May 18, 2007 – The 3.9km Tour de l’Aude Prologue in Gruissan has just ended. The flat circular loop was buffeted by strong gusty winds, although it didn’t seem to hamper Christiane Soeder of Raleigh LifeForce who won by a good margin finishing in 4.43 minutes.

Teamexpresscopy.com’s best finisher was Anne Samplonius finishing in 5.05 minutes, followed by Jess (5.15), Meshy (5.18), Amanda (5.23), Erinne (5.25) and Joelle (5.54).

“It was really tough to find any rhythm because the course was a loop the wind direction was constantly changing,” said Amanda after her ride, echoing the sentiments of the other riders.

The girls are now on their way back to their chalets for a relaxing evening before the real racing starts tomorrow with the stage one, 115km Port la Nouvelle, where they will be planning to stir it up and make things happen!!

Results

1. Christiane Soeder (Aut) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team 4.43.50 (49.611 km/h)
2. Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) Germany 0.05.40
3. Eleonora Van Dijk (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland
4. Zoulfia Zabirova (Kaz) Bigla Cycling Team 0.08.30
5. Judith Arndt (Ger) T-Mobile Team – Women 0.08.70
6. Alexandra Sontheimer (Ger) Germany 0.08.80
7. Marianne Vos (Ned) Team DSB Bank 0.09.70
8. Andrea Thürig (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team 0.09.90
9. Linda Villumsen Serup (Den) T-Mobile Team – Women 0.10.10
10. Amber Neben (USA) Team Flexpoint 0.12.20
11. Charlotte Becker (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 0.12.80
12. Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Team Flexpoint
13. Priska Doppmann (Swi) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team 0.14.30
14. Sarah Düster (Ger) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team 0.14.60
15. Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 0.15.70
16. Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team
17. Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 0.16.40
18. Ina Teutenberg (Ger) T-Mobile Team – Women 0.16.70
19. Andrea Graus (Aut) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 0.17.00
20. Maryline Salvetat (Fra) France 0.19.10
21. Eva Lutz (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 0.20.00
22. Nicole Brändli (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team 0.20.40
23. Iris Slappendel (Ned) Team Flexpoint 0.20.60
23. Tanja Slater (GBr) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team
25. Julia Martisova (Rus) FRW – Gauss 0.21.20
26. Patricia Schwager (Swi) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team 0.22.00
27. Anne Samplonius (Can) Team Expresscopy.com 0.22.10
28. Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Team Flexpoint 0.22.20
29. Marlyn Brinnendijk (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland 0.22.70
30. Suzanne De Goede (Ned) T-Mobile Team – Women 0.23.00
31. Andrea Bosman (Ned) Team DSB Bank 0.23.20
32. Madeleine Sandig (Ger) Team Flexpoint 0.24.00
33. Catherine Moncassin-Prime (Fra) Les Pruneaux D’Agen 0.25.10
34. Silvia Valsecchi (Ita) Menikini – Gysko 0.26.00
35. Kimberly Anderson (USA) T-Mobile Team – Women 0.26.80
36. Liane Bahler (Ger) Fenixs – HPB 0.26.70
37. Tatsiana Sharakova (Blr) FRW – Gauss 0.26.90
38. Karine Gautard (Fra) France 0.27.30
39. Marina Jaunatre (Fra) France 0.27.70
40. Claudia Häusler (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 0.28.40
41. Daiva Tuslaite (Ltu) Lithuania 0.28.90
42. Olivia Gollan (Aus) Menikini – Gysko 0.29.30
43. Anke Wichmann (Ger) T-Mobile Team – Women 0.29.50
44. Natalia Boyarskaya (Rus) Fenixs – HPB 0.29.80
45. Sanne Van Paassen (Ned) Team DSB Bank 0.30.20
46. Svetlana Bubnenkova (Rus) Fenixs – HPB 0.31.20
