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Race Results

Trophee D'Or

Arvord, France

Stage 1    Stage 2    Stage 3    Stage 4    Stage 5     Stage 6 / Final GC 

Catherine Marsal second in the stage TROPHÉE D'OR: THE AUSTRALIAN FESTIVAL IS ON

As expected, the fourth stage of the Trophée d'Or had no serious impact on the general classification of the six-stage race held until Sunday in the centre of France. But the Australian festival went on, as Oenone Wood won the stage and her teammate Olivia GolIan kept the overall leader's Golden jersey. France's Catherine Marsal of team RONA/Esker finished second of the stage, in front of Australian Alison Wright (RRG Nobili) and Marsal's teammate and fellow Frenchwoman Magali Le Floc'h. RONA/Esker placed three riders in the top ten, as German Karen Bockel finished seventh of the stage.

Alison Wright kept her points leader's green jersey, in front of Magali Le Floc'h, and Oenone Wood kept her polka dot best climber's jersey.

Today's stage, the longest of the race with 114 kilometres, was raced on a very flat course. But narrow and winding roads made it very difficult for the riders to position themselves in the peloton, but facilitated control by the Australians, who wanted to protect Gollan's leader jersey. There were some attacks starting after mid-point, but they were all short-lived, as the Aussies occupied the front of the filed and offered effective protection to their leader. The only real action came from RONA/Esker, starting at kilometre 91, when Cathy Marsal and Magali Le Floc'h escaped the Aussies' vigilance. Well, almost. Australia's Katie MacTier went with them and diligently sat on their wheels. The gap eventually increased to about 15 seconds, but the wind limited the Frenchwomen's break to 7 kilometres. Less than 10 kilometres after Marsal and Le Floc'h were reeled in, their New Zealand teammate Meshy Holt attacked, with South Africa's Diane Emery (Internations 1) in her wake and, of course, Katie MacTier. The peloton reacted quickly. The plot would thicken until the final sprint.

"Oenone Wood launched the sprint from very far, like 400 metres", explained Cathy Marsal shortly after the race. Alison Wright took her wheel and I took Wright's. I felt good enough to jump them at the finish, but Wright exploded 200 metres from the finish. I had to go around her and I take the wind. I had a 10-metre gap between Wood and me, it was too much, too late."

Tomorrow's stage, Aubigny-sur-Nère - Aubigny-sur-Nère, is the mountain stage of the 2003 Trophée d'Or. At 96.4 kilometres long, it boasts a few "Hors catégorie" climbs, but they are sufficiently far from the finish for the dropped racers to have time to come back.

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.

Fourth Stage : Arvord -- Arvord

Stage Standings

87 starters, 84 classed

General Classification after four stages

RONA is Canada's leading hardware and home renovation retailer (www.rona.ca). Esker is 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.

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