Good timing - Canadian Tara Whitten solidifies overall title in the final stage of Tour de P.E.i.

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=260183&sc=99

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	Canadian Tara Whitten, wearing the leader’s yellow jersey, stays near the top of the pack to win the overall title during the fifth stage of the Tour de P.E.I. international women’s cycling event Thursday in Charlottetown. (Guardian photo by Nigel Armstrong)

Good timing
Canadian Tara Whitten solidifies overall title
in the final stage of Tour de P.E.i.

CHARLES REID
The Guardian

You could say Canadian Tara Whitten had good timing after winning the overall championship of the Tour de P.E.I. women’s cycling event Thursday in Charlottetown.

By race’s end, Whitten expanded her slim three-second edge over Australian Bridie O’Donnell heading into the final stage to five seconds.

Whitten finished the five stages with a total time of 10:41:15, O’Donnell’s was 10:41:20.

But Whitten wasn’t confident of the victorious yellow jersey until she crossed the finish line of the 50-lap circuit of the city’s downtown core.

“It was never really won (until then),” said Whitten, a native of Edmonton, who rides for the Atlantic Cycling Centre in Dieppe, N.B. “I was trying to be aware of the whole race. Stay near the front, pay attention.”

Good thing, too, because the hard-charging O’Donnell and Whitten swapped the yellow leaders jersey twice over the event’s five stages.

Third place overall went to Moriah Jo MacGregor, also of the ACC, in 10:42:00.

The turning point came in lap 30 when Whitten scored a two-second bonus in the first of three sprints in the race.

It set the table and Whitten was glad for it.

“That kind of gave me an extra cushion,” said Whitten, who finished 29th of 76 riders in the final stage.

Stage winner Jenny Trew (1:12:25) is Canadian, too.

She’s a Calgary native and a member of the national women’s cycling team.

She was part of the small leader group well ahead of the larger pack (called a peloton) for the last quarter of the race.

Trew said she smelled victory sprinting down the final stretch after taking the lead between the third and fourth turn in the last lap.

“You sit on for five laps, you should win. It was the most important 300 metres of my cycling career,” said Trew.

Australian national team member Lauren Kitchen finished second behind Trew while Italy’s Alessandra Borchi, riding for Specialized Mazda Samson, crossed in third.

For MacGregor, third is her best finish in the Tour de P.E.I. (sixth in 2007, ninth in 2008), and with two of three podium finishes and two stage winners, the Canucks showed cycling isn’t just for Europeans anymore.

“I’m ecstatic. To have this calibre of racer to compete against, it’s really good for women’s cycling,” said MacGregor. “We have lots of up and coming riders (and are showing we can) go against the big girls.”

Aussie Rochelle Gilmore of team Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam won the sprint jersey while Carla Swart, riding for Team MTN Energade, won the climbs jersey.

Selle Italia Ghezzi (3:37:37), Specialized Mazda Samson (3:37:49) and the Canadian national cycling team (3:37:49) finished one, two and three in the fifth- stage team competition.

The Australian national team (32:05:26) won the overall team title followed by Atlantic Cycling Center (32:06:13) and Team MTN Energade (32:07:45).

Whitten also earned top Canadian.

Global television will broadcast the Tour de P.E.I. on Aug. 18 and 25 at 1 p.m.

(More results at www.tourdepei.com)

A photo finish Riders create a blur of colour at end of Tour de P.E.I.’s Stage 4 race in Georgetown

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=259733&sc=99

	They may not be mountains in the strictest sense of the word, but after racing close to 100 kilometres climbing the hills of Caledonia in Kings County can be a daunting task. The fourth stage of the Tour de P.E.I. passed throught the area Wednesday on its way to Georgetown. (Guardian photo by Brian McInnis)

A photo finish

Riders create a blur of colour at end of Tour de P.E.I.’s Stage 4 race in Georgetown

STEVE SHARRATT
The Guardian

GEORGETOWN — It was a nail biter.

And in a blur of colour and speed, the cyclists in the Tour de P.E.I. roared across the finish line like a solid mass in Georgetown on Wednesday.

So close were they that organizers deemed it a photo finish and a hush fell over the crowd as officials determined just who won stage four of the adventure.

When the riders were called to the stage, it was the exact same names as on Tuesday.

Italian Giorgia Bronzini just clipped the first-place finish over Rochelle Gilmore of Sydney, Australia, while Netherlands born Martine Bras claimed third.

All three riders completed the race in a time of three hours, 13 minutes, 54 seconds.

Tara Whitten of Edmonton reclaimed the yellow jersey as the leading overall rider from Bridie O’Donnell of Australia.

