Newsgroup: it.sport.ciclismo
Titolo: Nicole Cooke al giro di Toscana

Prologue
  The prologue was a course very typical of italian stage races, each 
rider left the start ramp, roared up the first straight to the first 
u-turn, then, at full speed, went down through the finsihing piazza to 
another u-turn before sprinting the final 300m to the line.
Nicole rode an average prologue finishing 15 seconds behind Miram 
Melchers van Poppel of Buitenpoort.
"I am not too worried about my prologue result, my legs feel okay so I 
am putting my effort into the road stages."
Stage 1a
Nicole holds off the bunch after solo break away!
Wednesday morning's circuit was flat to begin before taking on three 
20km laps with a Category 3 hill to Montecarlo.
As the riders sprinted for the first GPM of the day, a select group of 
16 riders formed, including Nicole, over the top of the climb. No one 
seemed commited to trying to stay away and the race came back together 
on the descent into Porcari.
The second lap was very similar but this time 10 riders made the split, 
but with notable absentee's line Trixi Worrack the race regrouped agin.
On the flat roads with about 20km to go, Nicole covered an attack but as 
she looked behind realised that she and ehr 5 companians had a gap on 
the bunch!
This was an unplanned move but Nicole started working straight away 
doing the majority of the work knowing that it may be a winning move.
As the break reached the climb, there was a 25 sec advantage over the 
peleton. Nicole worked with her companions on the early slopes but then 
went alone with 600m to go to the summit of the climb.
 From then on it was Nicole against the chasing bunch as the bunch 
picked up the remaining riders from the break-away. With 10km to go the 
gap was 25 seconds.
At the bottom of the descent with 5km to go it was 20 seconds... With 
4km to go Nicole could see the bunch strung out in pursuit...
"With 3km to go I honestly thought my race was over but I dug very very 
deep and rode with everything I had to try to get this win.
"It was only with 150m to go that I knew I had won but after pushing 
right up to the line I knew I could finally put my hands in the air as I 
crossed the line, but no sooner had I got my arms in the air and crossed 
the line the other riders came past!
"It was very very close, but I feel very proud to have won such an 
exciting stage"
This is Nicole's second win in Porcari after taking a similar stage win 
back in 2003.
Stage 1b
  Gilmore first over the line but disqualified
The second stage on Wednesday was likely to finish as a bunch sprint so 
the SAFI team put all of it's effort into their in-form sprinter 
Rochelle Gilmore.
Nicole took a significant role in helping protect and deliver Rochelle 
to the finish as fresh as possible and it seemed that their plan had 
worked as the SAFI rider punched the air as she crossed the finish line.
However, the Jury decided that even though the final straight curved, 
and Rochelle had taken the most straight and direct line to the finish, 
the Australian rider was disqualified.
"This afternoon my legs actually felt better than I expected and I was 
able to give Rochelle the support she needed in the final 15km. Having 
put so much effort into this result it is a hard decision to take. From 
the final corner I was just coasting into the finish having led Rochelle 
into the last corner and saw the line she took. Knowing Rochelle's 
character very well I don't think there was any mallice in her actions 
and think she deserved the victory.
Sussanne De Goede was promoted to first place and now has the 'maglia 
rosa'. Nicole, currently 2nd in the 'Young Rider' classicication will 
ride in the white jersey today.
-- 
www.modesta.biciticino.ch
Il sito dedicato alla giovane ciclista lituana Modesta Vzesniauskaite

 am putting my effort into the road stages."
Snip-
Are you at some of the stages? I did miss Nicole for a three-pete in SF.
Bouba having a good year, not a lot of wins, buts shes very agressive and
very strong this year. She has beefed up a lot since the early years as has
ZS, which she used to be skin and bones too.
Bruce

 very strong this year. 
Well, 11 wins...
Championnat de Russie c.l.m
Emakumen Bira
Tour du Trentin Alto Adige
Quatre étapes du Tour de l'Ardèche
Une étape de l'Emakumen Bira
Une étape du Tour du Trentin Alto Adige
Une étape du Tour d'Italie
+ 1 stage at the "Giro di Toscana"
(and perhaps the GC...)
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 Well, 11 wins...
I wasn't counting stage wins, Faby has three stages as well!
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