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Australian Professional Cyclist

Team Faren Honda’s GC rider Fabiana Luperini is chasing the podium in Bergamo

As the 2012 Giro d’Italia Femminile completes 6 days of racing, Team Faren Honda’s Luperini still wears the Blue Jersey as the best placed Italian rider, sitting 4th on the overall general classification.

The undulating profile of Stage 6 provided the perfect opportunity for a breakaway group to contest for the win. Whilst it was again Faren Honda’s Nicole Cooke and Gracie Elvin who remained active at the front, it was the Swiss Champion Jennifer Hohl who made the break of the day.

It was only 20 kilometres into the 109 kilometre stage that the break of 13 riders including Hohl were able to escape from the peloton, the group looked likely to succeed as they quickly achieved a maximum advantage of 35 seconds on the peloton.

Unfortunately for the breakaway group, the team of current World champion Giorgia Bronzini, (Diadora Pasta-Zara) were unhappy with theleading combination of riders and worked swiftly to bring back the group inorder to set Bronzini up for the win. The break was caught with about 60 kilometres to go.

After already having been active at the front all day, Cooke shifted into overdrive to cover any last minute attempts from riders to breakaway but, as the speed of the peloton increased with 20 kilometres to go, a bunch sprint became imminent.

Giussepina Grassi stayed by Luperini’s side all day and then had to dig deep to bring Gilmore & Luperini back to the lead group with 20km to go. Elvin used every little last bit of energy she had to try and position team Faren Honda’s sprinter Rochelle Gilmore during the final kilometres. A tough slightly uphill drag finish saw Gilmore claim 10th place behind stage winner Shelly Olds (USA).

Tomorrow the team travels further north to Voghera where they will be greeted with a categorized climb and a steep uphill finish which will no doubt see the riders take advantage of the challenging terrain to secure their positions on the general classification.

Team Faren Honda will dedicate their efforts to supporting Faniana Luperini’s attempt to finish on the podium again at her 16th Giro d’Italia.

Above: Team Faren Honda; Fabiana Luperini. Gracie Elvin, Nicole Cooke, Julia Blindyuk, Giuseppina Grassi, Jennifer Hohl, Rochelle Gilmore.
Above: Faren Honda’s Gracie Elvin.
Above: Jennifer Hohl (Swiss Champ) in the break of the day!
Above: Fabiana Luperini staying fresh before the next hilly stage.
Above: Nicole Cooke making the race hard.
Above: Fabiana Luperini proudly pulling on the blue jersey again.
STAGE 6 RESULTS

1 Shelley Olds (USA) AA Drink – Leontien.nl Cycling Team 2:29:54
2 Marianne Vos (Ned) Stichting Rabo Women Cycling Team
3 Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Diadora – Pasta Zara
4 Monia Baccaille (Ita) MCipollini Giambenini
5 Judith Arndt (Ger) Orica-AIS
6 Emma Johansson (Swe) Hitec Products – Mistral Home Cycling Team
7 Adrie Visser (Ned) Netherlands
8 Alena Amialiusik (Blr) Be Pink
9 Cherise Taylor (RSA) Lotto Belisol Ladies
10 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Faren Honda Team

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 6

1 Marianne Vos (Ned) Stichting Rabo Women Cycling Team 16:03:07
2 Evelyn Stevens (USA) Team Specialized – Lululemon 0:01:44
3 Emma Pooley (GBr) AA Drink – Leontien.nl Cycling Team 0:02:20
4 Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Faren Honda Team 0:02:57

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