Giro Donne 2005

1^st July - 10^th July

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Stage Review - Stage 6

On another climber's day - with four 3rd category climbs and two 2nd category climbs, Kiwi, Sarah Ulmer (Team Sats) hung off the front of the group for another majority 'chunk' of the stage. It was no surprise as the race came into view on the second climb (3rd cat) that the sole outline of the Team SATS rider was outlined in the headlights of the support cars on the second small lap of 4 on total. In fact, Ulmer went away with just 9km covered - just after the first climb of the day.

With 31km covered, the SATS rider had a 48 second advantage, although the bunch was not worried - it was slowly bringing her back. She was caught with 42km covered, but broke away again 2km later.

Next lap - number three pf four was a longer lap - a 30km circuit and the one containing the 2nd category climb. As the race went around the back of the circuit, heading to the hills, which came in quick succession, Ulmer was just 15 seconds ahead. By the time they climbed the 2nd category climb, she had been swallowed by the bunch and would not escape from the pack again

The final lap saw several attacks, including a short break off the front by Australian RR champion, Lorian Graham, she managed to gain a 50 second gap but was only away from the bunch for 3km. But everything was together at the foot of the final climb / descent. A group of 9 riders went away with just 4km to go, but the break was doomed and it was a bunch 'compato' which came into sight to sprint for the stage honours.

The final sprint went to Giorgia Bronzini (Chirio Forno D'Aloso) from Oenone Wood (Fenixs) and Olga Slyusareva (Nobili Rubinetterrie).

Nicole Braendli retained the leader's jersey, Bronzini leads the points and young rider's competitions and Svetlana Bubnenkova (Fenixs) has kept the mountains jersey - that is, no change in the leaders of the various competitions.

Post Stage Comments

Giorgia Bronzini reflected on the stage : "I am happy with the Giro so far. I am pushing hard, but I feel like I can do a lot - I am in perfect shape." 

It was not hte most erstful start to hte day for Italian racing licence holders - all were visited early in the day by the anti-doping testers. Bronzini cooperated calmly with the testers, despite the nervous dau ahead. Last seen this evening, she was waiting patiently to provide anpther sample - as part of hte normal post stage procedures on the race, who's riders called for testing always include the stage winner.

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Results - Stage 6