“I had a bit of a crash,” Whitten said after reclaiming her jersey at the stage set up in the Macdonald Gardens near the Kings Playhouse. “A few of us got caught up, but it was nothing serious. However, it delayed me a bit.”

Meanwhile, Gilmore claimed the red sprint jersey as all cyclists prepare for the final stage of the race today in Charlottetown.

The Wednesday leg of the race — all 120 kilometres — took the racers from Dalvay to Mount Stewart and from Montague through the hills of Caledonia and back to Poole’s Corner and Georgetown.

“I came off her wheel just a wee bit late,’’ offered Gilmore about the nail-biter finish. “But every day I’m getting closer and maybe tomorrow I’ll get by her. I’m starting to feel better every day.”

Canadians Véronique Fortin and Natasha Elliott broke away from the pack just before entering Montague and maintained the lead for 15 kilometres.

The two riders, however, were caught by the peloton following many attacks and pursuits by the group.

Despite the hills of Caledonia — steep even for vehicles — Gilmore said the third leg was actually flatter overall than Tuesday through central Queens.

“I found the racing quite calm today and I just stayed with the pack until the end.”

Tour de P.E.I., a five-day, five-stage international women’s cycling race across P.EI., concludes today with a criterium in the heart of Charlottetown.

The stage will get underway at 5:30 p.m.

******

Tour de P.E.I. at a glance:

n Today’s Stage 5 in Charlottetown will start at 5:30 p.m. on Grafton Street, in front of Province House, with the peloton looping east and then south on Prince Street, west along Sydney Street, and north on Queen Street, past the evening patio-dwellers on Victoria Row, in a criterium totalling 49.25 kilometres.

n A celebrity race will start at 3:45 p.m. along the same route, followed by a juniors race at 4 p.m.

n After the final awards ceremony at 7 p.m., there will be music by Rawlins Cross at a rain-or-shine, free public concert on the steps of the Confederation Centre of the Arts.

n Full results available at www.tourdepei.com.

Our Photos from Stage 3 (Wheatley River) & Stage 4 (Dalvay)

Tour de P.E.I.: O'Donnell wins yellow jersey

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=259402&sc=98

One tough hill to climb on very long stage of the Tour de P.E.I.

The Guardian

Bikers participating in the Tour de P.E.I. wind through New London on stage three of the tour. Tuesday’s stage started in Kensington and followed a 120-kilometre route through the Island countryside, ending in North Rustico. Guardian photo by Heather Taweel

http://www.journalpioneer.com/index.cfm?sid=259341&sc=119

Tour de P.E.I.: O'Donnell wins yellow jersey

CHARLES REID
Transcontinental Media

Georgia Bronzini may have won the race, but Bridie O'Donnell won the day.
O'Donnell, riding for the Australian national cycling team, earned the
yellow leader jersey after the third stage of the Tour de P.E.I. on Tuesday.
The Australian finished with a time of 3:26:15 in the 121-kilometre road
race from Kensington to North Rustico, one second off Bronzini's mark and in
a group of 54 other riders.
But it's a slim overall lead for O'Donnell, whose time of 6:14:45 after
three stages is one second ahead of Canadian Tara Whitten, a member of the
Atlantic Cycling Center team.
"A very challenging day with rolling hills and lots of wind," said
O'Donnell, before being whisked off to a waiting bus. "Today was a very even
fight."
Aussie Rochelle Gilmore, who rides for Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam, finished
second while Netherlands-born Martine Bras, a Selle Italia Ghezzi team
member, crossed in third.
Whitten, who led after sweeping the podium (overall leader, top Canadian,
stage winner and top sprinter) in stage two, is now in second place. Fellow
ACC rider Moriah Jo MacGregor is third overall at 6:15:24.
In the team competition, the Aussie national team is first with an 18:45:55
total time followed by the Atlantic Cycling Centre (18:46:25) and Team MTN
Energade (18:47:57).
O'Donnell said her third stage strategy was simple - a stay in the lead
group, use her teammates as support and tally a strong time in the total
time championship. Whitten's background is pursuit cycling, meaning speed,
but Tuesday's road race required a longer view, said O'Donnell.
"I was never going to outsprint Tara," she said.
Stage four is today, a 120-kilometre road race through Dalvay, Georgetwon
and Montague. Start time is 1 p.m. O'Donnell's recovery strategy is
straightforward, too: eat, massage and "rest as much as possible."
Not so easy was coaxing her into revealing the game plan for today's fourth
stage.
"I won't tell you," she said with a laugh. "Nice try."
Bronzini, who rides for Specialized-Mazda-Samson, also won the sprint jersey
while South African native Mariss van der Merwe of Team MTN Energade took
the hills jersey. Bronzini, despite winning two of three stages (she won the
opening race in Summerside), is 55th overall, 3:39.00 behind the leader.

