(August 4, 2002)                                                                                              Hot News Main Page 

Saturn's Rossner Wins Morning Stage At Tour De France

'S-HERTOGENBOSCH FRANCE (August 4, 2002) Saturn's Petra Rossner won the first stage of la Grande Boucle féminine, raced over 92.9 kilometers around the Dutch town of 's-Hertogenbosch. With the assistance from her motivated Saturn Team, the group arrived to the finish together, delivering Rossner to the line where she beat Russian sprinter Olga Slioussareva (Itera) and Debby Mansveld (Vlaanderen-T Interim). Local favorite Leontien-Zijlaard van Moorsel (Farm Frites-Hartol) finished fourth.

In the general classification, both Rossner and Slioussareva were on the same time, due to bonus seconds taken during the stage. However, Rossner began the afternoon's stage, a team time trial, in the leader's jersey after having won the morning's stage.

The afternoon's second stage was a 15 kilometer team time trial around
's-Hertogenbosch. After 15 kilometers it was Van Morsel's Farm Frites Team taking the win over the Saturn Cycling Team by 12 seconds. Third was Slioussareva's Itera Team. Van Moorsel will begin tomorrow's second stage in the Yellow Leader's Jersey but with many mountain passes, and 13 days remaining in the Tour, there are many competitors waiting to challenge for the Yellow Jersey.

[Souce: Giana Roberge at KaRoberge1@aol.com, (262) 549-6801, Ext. 46]