Bike riders, tramps and thieves
Yesterday, after a long day in the saddle and a long drive afterward,we arrived at our very quaint French hotel last night only to find outthat the front desk manager had mistakenly been told that our team wasa bunch of thieves. So he refused to open any of our phone lines for fearthat we wouldn’t pay our bills. And he asked our team director for paymentin full as soon as we arrived.

As we later found out, after a bit of argument, one of the Italian teamshad left the Dutch hotel without paying for about 200 euros worth of phonecalls. So the faxes had been flying and somehow it got turned around thatthe Saturn team were the ones who had skipped on the bill. Not having anyItalians on our team, we’re not sure how that came to be...but everythinghas been worked out now and the disgruntled desk manager finally openedour phone lines. I made sure to pay the 0.62 euro this morning for my calls.

Mechanics
Speaking of yesterday, I also forgot to mention that in yesterday’srace — in the last 20km — my shifter was getting stuck and it wouldn’tshift my chain from the small to the big chain ring. I pressed the shifterabout 10 times with no luck and radioed in to Toby that I needed assistance.The pace wasn’t that high, but I could see myself in trouble in the last10km once girls started racing for the field sprint. Then there’d be me– way in the back, spinning absolutely out of control in my small chainring.

That happened to me once last year, too, at the Thuringen stage racein Germany. We were racing a super hilly stage and my shifter had beenacting up all day. Finally at the top of hill with a particularly longdescent, my shifter permanently blew up and I was stuck in the small chainring, spinning my brains out. Kenny, our lovely mechanic who we all missvery much, put a brand new shifter on my bike for the next day. However,on the very next stage, I then proceeded to crash on a descent, landedon the pavé, and broke the brand new shifter. (And—or so I thought—myhip, as well. But that’s another story.) Oh the dreadful things we putour trusty mechanics through!

Stage 5 -- Easy morning...
Our morning was very relaxing. Come to think of it, maybe it was a little too relaxing, as I should have known things couldn’t possibly go that smoothly all day. I think I spenttoo much time watching the European Track and Field Championships on Eurosportinstead of preparing myself for the afternoon time trial. We had our teammeeting at 12:30.

Anna, Ina, Cat, Petra, and Kim D. had their race already all figuredout. Since they don’t consider themselves our main GC riders, they weresimply riding the TT to finish within the estimated time cut. They evenput tape on their stem with the time splits they would need at the 25km,20km, 10km, and 5km to go signs to make the time cut while expending theleast amount of energy.

...chaotic afternoon
Those girls left in the car ahead of Judith and I since they were startingearlier. The trouble started as the car with Judith and me left the parkinglot of the hotel. We promptly got lost on our way to the start of the course.Small panic attack. I tried to keep my mouth shut since I didn’t want toget Judith any more nervous than she already was.

Finally, we saw Anna and Petra riding their TT bikes around lookingfor us so they could lead us to the start. We hopped on our bikes thatwere set up on trainers and started our individual warm-ups. I was a bitmore nervous than usual because I had not seen the course at all. I lovetime trials and wanted to see how I faired against some of the best womenin the world, but I didn’t give myself the best preparation by not ridingor even driving the course ahead of time.

I have learned my lesson! Fifteen minutes before my start, the staffrealized that our equipment truck had taken off with all the super-duperaerodynamic helmets in it. Now I’m no aerodynamic specialist, but I dothe little things...wear my TT booties over my shoes, don my long-sleevedskinsuit, and wear the super fast --albeit silly-looking, TT helmet. Withthat not being an option anymore, we did the next best thing...put tapeover my regular helmet. Now I looked great in my special helmet sandwichedup there on the start stand between Miriam Melchers and Leontien Van Moorsel.Watch out girls!

... and Toto, too?
The 31km course was a great...very rolling, a couple biting hills,and lots of twisty curves through the French villages lined with fans.My legs felt great and I took it out fast...and then almost took myselfout in two sharp corners within the first 10km. I’m sure I provided a bitof entertainment to the people standing on those corners. That, or I struckfear in their hearts that this maniac chic on a bike was about to run overtheir children.

Once I got out of the twisting village streets, the course took to thehills and I felt like I was flying. But then it started to rain. And thunder.And lightening. I can honestly say I have never seen rain like this. Itwas insane. I was just waiting for the tornado to hit. I felt likeDorothy out of the Wizard of Oz with Toto in my basket.

