12th-17th September 2006: Giro Del Toscana

Stage 1 - Prologue - 5k

I was invited to ride for Team System Data for the Giro Del Toscana. I rode this race last year and I liked it so I was happy to come back to Italy for some more pain! I met with the team in our apartment in Toscana which was located very close to some of the hills we will be doing in the race. Also guest riding for the team was Kristen Lasasso from Team Lipton in America and Betina Hold from Webcore Team in America, they are both really cool chicks!

The prologue was out and back along the sea front, the conditions were dry and sunny with a nice cross wind. Although we had a team of 8 girls only 5 of us worked in the Prologue which was tough on the final lap. We came in at 7.23s and the winners from the National Dutch team came in at 6.37s.

Stage 2 - 57k - Double Stage today

Today's first stage was lumpy with 4 climbs. It was very wet today and it stayed wet for the whole stage so out came the race capes. The race never got going until the 3rd climb of the day which was long and it had a fast descent. The team was working for Cremilda Fernandes so we got to work on the climbs for her to get her into a descent position. She came in 14th place with Noemi Cantele from Bigla taking the win. I settled into a group and then it dawned on me that it was going to be a long race as my legs were still feeling tired after the Tour of Pakistan!

Stage 3 - 67k

After the Morning stage we had lunch which was laid on by the organizers and then chilled out ready for the next stage which was a flat stage. It was still raining on and off so I new we had to stay up front as I thought there would be crashes today and I was not wrong as a few crashes happened early on in the race but the team was safe. So today was a day for the sprinters so we wanted to get Cremilda up front for the finish and every other team wanted to get their rider up front to so it was fast finish and Cremilda got 10th in the sprint so not bad going thanks to the team work, I finished in the bunch and Giorgia Bronzini won the sprint.

Stage 4 - 122k

Today's stage was the hardest stage of the race as we had a lot of climbing to do and it was wet very wet! The team wanted to keep Cremilda up front for the main climb which we did well and then settled into groups. I was with the current World Champion Regina Schleicher and many other's who were clearly saving their legs for the World's road race coming up. The team did well with Cremilda finishing in 7th place and Nicole Brandli from Bigla took the win in today's tough stage.

Stage 5 - 70k

Today was a easier day with one climb after 20k then it was rolling to the finish. The race was quite fast today with Bigla controlling things up front no one could get away, until the last 20k a small group got away with Bigla and Fenix colnago in the break . We chased down the break away group but could not close the gap so Naomi Cantele gets another win for team Bigla . I finished in 36th place in the sprint. Unfortunately 3 of the team were out of the race today as Betina crashed and so did another team member and one other girl was out of the time limit so now there are 5 of us.

Stage 6 - 100 k - Double stage today

Another wet day! oh boy this kit is looking dirty as it is hard to clean being white. Today's stage was close to the team apartment so alot of the locals came out to watch and support the girls. We had 5 climbs to do 4 of which were on a circuit. The bunch split on the first climb but the team stayed in place until the final climb when Svetlana Bubnenkova attacked up the climb with Cremilda on her wheel for a short while then Bubnenkova rode away to a solo victory. Cremilda came in at 5th place a good ride today. I finished in 61st place, my poor legs are complaining today!

Stage 7 - 57k

After a short rest and food we got ready for this evening criterium which was thankfully held in daylight unlike last year! The circuit was very twisty with a lot of corners to sprint out of. The race was quite hectic with many teams trying to get away but no one having any luck so a bunch sprint was on the cards. The finish was quite technical and strung out so it was free for all with T-mobile taking the win with Ina Teutenberg. I finished in the bunch at 68th.

Final stage - 106k

The final stage and it was a dry one. Only 80 girls are starting today and only 70 finished that is over half the field that has dropped out. This makes me feel better as although I am suffering with bad legs I am surviving at least. We had a few goes as a team to get away today on several occasions but team Colnago were controlling things for the current race leader Bubnenkova. The race went through a town which had wet paving stones and this is wear a split started as many people slowed down and left gaps before the climb that took you into the finish. Thankfully Cremilda and Kristen were positioned well so were able to keep in contact with the bunch and my legs were not having any more so I rolled in off the bunch having done my job for the day. Another good result with Cremilda coming in 8th Kristen at 25th and me in 61st.

A good result for the team with Cremilda finishing overall in 6th place, Kristen in 28th and me in 61st. Well done girls!

Now I am taking a rest for a few weeks and planning my season for 2007.

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