August 31, 2003 (Saint-Amand-Montrond)- It was another great day for riders from down under, as New Zealand's Sarah Ulmer (Internations 1) won her third stage and Aussie Olivia Gollan (Team Australia) confirmed her overall victory at the Trophee d'Or here in central France. American Heather Albert (Internations 3) and France's Magali Le Floc'h (RONA/Esker) took second and third place in the stage respectively, in a stage that was fast (more than 40 km/h) and aggressive from beginning to the end. Italian Sigrid Corneo (Nobili Road Runners) kept her polka dot climber's jersey, while Australian Alison Wright (Nobili Road Runners) kept her points leader green jersey. The white jersey (under 23) was awarded to Bielorussian Volha Hayeva (Internations 3).

Before the start, one could have expected a fun ride, when a group of Kiwi riders and staff (including RONA/Esker's Meshy Holt) gave the crowd a demonstration of Hakka, the traditional Maori dance. But Hakka is a war dance. Attacks started almost from the gun. RONA/Esker's Magali Le Floc'h and Karen Bockel quickly tested the peloton's reactions, and shortly after a group formed, a little cluster at a time, until 13 women were out in front after 10 kilometres of raicng. Le Floc'h and Bockel were there, as their Teammate Erinne Willock and Brigit Hollmann (Rostex Quantum), Emma James (Team Australia), Heather Albert, Sandrine Marcuz-Moreau (French Nationals) and others. But the group lacked cohesion and was reeled in after seven kilometres. Ten kilometres down the road a major crash happened at the back of the field and several women had to abandon, a few of them being driven to hospital in an ambulance.

Three kilometres later, German Daniela Kenty (Luxembourg Mixte) attacked, followed by Carine Peter (Gervais Lilas) and Cathy Marsal (RONA/Esker). The three created a gap and Cathy Marsal, usually more comfortable on a flat course, won the last climber's sprint of the competition, at the top of a climb much tougher than we would have expected by looking at the race book. This climb did put an end to the break, however, but broke the peloton in three pieces and generated a new attack, this time by Sylvie Riedle (Gervais Lilas) and Erinne Willock. They were joined by a small group, including young Hayeva, well positioned in G.C. Hayeva's presence forced the Aussies to react, but race leader Gollan had to supply her own defence. As soon as this break was reeled in another trio went away, with Heidi Van de Vijver, Zlatica Gavlakova Bazola (Gervais Lilas) and RONA/Esker's Karen Bockel. They stayed in front for almost 20 kilometres, enough for Bockel to win her team the most lucrative sprint primes of the day.

Another fistful of kilometres went by and Swiss Diana Rast (Mazza) fled, with Katie MacTier on her wheel, making sure the Golden jersey would be represented. But instead of playing passive observer, MacTier took the field by surprise and started to work. So the pair increased their gap to almost 50 seconds. Nobili Road Runners led the chase, but entering into Saint-Amand, with 25 kilometres remaining in town, the lead was still more than 20 seconds. MacTier dropped her Swiss companion Rast. Behind, Magali Le Floc'h and Heather led the chase and said good-bye to the field. They shaved second after second, but then Sarah Ulmer came from behind and joined them in front. So four women rushed through the last five kilometres in front. A fearsome sprinter on any day, Ulmer looked fresher than the others. So instead of trying to outsprint her, Le Floc'h attacked in the last 400 metres. But Ulmer put on her turbo and no one could keep up with her. “I was tired, we had chased at such a crazy pace!” said Le Floc'h. Plus I had to break in the last corner; you can't come back from that. Ulmer passed me 50 metres from the finish.”