“Halfway through the race, I decided to work harder in my breakaway group,” wrote Labonté on her blog. “My podium chances would have been nil if the peloton had caught us. And I knew that back in the pack, I had no teammates to launch a counter attack. I am therefore very satisfied with my second place finish and my sensations.”
Meanwhile, in Belgium, Katarzyna Pawlowska (GSD Gestion-Kallisto Spécialized p/b Mazda) finished fifth at 48 seconds back racing at the Grand Prix de Dottignies in Wallonia (French speaking part of Belgium). The race was won by Vera Koedooder (Sengers Ladies Cycling Team) in a time of 2:57:23. Pawlowska – also known by her nickname “Kasia” – is a Polish cyclist riding for a Montreal-based team.
“Kasia, our 2013 world Scratch champion, broke from the peloton with ten other girls at 17km,” wrote coach Frédéric Perman. “Eight of them finished in a sprint and Kasia took an honourable fifth place which allows her to pick up her first UCI points [of the season]. The other members of the team were unable to finish this race, victims of minor spills (without getting hurt)…” Perman also wrote abundantly about the unseasonal, cold, wet weather in Belgium.
Read more on Labonté HERE.
Coupe de France de Pujols results HERE.
Read more on GSD Gestion and Pawlowska HERE.