47. Noemi Cantele (Ita) Bigla Cycling Team 0.31.30
48. Jessica Phillips (USA) Team Expresscopy.com 0.31.90
49. Sigrid Corneo (Ita) Menikini – Gysko 0.32.40
50. Christelle Ferrier-Bruneau (Fra) Les Pruneaux D’Agen 0.33.10
51. Sharon Van Essen (Ned) Team DSB Bank 0.33.60
52. Maria Rosario Rodriguez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 0.33.90
53. Dorte Lohse Rasmussen (Den) Menikini – Gysko
54. Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Menikini – Gysko 0.35.00
55. Melissa Holt (NZl) Team Expresscopy.com 0.35.20
56. Carissa Wilkes (NZl) New Zealand
57. Linda Van Rijen (Ned) Team DSB Bank
58. Luise Keller (Ger) Team Flexpoint 0.35.80
59. Tanja Hennes (Ger) Bigla Cycling Team 0.36.20
60. Miho Oki (Jpn) Menikini – Gysko 0.36.40
61. Georgina Waibl (NZl) New Zealand 0.37.10
62. Béatrice Thomas (Fra) France 0.37.20
63. Fabienne Sandig (Ger) Germany 0.38.50
64. Silvia Tirado Marquez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 0.39.50
65. Angela Brodtka (Ger) Germany 0.40.20
66. Amanda Shaw (Can) Team Expresscopy.com 0.40.50
67. Oxana Kozonchuk (Rus) Fenixs – HPB 0.40.90
68. Marieke Van Wanroij (Ned) Team DSB Bank 0.41.20
69. Urte Juodvalkyte (Ltu) Lithuania 0.41.30
70. Toni Bradshaw (NZl) New Zealand 0.41.70
71. Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Fenixs – HPB 0.42.10
72. Romy Kasper (Ger) Germany 0.42.20
73. Maribel Moreno Allue (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 0.42.90
74. Jennifer Hohl (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team 0.43.10
75. Ana Garcia Antequera (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 0.43.20
76. Nathalie Jeuland (Fra) France 0.44.90
76. Maria Auxiliadora Martin Morales (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana
78. Fanny Riberot (Fra) France
79. Debby Van De Berg (Ned) Global Racing Team 0.45.90
80. Helen Wyman (GBr) Global Racing Team 0.46.20
81. Elena Kuchinskaya (Rus) FRW – Gauss 0.46.50
82. Olga Slyusareva (Rus) Fenixs – HPB 0.47.20
83. Marina Duvnjak (NZl) New Zealand 0.48.40
84. Serena Sheridan (NZl) New Zealand 0.48.70
85. Carina Ketonen (Fra) Les Pruneaux D’Agen 0.49.20
86. Tiina Nieminen (Fin) Les Pruneaux D’Agen 0.49.60
87. Michelle Hyland (NZl) New Zealand 0.50.00
88. Lina Skujaute (Ltu) Lithuania 0.51.20
89. Marlen Johrend (Ger) Germany 0.51.30
90. Erinne Willock (Can) Team Expresscopy.com 0.51.90
91. Linda Ringlever (Ned) Global Racing Team 0.52.80
92. Agne Miliskeviciute (Ltu) Lithuania
93. Edita Janeliunaite (Ltu) Lithuania 0.53.30
94. Tania Belvederesi (Ita) FRW – Gauss 0.53.60
95. Linn Torp (Nor) Global Racing Team 0.53.80
96. Lang Meng (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team 0.54.30
97. Janne Brok (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland 0.55.40
98. Jaccolien Wallaard (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland 0.56.80
99. Daphny Van Den Brand (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland 0.58.30
100. Agne Sukutyte (Ltu) Lithuania 1.00.50
101. Sigrid Jochems (Ned) Global Racing Team 1.02.90
102. Xiong Ying Ruan (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team 1.03.90
103. Fei Wang (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team 1.05.00
104. Kettj Manfrin (Ita) FRW – Gauss 1.06.00
105. Céline Nivet (Fra) Les Pruneaux D’Agen 1.06.80
106. Li Ping (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team 1.08.70
107. Joelle Numainville (Can) Team Expresscopy.com 1.10.90
108. Eleonora Soldo (Ita) FRW – Gauss 1.13.00
109. Sufen Ma (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team 1.15.00
110. Xiaoning Gao (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team 1.15.10
111. Aurore Jeudy (Fra) Les Pruneaux D’Agen 1.20.30
DNS Nikki Harris (GBr) Global Racing Team

