June 8, 2008 (Summerside, PEI) – The first stage of the 2008 Tour de Pei seemed as if it was tailor made to suit the sprinting talents of Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Menikini-Selle Italia/Master Color. Her team rode in complete control of the race at all times and Gilmore returned the favour by winning with her trademark sprint.

Riders took in 10 laps of a 10km circuit in Summerside on Sunday afternoon. The peloton seemed content to ride along and feel out the competition on Stage 1 but this didn’t stop several riders from attempting to distance themselves from the pack. However, the Menikini team wouldn’t let any move get more the 15 seconds off the front. Gilmore and Italy’s Giorgia Bronzini (Safi Pasta) had quite the battle last year on the roads of PEI, but with Safi Pasta not here this year, Gilmore’s main competition for wins is slated to come from the Selection Naccional de Cuba. In the first two bonus sprints Menikini rode the lead out to perfection and Gilmore took the win in both. However, the Cubans managed to get the best of Menikini in the third sprint as Dalila Rodriguez took the points.

As the laps went by, the race seemed destined to come down to a sprint finish, but the race was not without its drama. Midway through the 10 laps, a photo motorcycle flatted while passing through the finish line. This happened just as the peloton was bearing down on that section of the course. As the peloton rounded the long sweeping corner into the start/finish, the motorcycle was still taking up the majority of the left lane. Many riders were able to avoid the motorcycle, but several hit the deck trying. As a result several riders were forced to abandon while some valiant competitors attempted to get back into the pack including second-year junior rider Denise Ramsden (Ultralink) who finished the stage with bar tape holding her broken carbon handlebars together.

With two laps to go, the wind and rain started to pick up and riders readied themselves for the sprint ahead. There were particularly bad cross winds on the back half of the course which caused some splits in the final lap, but for the most part the pack arrived to the line in one piece. True to form, Gilmore won one final sprint on the day to take the stage win, the points jersey and the overall GC lead heading into Monday’s Confederation Bridge time trial. Jenny Trew (Can) Atlantic Cycling Centre impressed with a 4th place on the day and as such was awarded the jersey for top-ranked Canadian rider.
Results

1. Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Menikini-Selle Italia/Master Color 2:27:30
2. Tanja Hennes (Ger) Specialized Designs for Women
3. Sophie Creux (Fra) ESGL 93 GSD Gestion
4. Jenny Trew (Can) Atlantic Cycling Centre
5. Nathalie Lamborelle (Lux) UNIQA
6. Emmanuelle Merlot (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope
7. Fanny Riberot (Fra) Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz
8. Yumari Gonzalez (Cub) Equipe Nationale Cuba
9. Leda Cox (Gbr) NEBC/Cycle Loft/Devonshire Dental
10. Fiona Dutriaux (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope
11. Aude Pollet (Fra) Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz
12. Christine Majerus (Lux) ESGL 93 GSD Gestion
13. Audrey Lemieux (Can) Specialized Carrefour/Multisport Mazda
14. Trine Schmidt (Den) Menikini-Selle Italia/Master Color
15. Joelle Numainville (Can) ESGL 93 GSD Gestion
16. Amy Mcguire (USA) Advil-Chapstick
17. Alison Testroete (Can) Atlantic Cycling Centre
18. Yeima Torres (Cub) Equipe Nationale Cuba
19. Lang Meng (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling
20. Audrey Cordon (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope
21. Jessica Burns (Can) Equipe Cascades
22. Karol-Ann Canuel (Can) Specialized Carrefour/Multisport Mazda
23. Dalila Rodriguez (Cub) Equipe Nationale Cuba
24. Vicki Thomas (Can) Advil-Chapstick
25. Julie Bellerose (Can) Equipe Cascades
26. Mirjam Hauser-Senn (Sui) Specialized Designs for Women
27. Li Ping Zhang (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling
28. Yong Li Liu (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling
29. Karin Aune (Swe) UNIQA
30. Ireen Wieditz (Can) EMD Serono Stevens
31. Sarah Grab (Sui) Specialized Designs for Women
32. Veronique Labonte (Can) Equipe Cascades
33. Yeugeniya Vysotska (Ukr) Equipe Nationale Ukraine
34. Daniela Pintarelli (Aut) UNIQA
35. Samantha Dery (USA) NEBC/Cycle Loft/Devonshire Dental
36. Véronique Bilodeau (Can) Atlantic Cycling Centre
37. Merrill Collins (Can) Provincial Team Ontario
38. Sophie Matte (Can) EMD Serono Stevens
39. Andrea Knecht (Sui) Specialized Designs for Women
40. Julie Dheruelle (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope
41. Holly Borowski (USA) Advil-Chapstick
42. Julia Bradley (Can) EMD Serono Stevens
43. Béatrice Thomas (Fra) ESGL 93 GSD Gestion
44. Raphaelle Chretien (Can) Equipe Cascades
45. Joanie Caron (Can) Equipe Cascades
46. Mary Zider (USA) NEBC/Cycle Loft/Devonshire Dental
47. Fei Wang (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling
48. Mathilde Hupin (Can) Specialized Carrefour/Multisport Mazda
49. Min Gao (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling
50. Carrie Cartmill (Can) Provincial Team Ontario
51. Sufen Ma (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling
52. Louise Moriarty (Irl) Specialized Carrefour/Multisport Mazda
53. Bernadette Schober (Aut) UNIQA
54. Moriah Jo Macgregor (Can) Atlantic Cycling Centre
55. Allison Lampi (Can) Ultralink
56. Kristen Lasasso (USA) Specialized Designs for Women
57. Sue Schlatter (Can) EMD Serono Stevens
58. Kori Kelley Seehafer (USA) Menikini-Selle Italia/Master Color
59. Lorena Foresi (Ita) Menikini-Selle Italia/Master Color
60. Eugenie Mermillod (Fra) Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz
61. Geneviève Gauthier (Can) Atlantic Cycling Centre
62. Celeste Provincial Team Ontario Jones-Baumgardt (Can)
63. Brei Gudsell (Nzl) Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz
64. Nathalie Bates (Aus) Menikini-Selle Italia/Master Color
65. Heather Logan (Can) Provincial Team Ontario 0:18
66. Johanne Cyr (Can) Equipe Cascades 0:37
67. Kateryna Krasova (Ukr) Equipe Nationale Ukraine 0:40
68. Yoanka Gonzalez (Cub) Equipe Nationale Cuba
69. Alyssa Mellon (Can) Ultralink
70. Denise Ramsden (Can) Ultralink 0:40
71. Sally Annis (USA) NEBC/Cycle Loft/Devonshire Dental 0:46
72. Rebecca Wellons (USA) NEBC/Cycle Loft/Devonshire Dental
73. Estelle Patou (Fra) ESGL 93 GSD Gestion
74. Terri Gregotski (Can) Provincial Team Ontario 0:59
75. Sarah Coney (Can) Ultralink 0:59
76. Janie Fortin (Can) Specialized Carrefour/Multisport Mazda 1:05
77. Nathalie Dumont (USA) NEBC/Cycle Loft/Devonshire Dental
78. Tricia K Spooner (Can) EMD Serono Stevens
79. Kelly Murray (Can) Atlantic Cycling Centre 1:31
80. Kathryn Rozitis (Can) Provincial Team Ontario 6:47
81. Reem Jishi (USA) Advil-Chapstick 16:07
82. Iraida Garcia (Cub) Equipe Nationale Cuba 16:07
83. Chloe St-Arnaud-Watt (Can) Ultralink 21:58
84. Camie Kornely (USA) Advil-Chapstick 23:58
85. Valerie Crete (Can) Specialized Carrefour/Multisport Mazda HD
86. Svitlana Galyuk (Ukr) Equipe Nationale Ukraine Abandon
87. Yelizaveta Bochkarova (Ukr) Equipe Nationale Ukraine Abandon

