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Rossner
Doubles the Pleasure
Saturn Wins the Second Stop of the World Cup Series!
HAMILTON CITY, NEW
ZEALAND (March 10, 2002) The Saturn Women's Team continued their quest for the
World Cup Title today, competing in the second stop of the series in Hamilton,
New Zealand. On a course much different from the previous weekends, the
New Zealand course was a 6.3-kilometer seemingly benign circuit that by the
end of the 107.1-kilometer race took the punch out of the nearly 60
competitors' legs. The inner city circuit was fast, technical circuit with
tight corners and a short steep uphill section.
The Saturn Cycling Team entered the second World Cup stop with Petra Rossner
leading the Series by 25 points over Australian Rochelle Gilmore. The
course suited the Saturn Cycling Team's strengths well, but they had their
work cut out for them with Dutchwoman Mirjam Melchers, Germany's Hanka
Kupfernagel, and Belgium's Susanne Ljungskog all fighting for the rainbow
jersey on Rossner's shoulders.
The race began from the gun with immediate attacks from the strong Australian
team. Throughout the entire race the nerves were taught as the Saturn
Team was forced to bring attack after attack back. The race was ridden
with an intensity not frequently matched. As Rossner's very strong
teammates were relentless in their efforts to bring Rossner to the line.
In the last kilometer, and at the end of the two hours, thirty minutes, only
24 competitors were left with Rossner finding herself alone after Catherine
Marsal and Kimberly Bruckner finally succumbed after an incredible job
defending Rossner's Rainbow jersey.
In the last five hundred meters things did not look good for Rossner.
Finding herself boxed in she was forced to watch a very strong Kupfernagel
jump first. As Kupfernagel rocketed up the right side and Rochelle
Gilmore went on the left, Rossner made her bid for the finish line. It
was not until the final 100 meters that she was able to get by eventual second
place finisher Gilmore, and Kupfernagel in third. She had just enough
time to make an ecstatic salute to the cheering fans before she crossed the
line, victorious for the second time in seven days. "I am delighted
with the hard work my Saturn Team did for me today," exclaimed Rossner.
"I had to win after they did so much work for me."
Rossner now leads the World Cup Series over Australian Gilmore by 50 points.
The third race of the series is on March 23 in Italy. In the meantime,
the Saturn Team departs for California tonight, where they will begin the
Redlands Bicycle Classic on Wednesday.
Results:
1. Petra Rossner - Saturn Cycling Team
2. Rochelle Gilmore - Australian National
3. Hanka Kupfernagel - Nurnberger
[Source: Giana S.
Roberge,Assistant General Manager,
Saturn
Cycling Team ,Team Sports,
Inc. , W220 N1560 Jericho Court
Waukesha, WI 53186 USA, 262-549-6801 x46, 262-549-6825 fax,
414-350-6801 mobile, KARoberge1@aol.com]
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