GC after Prologue

1. Christiane Soeder (Aut) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team 4.43
2. Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) Germany 0.05
3. Eleonora Van Dijk (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland
4. Zoulfia Zabirova (Kaz) Bigla Cycling Team 0.08
5. Judith Arndt (Ger) T-Mobile Team – Women 0.09
6. Alexandra Sontheimer (Ger) Germany
7. Marianne Vos (Ned) Team DSB Bank 0.1
8. Andrea Thürig (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team
9. Linda Villumsen Serup (Den) T-Mobile Team – Women
10. Amber Neben (USA) Team Flexpoint 0.12
11. Charlotte Becker (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 0.13
12. Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Team Flexpoint
13. Priska Doppmann (Swi) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team 0.14
14. Sarah Düster (Ger) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team 0.15
15. Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 0.16
16. Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team
17. Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung
18. Ina Teutenberg (Ger) T-Mobile Team – Women 0.17
19. Andrea Graus (Aut) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung
20. Maryline Salvetat (Fra) France 0.19
21. Eva Lutz (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 0.2
22. Nicole Brändli (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team
23. Iris Slappendel (Ned) Team Flexpoint 0.21
23. Tanja Slater (GBr) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team
25. Julia Martisova (Rus) FRW – Gauss
26. Patricia Schwager (Swi) Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team 0.22
27. Anne Samplonius (Can) Team Expresscopy.com
28. Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Team Flexpoint
29. Marlyn Brinnendijk (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland 0.23
30. Suzanne De Goede (Ned) T-Mobile Team – Women
31. Andrea Bosman (Ned) Team DSB Bank
32. Madeleine Sandig (Ger) Team Flexpoint 0.24
33. Catherine Moncassin-Prime (Fra) Les Pruneaux D’Agen 0.25
34. Silvia Valsecchi (Ita) Menikini – Gysko 0.26
35. Kimberly Anderson (USA) T-Mobile Team – Women 0.27
36. Liane Bahler (Ger) Fenixs – HPB
37. Tatsiana Sharakova (Blr) FRW – Gauss
38. Karine Gautard (Fra) France
39. Marina Jaunatre (Fra) France 0.28
40. Claudia Häusler (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung
41. Daiva Tuslaite (Ltu) Lithuania 0.29
42. Olivia Gollan (Aus) Menikini – Gysko
43. Anke Wichmann (Ger) T-Mobile Team – Women
44. Natalia Boyarskaya (Rus) Fenixs – HPB 0.3
45. Sanne Van Paassen (Ned) Team DSB Bank
46. Svetlana Bubnenkova (Rus) Fenixs – HPB 0.31
47. Noemi Cantele (Ita) Bigla Cycling Team
48. Jessica Phillips (USA) Team Expresscopy.com 0.32
49. Sigrid Corneo (Ita) Menikini – Gysko
50. Christelle Ferrier-Bruneau (Fra) Les Pruneaux D’Agen 0.33
51. Sharon Van Essen (Ned) Team DSB Bank 0.34
52. Maria Rosario Rodriguez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana
53. Dorte Lohse Rasmussen (Den) Menikini – Gysko
54. Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Menikini – Gysko 0.35
55. Melissa Holt (NZl) Team Expresscopy.com
56. Carissa Wilkes (NZl) New Zealand
57. Linda Van Rijen (Ned) Team DSB Bank
58. Luise Keller (Ger) Team Flexpoint 0.36