GC after Stage 1

1. Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Menikini-Selle Italia/Master Color 2.27.12
2. Tanja Hennes (Ger) Specialized Designs for Women 0.12
3. Dalila Rodriguez (Cub) Equipe Nationale Cuba 0.13
4. Sophie Creux (Fra) ESGL 93 GSD Gestion 0.14
5. Nathalie Lamborelle (Lux) Uniqua 0.15
6. Aude Pollet (Fra) Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz 0.16
7. Jenny Trew (Can) Atlantic Cycling Centre 0.18
8. Emmanuelle Merlot (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope
9. Fanny Riberot (Fra) Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz
10. Yumari Gonzalez (Cub) Equipe Nationale Cuba
11. Leda Cox (Gbr) NEBC/Cycle Loft/Devonshire Dental
12. Fiona Dutriaux (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope
13. Christine Majerus (Lux) ESGL 93 GSD Gestion
14. Audrey Lemieux (Can) Specialized Carrefour/Multisport Mazda
15. Trine Schmidt (Den) Menikini-Selle Italia/Master Color
16. Joelle Numainville (Can) ESGL 93 GSD Gestion
17. Amy Mcguire (USA) Advil-Chapstick
18. Alison Testroete (Can) Atlantic Cycling Centre
19. Yeima Torres (Cub) Equipe Nationale Cuba
20. Lang Meng (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling
21. Audrey Cordon (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope
22. Jessica Burns (Can) Equipe Cascades
23. Karol-Ann Canuel (Can) Specialized Carrefour/Multisport Mazda
24. Vicki Thomas (Can) Advil-Chapstick
25. Julie Bellerose (Can) Equipe Cascades
26. Mirjam Hauser-Senn (Swi) Specialized Designs for Women
27. Li Ping Zhang (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling
28. Yong Li Liu (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling
29. Karin Aune (Swe) Uniqua
30. Ireen Wieditz (Can) EMD Serono Stevens
31. Sarah Grab (Swi) Specialized Designs for Women
32. Veronique Labonte (Can) Equipe Cascades
33. Yeugeniya Vysotska (Ukr) Equipe Nationale Ukraine
34. Daniela Pintarelli (Aut) Uniqua
35. Samantha Dery (USA) NEBC/Cycle Loft/Devonshire Dental
36. Bilodeau Véronique (Can) Atlantic Cycling Centre
37. Merrill Collins (Can) Provincial Team Ontario
38. Sophie Matte (Can) EMD Serono Stevens
39. Andrea Knecht (Swi) Specialized Designs for Women
40. Julie Dheruelle (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope
41. Holly Borowski (USA) Advil-Chapstick
42. Julia Bradley (Can) EMD Serono Stevens
43. Thomas Béatrice (Fra) ESGL 93 GSD Gestion
44. Raphaelle Chretien (Can) Equipe Cascades
45. Joanie Caron (Can) Equipe Cascades
46. Mary Zider (USA) NEBC/Cycle Loft/Devonshire Dental
47. Wang Fei (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling
48. Mathilde Hupin (Can) Specialized Carrefour/Multisport Mazda
49. Min Gao (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling
50. Carrie Cartmill (Can) Provincial Team Ontario
51. Sufen Ma (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling
52. Louise Moriarty (Irl) Specialized Carrefour/Multisport Mazda
53. Bernadette Schober (Aut) Uniqua
54. Moriah Jo Macgregor (Can) Atlantic Cycling Centre
55. Allison Lampi (Can) Ultralink
56. Kristen Lasasso (USA) Specialized Designs for Women
57. Sue Schlatter (Can) EMD Serono Stevens
58. Kori Kelley Seehafer (USA) Menikini-Selle Italia/Master Color
59. Lorena Foresi (Ita) Menikini-Selle Italia/Master Color
60. Eugenie Mermillod (Fra) Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz
61. Geneviève Gauthier (Can) Atlantic Cycling Centre
62. Celeste Jones-Baumgardt (Can) Provincial Team Ontario
63. Brei Gudsell (NZl) Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz
64. Nathalie Bates (Aus) Menikini-Selle Italia/Master Color
65. Heather Logan (Can) Provincial Team Ontario 0.36
66. Johanne Cyr (Can) Equipe Cascades 0.55
67. Kateryna Krasova (Ukr) Equipe Nationale Ukraine 0.58
68. Yoanka Gonzalez (Cub) Equipe Nationale Cuba
69. Alyssa Mellon (Can) Ultralink
70. Denise Ramsden (Can) Ultralink
71. Sally Annis (USA) NEBC/Cycle Loft/Devonshire Dental 1.04
72. Rebecca Wellons (USA) NEBC/Cycle Loft/Devonshire Dental
73. Estelle Patou (Fra) ESGL 93 GSD Gestion
74. Terri Gregotski (Can) Provincial Team Ontario 1.17
75. Sarah Coney (Can) Ultralink
76. Janie Fortin (Can) Specialized Carrefour/Multisport Mazda 1.23
77. Nathalie Dumont (USA) NEBC/Cycle Loft/Devonshire Dental
78. Tricia K Spooner (Can) EMD Serono Stevens
79. Kelly Murray (Can) Atlantic Cycling Centre 1.49
80. Kathryn Rozitis (Can) Provincial Team Ontario 7.05
81. Reem Jishi (USA) Advil-Chapstick 16.25
82. Iraida Garcia (Cub) Equipe Nationale Cuba
83. Chloe St-Arnaud-Watt (Can) Ultralink 22.16
84. Camie Kornely (USA) Advil-Chapstick 24.3
85. Valerie Crete (Can) Specialized Carrefour/Multisport Mazda 41.21