March 8, 2003 – Canadian Geneviève Jeanson, (RONA Esker), earned her second stage victory in a row and consolidated her lead in the Pomona Valley Stage Race, held near Los Angeles until Sunday. She outsprinted her former teammate, American Nicole Freedman (Team Basis), and fellow Canadian Lyne Bessette (Saturn), who came in second and third respectively in the stage.
In general classification, American Amber Neben (T-Mobile), Canadians Sue Palmer-Komar (Genesis Scuba/FFCC) and Manon Jutras (Saturn) still rank second, third and fourth respectively. Jeanson's lead is almost two minutes. Friday's stage was a 90-minute race on a 4k circuit – almost a criterium, but not quite. The three RONA/Esker teammates (Jeanson, Karen Bockel and Kristen LaSasso) were facing two complete six-strong T-Mobile and Saturn lineups, eager to make up time on Jeanson. T-Mobile and Saturn worked together, launching attack after attack, often in unison. However RONA/Esker got help from team Minute Maid/Dasani to counter the attacks. Four km from the finish, Karen Bockel and Kristen LaSasso took the matter in their hands and brought back the field on a breakaway to get ready for the final sprint. Nicole Freedman launched the sprint at the 200m line. Bessette took her wheel and Jeanson took Bessette's. At the 100m mark Jeanson passed her two rivals and finished a good bicycle length in front of them.
“I was patient and it served me well”, beamed Geneviève Jeanson after her victory. “In the last two km it was attack after attack, but I waited for the right one. I think that Nicole (Freedman) may have launched her sprint a little too early. I knew Lyne (Bessete) would go because her whole team had been leading her out. But what really helped me was that Nicole and Lyne attacked on the left of the road, into the wind, so they completely shielded me on the right. Well protected as I was it was almost easy to pass them.”
Stage 1:
1. Geneviève Jeanson (Can) RONA/Esker
2. Nicole Freedman (USA) Team Basis, s.t.
3. Lyne Bessette (Can) Saturn, s.t.
Overall:
1. Geneviève Jeanson (Can), RONA Esker
2. Amber Neben (USA,) T Mobile
3. Sue Palmer-Komar (Can) Genesis Scuba/FFCC
4. Manon Jutras (Can) Saturn