September 7, 2006 – Canadian National Team rider Anne Samplonius (Montreal, QC) won today’s Stage 3 at the Tour de l’Ardeche in France. This is the fourth running of this stage race, which attracts 18 international teams. Today’s Stage 3, 114.8 kms, from Cruas-Meysse to La Voulte, was called the “Stage of Energy”, a good sign for Samplonius!

The Quebec athlete’s victory came at the end of an 80 km breakaway. Samplonius attacked at the 40-km mark with a Lithuanian rider, who fell off the pace 10 km later, leaving the Canadian to solo in for the last 70 km.

“Anne was up to 3 minutes ahead at one point and was very comfortable,” said Canadian Cycling Association Coach Vincent Jourdain.

Overall rankings after stage 3 (unofficial):
– Anne Samplonius (QC) 3rd
– Alex Wrubleski (SK) 5th
– Leigh Hobson (ON) 13th

Here’s some brief stage reports from the Tour de l’Ardèche, France, September 5-9, 2006:

Day 1 – Tuesday September 5
The opening race was a 92-km criterium starting at Le Teil. At 25 kms to go, seven riders, including Canada’s Erinne Willock (Victoria, BC), established a 1-minute lead. On the final and very difficult uphill, they were caught by the peloton and Edita Pucinskaite (Nobili) rode in solo to victory with a 43-second lead over the second placed rider. Saskatchewan’s Alex Wrubleski ended up in 4th, behind Lituania’s Rasa Polikeviciute and Italy’s Luperini (Fassa Bortolo). Samplonius finished 11th at 2:17 and Leigh Hobson (Cambridge, Ontario) was 13th with the same time. Erinne Willock (Victoria, BC), paid for her breakaway, finishing 39th at 4:51, with Kirsten Robbins (Kutztown, PA, Hamilton Training Centre) following at 6:06 in 42th.

Day 2 – Wednesday September 6
The first half of this stage was a morning 3.3-km time trial in downtown Vals les Bains, with a very tight downhill just before the finish. Edita Pucinskaite (Nobili) won, with Samplonius in 3rd at 11 seconds, and Wrubleski in 7th at 20 seconds, followed by Erinne Willock in 15th, Hobson in 27th and Robbins in 46th.

Willock placed second at the second half of the stage, a 91-km road race around Vals les Bains (called The Grand Prix d’Ouverture), later that afternoon.

“Tomorrow will be a decisive stage for our Canadian riders and for the overall rankings,” commented Vincent Jourdain. “I will not be surprised to see Alex Wrubleski in particular give it all.”

Tomorrow Friday, September 8, the Tour d”˜Ardèche will stage the Grand Prix de l’Ardèche Méridionale, a 123-km road race.