The puddles were so deep that they completely covered my shoes. My leadmotorbike was so far in front of me, I could not even see where he wasgoing and lost sight of the course. I felt like my Lasik eye surgery hadjust reversed itself. I could feel my bike hydroplaning. Iit was chaos!The rain was coming down so hard it felt like little needles on my arms,back, and legs. I don’t think my lack of a TT helmet was really makingmuch of a difference anymore! I kept waiting for some official to comeup to me and say, “We’ve annulled the stage..go back to your car and getwarm!”

But nobody did.

Judith was the final competitor to go off as the start order was reverseGC. She’s a great all-weather rider, so I’m sure she did well. All we knowof results so far is that Leontien won and Judith was only about a minuteback. Other girls that I heard did well are Sharhuskai and Zabirova, USCChirio, and Brandli, Acca Duo. Seeing that it was Leontien that startedbehind me today, I can’t blame the rotten weather for my sub-par performancenow, either!

Results - Stage 5 - Saint Vallier to Monteceau les Mines1. Leontien Van Moorsel (Nl), Farm Frites-Hartol, 43:31.47 (43.08 kph)
2. Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr), USC Chirio, at 0:25
3. Judith Arndt (G), Saturn, at 0:54
4. Zoulfia Zabirova (Rus), USC Chirio, at 1:05
5. Nicole Brandli (Swi), Acca Due O, at 1:08
6. Kimberly Bruckner (USA), Saturn, at 1:14
7. Joane Somarriba Arrola (Sp), Deia Pragma Colnago, at 1:32
8. Susanne Ljungskog (S), Vlaanderen-T Interim, at 1:33
9. Alessandra Cappellotto (I), Mixte Power Plate, at 1:36
10. Edita Pucinskaite (Lit), Figurella Dream, at 1:39
11. Youlia Martissova (Rus), Itera, at 1:40
12. Rasa Polikeviciute (Lit), Acca Due O, at 1:57
13. Mirjam Melchers (Nl), Farm Frites-Hartol, at 2:05
14. Valentina Polkhanova (Rus), Itera, at 2:13
15. Tatiana Stiajkina (Ukr), Deia Pragma Colnago, at 2:13
16. Jolanta Polikeviciute (Lit), Acca Due O, at 2:15
17. Simona Parente (I), Edilsavino, at 2:30
18. Marta Vilajosana Andreu (Sp), Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet 2:43
19. Rosalisa Lapomarda (I), Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet, at 2:49
20. Diana Ziliute (Lit), Acca Due O, at 2:52
21. Amber Neben (USA), T Mobile, at 2:55
22. Deirdre Demet-Barry (USA), T Mobile, at 3:20
23. Cindy Pieters (B), Vlaanderen-T Interim, at 3:29
24. Svetlana Boubnenkova (Rus), Edilsavino, at 3:30
25. Bogumila Matusiak (Pol), Mixte Power Plate, at 3:36
26. Daniela Veronesi (I), Edilsavino, at 3:43
27. Eneritz Iturriaga Mazaga (Sp), Deia Pragma Colnago, at 3:54
28. Emma James (Aus), C.A Mantes la ville 78, at 3:59
29. Arenda Grimberg (Nl), Farm Frites-Hartol, at 4:02
30. Olga Slioussareva (Rus), Itera, at 4:04
31. Tetyana Andrushchenko (Ukr), USC Chirio, at 4:07
32. Iryna Chuzhynova (Ukr), Edilsavino, at 4:09
33. Aline Camboulives (F), French National, at 4:10
34. Anouska Van Der Zee (Nl), Farm Frites-Hartol, at 4:10
35. Marianna Lorenzoni (I), Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet, at 4:19
36. Liane Bahler (G), Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung, at 4:24
37. Teodora Ruano Sanchon (Sp), Deia Pragma Colnago, at 4:25
38. Madeleine Lindberg (S), Farm Frites-Hartol, at 4:34
39. Marcia Eicher-Vouets (Swi), C.A Mantes la ville 78, at 4:35
40. Lada Kozlikova (Cze), Itera, at 4:36
41. Silvia Parietti (I), Figurella Dream, at 4:45
42. Birgit Sollner (G), Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung, at 4:49
