Grand Boucle Feminin

After a short but successful trip to Montreal, Canada by Les Pruneaux d'Agen, (which saw Toni gain a solid 26th in the World Cup), Toni was looking forward to getting back to the team base in Limoux for her first actual block of training since leaving NZ. But it wasn't to be, with team directions to pack up and leave immediately for a 5 day tour in Spain. Toni started well in a classy field on day 1, but crashed before finishing the tour and strained a ligament in her knee. This put her out of the race and meant a week off to recover. Although still not fully recovered the break seems to have come at the right time and Toni is feeling her form improving.

This was evident in the next big race of the season La Grand Boucle Feminin. The tour kicked off with a 7.3km time trial, which was either up or down, including some very technical descent. Toni gained an excellent result, placing 5th on the stage, Nicole Cooke winning it.
Day two saw the girls racing 2 stages, 75km and 45km. Tonis team mate got in a break in the morning and won the stage, so Toni just finished with the next group in 11th. Whilst in the afternoon a shortened stage saw an interesting finish. The riders rode in a thunderstorm for the last 10km and the 1km uphill finish came off a wet and slippery descent. Toni was in about 15th with a k to go so I was surprised to see she got up to 6th at the finish. NZ's Jo Kiesasowski won the stage, go Kiwis.
Day 3, 100km, Toni 7th, again making the front group.
Day 4 was the gut buster day that would blow the tour wide open. 115km with the Giant of Provence - Mont Ventoux in the middle. 23km, 1800m of climbing and 39 degrees C. The race didn't finish at the top for the girls, with 50km of high speed descending and crosswinds still to go til the finish. Toni is climbing better than last year and crossed the summit in a small group in 4th place. However on the descent, she lost that group and as a result lost 3mins on them to the finish. Looking at the final GC, she was annoyed with herself because that cost her a certain 3rd on GC.
Day 5 wasn't a walk in the park either, another scorcher, 115km, hilly. Toni placed 11th on the stage to be 7th overall on GC, her consistency really evident. At the same time as looking after her own aspirations she lead her team mate, Zabou, out for several KOM sprints to get her the climbers jersey at the end of the tour.

Nicole Cooke of Wales won the tour, New Zealands other star at the tour was Jo Kiesanowski who finished 10th overall and won a stage.

Az