May 22, 2003 – The Tour de L'Aude continued today with a 115K circuit around Castelnaudary. With a profile filled with sharp peaks, and the skies bringing the temperatures up drastically from the previous few days, the seventh day of racing was certainly challenging. In the end, it was Italian Fabiana Luperini (Aurora RSM) winning out of a two-woman break. The Saturn Team effectively protected Lyne Bessette's Yellow Fleece, bringing her to the line with it securely on her shoulders for another day.

Luperini and Russian Nathalia Boyarskaya escaped on the infamous Fanjeaux climb at the 76k marker. The two were of no threat to Bessette's lead, and the Saturn team was happy to have the two go up the road. Riding tempo and looking after Bessette's safety, Ina Teutenberg, Katie Mactier and Manon Jutras spent the remainder of the race at the front.

The gap grew to past the two minute mark but as the field headed for home, the speed picked up, and the gap came down to just over a minute. In the end it was Luperini over the Russian.

Bringing the field home for third was Nurnberger's Petra Rossner. Bessette rolled in with the field, safely home to receive her second Yellow Jersey of the Tour de L'Aude.

Tomorrow's stage is the second double day of the Tour. Again seemingly benign profiles betray the truth of the stages. With the second stage practically a mountain top finish, Bessette will need her entire to team to see her through what is certain to be a difficult test from second place Judith Arndt's Nurnberger Team.

Results:
1. Fabiana Luperini – Team Aurora RSM
2. Nathalia Boyarskaya – Russia
3. Petra Rossner – Nurnberger