43. Yvonne Brunen (Nl), Mixte Power Plate, at 5:01
44. Lisbeth Simper (Den), Michela Fanini, at 5:08
45. Catherine Marsal (F), Saturn, at 5:14
46. Sandrine Marcuz (F), French National, at 5:18
47. Jenny Algelid-Bengtsson (S), Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung, at5:18
48. Kristin Armstrong (USA), T Mobile, at 5:19
49. Mari Holden (USA), T Mobile, at 5:24
50. Anna Ramirez (Sp), Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet, at 5:24
51. Heidi Van De Vijver (B), Vlaanderen-T Interim, at 5:25
52. Kim Anderson (USA), T Mobile, at 5:25
53. Priska Doppmann (Swi), Mixte Power Plate, at 5:31
54. Chantal Beltman (Nl), Acca Due O, at 5:37
55. Baukje Doedee (Sp), Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia, at 5:38
56. Debby Mansveld (Nl), Vlaanderen-T Interim, at 5:38
57. Ina Yoko Teutenberg (G), Saturn, at 5:38
58. Edita Kubelskiene (Lit), Figurella Dream, at 5:43
59. Zita Urbonaite (Lit), Acca Due O, at 5:44
60. Alessandra d'Ettore (I), Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet 5:48
61. Kym Shirley (Aus), Itera, at 5:51
62. Sandra Rombouts (Nl), Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung, at 5:54
63. Valentyna Karpenko (Ukr), Deia Pragma Colnago, at 6:06
64. Alison Wright (Aus), Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung, at 6:16
65. Kim Davidge (USA), Saturn, at 6:17
66. Sissy Van Alebeek (Nl), Farm Frites-Hartol, at 6:19
67. Magalie Finot (F), French National, at 6:35
68. Francis Linthorst (Nl), Mixte Power Plate, at 6:36
69. Christine Mos (Nl), Mixte Power Plate, at 6:40
70. Cristina Alcalde Huertanos (Sp), Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia, at 6:40
71. Regina Schleicher (G), Michela Fanini, at 6:41
72. Rhonda Quick (USA), Figurella Dream, at 6:53
73. Marina Khodtchenkova (Rus), Edilsavino, at 7:00
74. Elisabeth Chevanne Brunel (F), C.A Mantes la ville 78, at 7:03
75. Anke Wichmann (G), Michela Fanini, at 7:04
76. Katie Mactier (Aus), Michela Fanini, at 7:07
77. Karine Dalmais (F), French National, at 7:10
78. Vanessa Rochelle Guyton (NZl), Vlaanderen-T Interim, at 7:11
79. Anna Millward (Aus), Saturn, at 7:13
80. Stacey Peters (USA), T Mobile, at 7:14
81. Letizia Giardinelli (I), Michela Fanini, at 7:14
82. Penny Edwards (GB), USC Chirio, at 7:16
83. Sara Felloni (I), Edilsavino, at 7:26
84. Miho Oki (Jpn), C.A Mantes la ville 78, at 7:27
85. Petra Rossner (G), Saturn, at 7:34
86. Sylvie Riedle (F), C.A Mantes la ville 78, at 7:35
87. Helga Faccin (I), USC Chirio, at 7:36
88. Svetlana Samokhvalova (Rus), Itera, at 7:39
89. Ghita Beltman (Nl), Acca Due O, at 7:41
90. Francesca Castrucci (I), Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet 7:42
91. Alexandra Nohles (G), Mixte Power Plate, at 7:54
92. Montserrat Alonso Bernal (Sp), Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia, at 7:58
93. Elsbeth Vink (Nl), Farm Frites-Hartol, at 8:01
94. Nicole Cooke (GB), Deia Pragma Colnago, at 8:07
95. Isabelle Moulis (F), French National, at 8:07
96. Veronique Belleter (B), Vlaanderen-T Interim, at 8:14
97. Goulnara Ivanova (Rus), USC Chirio, at 8:38
98. Laure Werner (B), Vlaanderen-T Interim, at 8:43
99. Agurtzane Elorriaga Derteano (Sp), Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia 8:50
100. Iosune Murillo Elkano (Sp), Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia, at 8:59
101. Marta Evangelisti (I), Edilsavino, at 9:02