Whitten steals show: Second stage held on Confederation Bridge

http://www.journalpioneer.com/index.cfm?sid=258899&sc=119

	Tara Whitten of the Atlantic Cycling Center team took home the top honours during Monday’s individual time trials on the Confederation Bridge stage of the Tour de P.E.I. Whitten also took home the jerseys for the day including yellow for tour leader. Colin MacLean/Journal Pioneer

Whitten steals show:
Second stage held on Confederation Bridge

COLIN MACLEAN
The Journal Pioneer

BORDEN-CARLETON — Canadian cyclist Tara Whitten stole the show Monday morning during the second stage of the Tour de P.E.I.
Whitten walked away with all of the award jerseys from the individual time trial, which spanned 12.9 kilometres and ran from the New Brunswick side of the Confederation Bridge to just inside Gateway Village in Borden-Carlton.
Whitten was all smiles as she descended from the podium yesterday. This is her first time on P.E.I. and she’s happy she had the chance to race across something like the Confederation Bridge, she said.
“It was such an experience. . . the bridge is such an amazing structure, just to cross it was pretty cool,” she said.
Whitten, who rides with the Atlantic Cycling Center team, had the best time of the day with a finish of 19:45. The Edmonton, Alta., native bested second-place finisher and Australian National Team member Bridie O’Donnell by the narrowest of margins of 00:01. Whitten’s teammate Moriah Jo MacGregor finished third with a time of 20:23.
In addition to taking top place, Whitten received the jerseys for tour leader, top Canadian, stage winner and the sprinter’s jersey.
She couldn’t help but smile as she walked away with so many extra pieces of gear.
“I was thinking maybe they thought it was cold and I needed more clothing or something,” she laughed.
Though her good fortune surprised even herself, Whitten was still expecting to place high in the standings. Speed is no stranger to her, as her background is in pursuit cycling, and despite the fact a pursuit course is shorter than the bridge, she was still expecting to place high.
“This is the stage I was really focusing on and hoping to do well on,” she said.
Whitten credits favourable winds during her run as a contributing factor to her win. She also expressed relief that the forces of nature were not as strong as riders encountered last year.
“There was so many stories about last year when it was a lot windier with more of a head wind, so I kind of mentally prepared for it to be a bit tougher,” Whitten said. “But, in the end, the wind was not that strong.”
The Tour de P.E.I. continues today with riders starting in Kensington at 11 a.m., and finishing in North Rustico at 3 p.m.

jpsports@journalpioneer.com

Thrilling finish to opening stage - Bronzini edges out Mustonen in final sprint

http://www.journalpioneer.com/index.cfm?sid=258492&sc=118

	Italy’s Giorgia Bronzini, left, edges out Sara Mustonen of Sweden in a close finish to win Stage 1 of the 2009 Tour de P.E.I. in Summerside on Sunday afternoon.

Thrilling finish to opening stage
Bronzini edges out Mustonen in final sprint

JASON SIMMONDS
The Journal Pioneer

SUMMERSIDE -- The opening stage of the 2009 Tour de P.E.I. literally came down to a photo finish.
Giorgia Bronzini of the Specialized Mazda Samson team edged out Sara Mustonen of Team Hitec Products UCK in a thrilling sprint to the finish line to conclude the 99.13-kilometre event throughout the streets of Summerside on Sunday afternoon.
"I wanted to do well in the final sprint," said the 25-year-old Bronzini, who won the bronze medal at the 2007 world championship and was presented with the yellow jersey for today's time trials on Confederation Bridge, which begin at 11 a.m.
"Winning the first stage was very important because time trials are very difficult for me," added Bronzini, who won Stages 3 and 5 in the first-ever Tour de P.E.I. in 2007.
The cyclists circled the 9.9-kilometre circuit 10 times. In the end, it was Bronzini finishing about half a tire ahead of Mustonen as they led a large group charging to the finish line.
"It was a close call and I almost crashed a couple of hundred metres back (from the finish line)," said Mustonen, 28, who resides in Stockholm. "I was able to make it to the finish line, but just didn't have enough. It was quite nervous at the finish line."
The winning time was announced at two hours 28 minutes 46 seconds. Hanka Kupfernagel of the German national team was third. Jenny Trew of Canadian National Cycling received the blue jersey for top Canadian. Nathalie Lamborelle of Team Uniqa was presented with the red jersey for top sprinter.
Bronzini explained her strategy was to stay close to the leaders and put herself in a good position for the final sprint.
"I had lots of power for the finish," she added.
Mustonen is visiting Canada for the first time.
"I didn't know what to expect really, but it all worked out well," said Mustonen. "I'm hoping to be put in a good time trial as well, but this course suits me as well."

