkova (Rus) Fenixs/Colnago/Camberra/Nor Svetlana is a force
this year bigtime, and has always been a great rider. She just hasn't been
able to prove herself until this year. Even though she broke her collarbone
early on, she has come back hard as nails and has been winning everything in
site. She is a terror this year.
Olga Sliousareva (Rus) Nobilirubinett.-Menikini-Cogeas This is a deadly
sprinter and unstoppable when she is on her game. She doesn't climb so well
so over final GC in not in the cards for Olga.
Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr) Bianchi-Aliverti/Fiamme Az This is a dangerous
rider. She is riding well this year, winning and is extremely strong all
around, in the hills and the flats. She could be top five GC.
Amber Neben (USA) Buitenpoort-Flexpoint Team Amber has had a great year, she
won the Tour De Aude and could easily make top five GC if she has a good
tour.
Sarah Ulmer (NZl) Team S.A.T.S. Sarah is pretty amazing but I am afraid she
is not a threat to the final GC.
Joane Sommariba (Spa) Bizkaia-Panda Software-Durango Joane could easily win
the Giro, and if she is on her game, expect her to be in the top three.
Remember Joane does a great TT, best in the world in Hamilton, and she is
worlds best climber after Faby. Joanne Somaribba is a great champion and I
can't think of many that I admire more then her. She is so sweet too.
Luisa Tamanini (Ita) Bianchi-Aliverti/Fiamme Az Luisa has actually been
around for quite a while. She didn't set the world on fire till this year.
She has been winning and take 2nd and 3rd in many races. Like Bouba she is
having a great year and she should make top ten final GC.
Laura Van Gilder (USA) USA National Team Laura shouldn't be a factor in this
Giro, but a good team player I would think.
Fabiana Luperini (Ita) A.S.Team FRW/G.S.Top Girls Faby, I love you more then
I can say. I wish you all the luck winning the Giro this year. Luperini is
perhaps the greatest women climber that ever lived.
Christine Thorburn (USA) USA National Team A new force for Top US women, but
I don't think she will be a factor this Giro. If an American wins, I will be
happy of course but that's not likely. Perhaps Neben is best hope.
Lynn Gaggioli (USA) S. C. Michela Fanini-Record Rox Lynn is a good climber,
and could be in the top five if she has a good tour. Lynn is pehaps the
sexiest women Top Pro women in the world today. She is a looker and a great
all around rider.
Rachel Heal (GBr) Team S.A.T.S. Not a factor I believe. I can't say a lot,
as I haven't read much about her other then she is Top Pro and obviously
very good to even be in the Tour.
Paola Pezzo (Ita) Saccarelli-Emu-Marsciano Here is a mountain bike legend.
Don't count this girl out, but seriously I think not to be in the final Top
five GC.
Oenone Wood (Aus) Fenixs/Colnago/Camberra/Nor Wood is a great all around
rider. Look for her to take some stage wins on the flats. She could podium,
but more then likely top five if at all.
Noemi Cantele (Ita) Team Bigla This is a very good Italian rider but not a
factor for the final GC.
Eneritz Iturriaga (Spa) Spanish National Team This is a powerful rider and a
team player. She can do it all, but again I would think top ten at best.
Regina Schleicher (Ger) Fenixs/Colnago/Camberra/Nor I believe this girl just
won a stage and is riding well. That said, I doubt she will be in top five.
Marianna Lorenzoni (Ita) Chirio-Forno d'Asolo/Rider This is a great Italian
legend much like Alexandra Cappelletto and has is a veteran of many tours.
She is a great climber and all around rider. I would think easy in the top
ten, but the field is strong this year.
Summary....
Its early, anything can happen. Also remember Gilmore and Cooke are missing
as well as Arndt and Cappelletto. Still others are missing, but the field is
still extremely strong and this makes guessing very hard as there are so
many wild cards.
My picks for Top three..
1. Nicole Brandli
2. Joanne Somaribba
3. Svetlana Bubnenkova
and then...
4. Edita Pucinskaite
5. Fabiana Luperini
6. Zinaida Stahurskaia
after that possibly...
7. Amber Neben
8. Luisa Tamanini
9. Mirjam Melchers
Still very early, stage three went to sprinters with Wood taking 2nd, this
just in.
Bruce

 pay attention in easy stages like this one.
From CN,
Stage 3 - July 04: Bergantino - Chioggia, 129.4km
Five-time winner of the Giro Fabiana Luperini had some bike troubles late in
the stage and had two bike changes, relying on her team to keep her in
contact with the bunch. They did so and she managed to finish in the group
losing no time.
Bruce