102. Shani Bloch (Isr), Michela Fanini, at 9:07
103. Cynthia Compain (F), C.A Mantes la ville 78, at 9:17
104. Cornelia Cyrus (Rus), Itera, at 9:33
105. Tiziana Smorgon (I), Figurella Dream, at 9:44
106. Nikane Xuen Mallea Ludlon (Sp), Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia, at 9:45
107. Monica Ceccon (I), Michela Fanini, at 9:53
108. Vilija Purlite (Lit), Figurella Dream, at 9:59
109. Maitane Telletxea (Sp), Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia, at 11:15
110. Fany Lecourtois (F), Deia Pragma Colnago, at 12:41Overall after five stages1. Judith Arndt (G), Saturn, at 15:06:22
2. Leontien Van Moorsel (Nl), Farm Frites-Hartol, at 0:30
3. Valentina Polkhanova (Rus), Itera, at 1:46
4. Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr), USC Chirio, at 2:10
5. Kimberly Bruckner (USA), Saturn, at 2:13
6. Zoulfia Zabirova (Rus), USC Chirio, at 2:43
7. Mirjam Melchers (Nl), Farm Frites-Hartol, at 2:53
8. Youlia Martissova (Rus), Itera, at 2:55
9. Joane Somarriba Arrola (Sp), Deia Pragma Colnago, at 3:08
10. Alessandra Cappellotto (I), Mixte Power Plate, at 3:30
11. Susanne Ljungskog (S), Vlaanderen-T Interim, at 3:39
12. Rasa Polikeviciute (Lit), Acca Due O, at 3:40
13. Edita Pucinskaite (Lit), Figurella Dream, at 3:40
14. Jolanta Polikeviciute (Lit), Acca Due O, at 3:58
15. Simona Parente (I), Edilsavino, at 4:14
16. Amber Neben (USA), T Mobile, at 4:55
17. Nicole Brandli (Swi), Acca Due O, at 5:06
18. Liane Bahler (G), Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung, at 6:18
19. Arenda Grimberg (Nl), Farm Frites-Hartol, at 6:25
20. Tatiana Stiajkina (Ukr), Deia Pragma Colnago, at 6:56
21. Madeleine Lindberg (S), Farm Frites-Hartol, at 6:58
22. Olga Slioussareva (Rus), Itera, at 7:59
23. Iryna Chuzhynova (Ukr), Edilsavino, at 8:02
24. Sandrine Marcuz (F), French National, at 8:22
25. Diana Ziliute (Lit), Acca Due O, at 8:55
26. Debby Mansveld (Nl), Vlaanderen-T Interim, at 8:58
27. Heidi Van De Vijver (B), Vlaanderen-T Interim, at 9:08
28. Regina Schleicher (G), Michela Fanini, at 9:26
29. Zita Urbonaite (Lit), Acca Due O, at 9:34
30. Svetlana Boubnenkova (Rus), Edilsavino, at 9:43
31. Miho Oki (Jpn), C.A Mantes la ville 78, at 10:04
32. Karine Dalmais (F), French National, at 10:09
33. Bogumila Matusiak (Pol), Mixte Power Plate, at 10:21
34. Cindy Pieters (B), Vlaanderen-T Interim, at 10:41
35. Mari Holden (USA), T Mobile, at 11:09
36. Letizia Giardinelli (I), Michela Fanini, at 11:11
37. Priska Doppmann (Swi), Mixte Power Plate, at 11:11
38. Lisbeth Simper (Den), Michela Fanini, at 11:18
39. Elisabeth Chevanne Brunel (F), C.A Mantes la ville 78, at 11:20
40. Yvonne Brunen (Nl), Mixte Power Plate, at 11:37
41. Marta Vilajosana Andreu (Sp), Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet, at11:41
42. Marcia Eicher-Vouets (Swi), C.A Mantes la ville 78, at 12:03
43. Kym Shirley (Aus), Itera, at 12:08
44. Elsbeth Vink (Nl), Farm Frites-Hartol, at 12:11
45. Aline Camboulives (F), French National, at 12:11
46. Daniela Veronesi (I), Edilsavino, at 12:16
47. Edita Kubelskiene (Lit), Figurella Dream, at 12:23
48. Lada Kozlikova (Cze), Itera, at 12:35
49. Birgit Sollner (G), Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung, at 12:38
50. Helga Faccin (I), USC Chirio, at 12:41
51. Anna Millward (Aus), Saturn, at 12:59
52. Jenny Algelid-Bengtsson (S), Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung 13:09
53. Chantal Beltman (Nl), Acca Due O, at 13:12
