Plouay hosted the Worlds in 2000 and I loved the course, the ambienceat the race and the support of the crowd.This year is the first year they have hosted a women’s World Cup eventhere. It seems a natural place for one since Brittany is the center ofcycling in France and I think Plouay is the center of cycling in Brittany.Each year the men’s race draws massive crowds and is one of the highlightson the French cycling calendar.The area brings back a lot of fond memories for me as Michael and Ispent a few good days here with our mothers in 2000. Earlier this year,when I started racing as a professional again I decided Plouay was a raceI wanted to compete in.Before the start today we shared some laughs as our van was surroundedwith fans asking which of us was Kristin Armstrong. I would point to Kristinand the next question would be “Is she Lance’s sister?” or “Is she Lance’swife?”Since I am the only rider on the team who speaks French, all the questionswere coming my way. I would answer “no, there is no relation, but Kristinis fast like Lance.”Then there was someone who asked if she is Lance with a sex change.I jokingly answered yes and took it a little further, saying Lance gota sex change after the Tour, including breast implants and lost some weight.The crowd seemed to like that response and they proceeded to take it evenfurther, to the point of becoming lewd. It was hilarious. I think the Frenchlove to talk about anything sex related and Lance is their biggest hero.Meanwhile, Kristin was getting a little embarrassed as everyone was checkingher out and commenting on her breast size and the shape of her body.We meandered to the start after that episode. I expected there to bea huge crowd surrounding the start after having competed here in the 2000World Championships, where it was pouring rain and the course was linedwith thousands of people. Today, the sun was shining and there was hardlyanyone there. Strange. I think the Bretons may be scared of the sun, asthey are so used to rain living in this most precipitous region of France.Anyhow, despite the lack of fans at the start, there were plenty on thehills and at the finish.Today was the battle royal between Farm-Frites and team Saturn, as MirjiamMelchers, who came to the start in the World Cup leader’s jersey, and PetraRossner, who was trailing her by only a few points, have such a big leadin the World Cup overall now, they are the only two contenders left.Farm-Frites tried to crack Petra on the hills today by riding at thefront and attacking. They made it tough and fast and forced some splitsin the peloton. They managed to drop Petra from the front group a few times;although, I am not completely convinced that Petra was getting gapped offbecause of bad legs, I think she was trying to ride as easy as possibleon the hills to save her legs for the final and perhaps had the confidencethat her teammates could drag her back to the front each time. Anyhow,her teammates did a super job to keep her out of the wind and bring herback each time she got gapped off.There were many breakaway attempts today, but because the pace was sohigh, none really stuck until the two laps to go, when a French gal attackedand got a huge gap. She rode hard off the front, but was sucked up andat one lap to go, the field was still together.I was feeling all right, so I attacked over the top of one of the hillsand got a gap. I rode solo for a while and the Susanne Longskog and JoanneSomaribba bridged to me. We were rolling fast, but Saturn was chasing hardfrom behind and we were caught at the base of the final hill with fourkilometers to go.The group shattered on the last hill and Petra managed to stay in thefront. Simona Parente attacked and broke clear, but was caught with 300meter to. Then, it was a dash to the line for the front group of ten, withRegina Schleicher winning the sprint and Petra second. Petra got the WorldCup leader’s jersey back from Melchers who had taken it off of her shouldersin Montreal a couple months ago. The point spread is still tight and itwill be a good battle between these two in the final two World Cups. I am headed home to Boulder tomorrow, as I start back at Universityon Monday and will be preparing for the World Championships over the nextseveral weeks.

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GP Plouay - World Cup Number 7, Plouay, France, August 24, 20021. Regina Schleicher (G), Michela Fanini Record Rox, 115km in 2:52:38(39.96 kph)
2. Petra Rossner (G), Saturn, s.t.
3. Susanne Ljungskog (S), Vlaanderen-T Interim, s.t.
4. Mirjam Melchers (Nl), Farm Frites-Hartol, s.t.
5. Encritz Iturriaga Etxeberria (Sp) , s.t.
6. Sandrine Marcuz (F), French National, s.t.
7. Joane Somarriba Arrola (Sp), Deia-Pragma-Colnago, s.t.
8. Susan Palmer-Komar (Can), Reste du Monde, s.t.
9. Fabiana Luperini (I), Edilsavino, s.t.
10. Aline Camboulives (F), French National
11. Simona Parente (I), Edilsavino, at, 0:06
12. Judith Arndt (G), Saturn, at, 0:11
13. Sophie Creux (F), French National, at, 0:33
14. Lisbeth Simper (Dk), Michela Fanini Record Rox, s.t.
15. Magali Le Floch (F), French National, s.t.Overall World Cup, after 7 races
1. Petra Rossner (G), Saturn, 259 points
2. Mirjam Melchers (Nl), Farm Frites-Hartol, 253
3. Regina Schleicher (G), Michela Fanini Record Rox 168
4. Priska Doppmann (Swi), Swiss National, 120
5. Rochelle Gilmore (Aus), Australian National, 100
6. Fabiana Luperini (I), Edilsavino, 98
7. Hanka Kupfernagel (G), Nurnberger, 92
8. Dede Demet-Barry (USA), USA T-Mobile, 75
9. Susanne Ljungskog (S), Vlaanderen-T Interim, 75
10. Lyne Bessette (Can), Quebec, 74
11. Anna Millward (Aus), Saturn, 50
12. Diana Ziliute (Lit), Acca Due O, 50
13. Judith Arndt (G), Saturn, 45
14. Hayley Rutherford (Aus), Australian National, 44
15. Edita Pucinskaite (Lit), Figurella Dream Team, 39
16. Aline Camboulives (F), French National, 37
17. Nicole Brändli (Swi), Acca Due O, 36
18. Geneviève Jeanson (Can), RONA, 35
19. Chantal Beltman (Nl), Acca Due O, 35
20. Sandrine Marcuz (F), French National, 34