59. Tanja Hennes (Ger) Bigla Cycling Team
60. Miho Oki (Jpn) Menikini – Gysko
61. Georgina Waibl (NZl) New Zealand 0.37
62. Béatrice Thomas (Fra) France
63. Fabienne Sandig (Ger) Germany 0.39
64. Silvia Tirado Marquez (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana
65. Angela Brodtka (Ger) Germany 0.4
66. Amanda Shaw (Can) Team Expresscopy.com
67. Oxana Kozonchuk (Rus) Fenixs – HPB 0.41
68. Marieke Van Wanroij (Ned) Team DSB Bank
69. Urte Juodvalkyte (Ltu) Lithuania
70. Toni Bradshaw (NZl) New Zealand 0.42
71. Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Fenixs – HPB
72. Romy Kasper (Ger) Germany
73. Maribel Moreno Allue (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana 0.43
74. Jennifer Hohl (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team
75. Ana Garcia Antequera (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana
76. Nathalie Jeuland (Fra) France 0.45
76. Maria Auxiliadora Martin Morales (Spa) Comunidad Valenciana
78. Fanny Riberot (Fra) France
79. Debby Van De Berg (Ned) Global Racing Team 0.46
80. Helen Wyman (GBr) Global Racing Team
81. Elena Kuchinskaya (Rus) FRW – Gauss
82. Olga Slyusareva (Rus) Fenixs – HPB 0.47
83. Marina Duvnjak (NZl) New Zealand 0.48
84. Serena Sheridan (NZl) New Zealand 0.49
85. Carina Ketonen (Fra) Les Pruneaux D’Agen
86. Tiina Nieminen (Fin) Les Pruneaux D’Agen 0.5
87. Michelle Hyland (NZl) New Zealand
88. Lina Skujaute (Ltu) Lithuania 0.51
89. Marlen Johrend (Ger) Germany
90. Erinne Willock (Can) Team Expresscopy.com 0.52
91. Linda Ringlever (Ned) Global Racing Team 0.53
92. Agne Miliskeviciute (Ltu) Lithuania
93. Edita Janeliunaite (Ltu) Lithuania
94. Tania Belvederesi (Ita) FRW – Gauss 0.54
95. Linn Torp (Nor) Global Racing Team
96. Lang Meng (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team
97. Janne Brok (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland 0.55
98. Jaccolien Wallaard (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland 0.57
99. Daphny Van Den Brand (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland 0.58
100. Agne Sukutyte (Ltu) Lithuania 1
101. Sigrid Jochems (Ned) Global Racing Team 1.03
102. Xiong Ying Ruan (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team 1.04
103. Fei Wang (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team 1.05
104. Kettj Manfrin (Ita) FRW – Gauss 1.06
105. Céline Nivet (Fra) Les Pruneaux D’Agen 1.07
106. Li Ping (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team 1.09
107. Joelle Numainville (Can) Team Expresscopy.com 1.11
108. Eleonora Soldo (Ita) FRW – Gauss 1.13
109. Sufen Ma (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team 1.15
110. Xiaoning Gao (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team
111. Aurore Jeudy (Fra) Les Pruneaux D’Agen 1.2

Team Classification

1. Raleigh Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team 14.38
2. T-Mobile Team 0.07
3. Bigla Cycling Team 0.09
4. Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 0.16
5. Team Flexpoint 0.17
6. Germany 0.24
7. Team DSB Bank 0.34
8. France 0.45
9. Netherlands 0.54
10. Menikini-Gysko 0.58
11. Fenixs-HPB 0.59
12. Team Expresscopy.com 1
13. Team FRW 1.05
14. Les Pruneaux D’Agen 1.18
15. New Zealand 1.25
16. Comunidad Valenciana 1.27
17. Lithuania 1.32
18. Global Racing Team 1.56
19. Giant Pro Cycling Team 2.34