Weather conditions
Bronzini said Sunday's wind was a bit of a factor while Mustonen felt it wasn't.
"It (wind) was good for me," Bronzini added. "I want to be here and it is good training for me because the wind was very strong. . . It's difficult when you have the wind on your rear tires."
This is the third year for the five-stage Tour de P.E.I. After today's 12.9-kilometre trip across Confederation Bridge, the third stage will consist of a 120.21-kilometre course from Kensington to North Rustico on Tuesday. Stage 4 is 120 kilometres through Dalvay, Georgetown and Montague. The final stage is the 49.5-kilometre Charlottetown Criterium Race on Thursday evening.

jpsports@journalpioneer.com

International racing cyclists to invade P.E.I. - Tour de P.E.I. starts Sunday in Summerside

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=258198&sc=99

International racing cyclists to invade P.E.I.
Tour de P.E.I. starts Sunday in Summerside

Transcontinental Media

SUMMERSIDE — Hundreds of world-class female cyclists will take to the streets of Summerside Sunday to kick off the Tour de P.E.I.
The first stage of the third annual event starts and ends in front of the Loyalist Country Inn.
The peloton will loop 10 times around the 9.9-kilometre circuit. It goes west on Harbour Drive, north on South Drive, east on Pope Road, south on MacEwen Road and back to the start/finish line.
This first leg of the tour starts at 2:30 p.m. Awards will be presented at the finish line at 5:15 p.m.
Stage 2 of the tour begins at 11 a.m. Monday at the Cape Jourimain Nature Centre on the New Brunswick side of Confederation Bridge. The 12.9-km bridge will serve as the track for the time trial portion of the Tour de P.E.I.
Racers leave Cape Jourimain one by one and race one way across the closed Confederation Bridge. The cyclists will reach speeds of 60 km/h en route to Borden-Carleton.
Awards will be handed out at Gateway Village around 1:15 p.m.
Stage 3 of the five-stage Tour begins at 11 a.m. June 9 in Kensington and wraps up around 2:30 p.m. in North Rustico.
The 120-km circuit will take cyclists over crests and valleys, crossing small towns and seaside villages. They’ll be looping down and up through the hilliest regions in central P.E.I., through Kinkora, Hartsville and New Glasgow. The peloton will pass through Cavendish before racing to the finish line.
Awards will be presented in North Rustico at 2:30 p.m.
Stage 4 on Wednesday will have cyclists leave Dalvay, travel to Montague and end in Georgetown.
The final stage begins in front of Province House in Charlottetown, loops through the downtown, for a criterium of 49.25 km.
The final awards ceremony takes place at 7 p.m. near the Confederation Centre.

Tour de PEI ready to take to the streets

http://www.journalpioneer.com/index.cfm?sid=250032&sc=118

Tour de PEI ready to take to the streets

The Journal Pioneer

The 2009 edition of Tour de PEI, presented by Scotiabank, is gearing up to be one of the best events yet.
One hundred of the World’s top female cyclists will descend on the Island June 7 to 11 for a five-day, five-stage race across some of the most scenic but challenging terrain Prince Edward Island has to offer.
Crowd favourite, Rochelle Gilmore, will be back with a new team, Belgium’s Lotto Belisol, in pursuit of the yellow jersey that has thus far eluded her at Tour de PEI. Challenging her every move will be the German National Team, South Africa’s MTN Energade, and former team, Menikini (presently Selle-Italia Ghezzi), who will be looking to sweep the podium once again.
Elite cyclists won’t be the only riders taking to the roads of Prince Edward Island during this year's Tour. The Tour de PEI Organization, in conjunction with Cycling PEI, is offering amateur athletes several opportunities to take part in the 2009 event:
Time Trial and Road Race- Kensington will come to life on Saturday, June 6, with two scheduled amateur events: an 11 KM time trial beginning at 10 a.m., and a 33.6km Road Race beginning at 1:30 p.m.
Criterium - Ride like the pros on Sunday, June 7, in this time plus one lap criterium race around Summerside that starts/finishes in the same location as the elite race! The event is scheduled to get underway at 12 p.m., just prior to Stage 1 of Tour de PEI.
Two free events are also planned for the final day of the race, Thursday, June 11, in Charlottetown. Children in grades 1 to 6 will once again have the opportunity to race on the professional criterium route at 4 p.m. in front of thousands of spectators. Pre-registration is required and forms may be picked up at the Confederation Bridge office on Queen Street until June 1. After the final awards ceremony at 7 p.m., join thousands of spectators on the steps of the Confederation Centre of the Arts to celebrate the Tour and kick start the Confederation Bridge Concert Series with P.E.I.’s own, Rawlins Cross.

For more information, visit our website at: www.tourdepei.com