54. Silvia Parietti (I), Figurella Dream, at 13:19
55. Ghita Beltman (Nl), Acca Due O, at 13:38
56. Sara Felloni (I), Edilsavino, at 13:41
57. Valentyna Karpenko (Ukr), Deia Pragma Colnago, at 13:43
58. Sandra Rombouts (Nl), Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung, at 13:48
59. Petra Rossner (G), Saturn, at 13:54
60. Francis Linthorst (Nl), Mixte Power Plate, at 13:58
61. Sylvie Riedle (F), C.A Mantes la ville 78, at 14:03
62. Veronique Belleter (B), Vlaanderen-T Interim, at 14:10
63. Sissy Van Alebeek (Nl), Farm Frites-Hartol, at 14:13
64. Anouska Van Der Zee (Nl), Farm Frites-Hartol, at 14:19
65. Nicole Cooke (GB), Deia Pragma Colnago, at 14:22
66. Rosalisa Lapomarda (I), Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet, at 14:27
67. Deirdre Demet-Barry (USA), T Mobile, at 14:48
68. Marina Khodtchenkova (Rus), Edilsavino, at 15:14
69. Christine Mos (Nl), Mixte Power Plate, at 15:27
70. Alessandra d'Ettore (I), Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet, at 15:36
71. Marianna Lorenzoni (I), Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet, at 15:54
72. Emma James (Aus), C.A Mantes la ville 78, at 15:57
73. Cristina Alcalde Huertanos (Sp), Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia, at 16:10
74. Kristin Armstrong (USA), T Mobile, at 16:31
75. Kim Anderson (USA), T Mobile, at 16:38
76. Rhonda Quick (USA), Figurella Dream, at 16:49
77. Penny Edwards (GB), USC Chirio, at 17:08
78. Alison Wright (Aus), Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung, at 17:18
79. Svetlana Samokhvalova (Rus), Itera, at 17:28
80. Ina Yoko Teutenberg (G), Saturn, at 18:00
81. Catherine Marsal (F), Saturn, at 18:02
82. Laure Werner (B), Vlaanderen-T Interim, at 18:04
83. Teodora Ruano Sanchon (Sp), Deia Pragma Colnago, at 18:37
84. Shani Bloch (Isr), Michela Fanini, at 18:38
85. Baukje Doedee (Sp), Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia, at 19:02
86. Anke Wichmann (G), Michela Fanini, at 19:19
87. Magalie Finot (F), French National, at 19:48
88. Kim Davidge (USA), Saturn, at 19:59
89. Montserrat Alonso Bernal (Sp), Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia, at 20:08
90. Isabelle Moulis (F), French National, at 20:27
91. Goulnara Ivanova (Rus), USC Chirio, at 20:51
92. Eneritz Iturriaga Mazaga (Sp), Deia Pragma Colnago, at 22:57
93. Monica Ceccon (I), Michela Fanini, at 23:36
94. Tiziana Smorgon (I), Figurella Dream, at 24:08
95. Iosune Murillo Elkano (Sp), Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia, at 24:27
96. Vilija Purlite (Lit), Figurella Dream, at 25:04
97. Katie Mactier (Aus), Michela Fanini, at 25:09
98. Anna Ramirez (Sp), Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet, at 25:38
99. Stacey Peters (USA), T Mobile, at 26:32
100. Marta Evangelisti (I), Edilsavino, at 26:40
101. Tetyana Andrushchenko (Ukr), USC Chirio, at 27:45
102. Alexandra Nohles (G), Mixte Power Plate, at 28:49
103. Francesca Castrucci (I), Aliverti Kookai Imm Luca Atet, at 31:29
104. Fany Lecourtois (F), Deia Pragma Colnago, at 33:27
105. Cornelia Cyrus (Rus), Itera, at 36:20
106. Agurtzane Elorriaga Derteano (Sp), Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia, at 39:42
107. Vanessa Rochelle Guyton (NZl), Vlaanderen-T Interim, at 40:46
108. Cynthia Compain (F), C.A Mantes la ville 78, at 45:15
109. Nikane Xuen Mallea Ludlon (Sp), Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia, at 1:02:06
110. Maitane Telletxea (Sp), Mixte Sabeco Bizkaia, at 1:25:22