WomensCycling.net 

Race Results

KATIE MACTIER WINS THE NATURE VALLEY GRAND PRIX 

Stage 1    Stage 2    Stage 3    Stage 4    Stage 5     Final GC

Australian Katie MacTier of the Saturn Cycling Team won the Nature Valley Grand Prix, a stage race that ended today in Minnesota.  Her Canadian teammate Manon Jutras confiormed her second place overall while German Karen Bockel of RONA/Esker completed the final podium.

 Canadian Erinne Willock of RONA/Esker, eleventh in final G.C., won the Espoir (under 23) classification.  New-Zealand’s Sarah Ulmer won the points classification.

 In today’s stage, a hard criterium raced on a 2-km short course with a 24% wall, Karen Bockel attacked and tried to knock manon Jutras off second place in general classification.  But Team Saturn defended their positions with their usual effectiveness and the nine seconds that Bockel managed to gain on Jutras were not enough to fill the 20 second-gap that she faced before the fifth and last stage of the race. 

Saturn’s Lyne Bessette won the stage, followed by Sarah Ulmer and Karen Bockel.  Esette’s performance earned her a spot in the top ten.

 Fifth stage :  Stillwater Criterium 

Stage Rankings

Rank

Name (team)

Time

1

Lyne Bessette (CAN, Saturn)

51’ 54”

2

Sarah Ulmer  (NZL, TDS)

28”

3

Karen Bockel (GER, RONA/Esker)

30”

4

Katie MacTier  (AUS, Saturn)

33”

5

Manon Jutras (CAN, Saturn)

37”

6

Amy Moore (CAN, Saturn)

1’04”

7

Margaret Hemsley (Équipe Nurnberger)

1’06”

8

Tina Mayolo-Pic (USA, Diet Rite)

1’07”

9

Madelina Lindberg (Équipe Nurnberger)

1’09”

10

Sarah Conrad

s.t.

15

Erinne Willock (CAN, RONA/Esker)

1’19”

18

Andrea Hannos (CAN, RONA/Esker)

3’56”

23

Carrie Tuck (CAN, RONA/Esker)

4’38”

31

Melissa Holt (NZL, RONA/Esker)

4’46”

Final General Classification

Rank

Name (team)

Time

1

Katie MacTier (AUS, Saturn)

7h 44’ 55”

2

Manon Jutras  (CAN, Saturn)

1’03”

3

Karen Bockel (GER, RONA/Esker)

1’16”

4

Sarah Ulmer (NZL, TDS)

2’05”

5

Tina Mayolo-Pic (USA, Diet Rite)

2’30”

6

Amy Moore (CAN, Saturn)

3’14”

7

Dotsie Cowden (USA, T Mobile)

3’15”

8

Margaret Hemsley (Équipe Nurnberger)

3’40”

9

Lyne Bessette (CAN, Saturn)

6’23”

10

Melissa Holt (NZL, RONA/Esker)

7’03”

11

Erinne Willock (CAN, RONA/Esker)

7’38”

20

Andrea Hannos (CAN, RONA/Esker)

11’25”

21

Carrie Tuck (CAN, RONA/Esker)

12’07”

 The race’s web site is at www.minnbikefestival.com

 Team RONA/Esker is one of only two Canadian women’s cycling teams in the Elite Category that are recognized by the International Cycling Union. The team is made up of four Canadian racers (Geneviève Jeanson, Andrea Hannos, Carrie Tuck and Erinne Willock), French racers Catherine Marsal and Magali Le Floc’h, New Zealander Melissa Holt, German Karen Bockel and American Kristen LaSasso. The team’s web site is at www.ronateam.ca.

 RONA is Canada’s leading hardware and home renovation retailer (www.rona.ca). Esker is a natural spring water from the north of Canada, sold in North America and Asia (www.eskerwater.com).

 The team also receives equipment and service sponsorships from many companies, including Colnago, Biemme, Shimano, Michelin, Mavic, Diadora, Limar, Selle Italia, ITM, Look, CatEye, Tacx, Finish Line, Cane Creek, Saris, Power Tap, Cycles Lambert and Club Médico-Sportif.