Australian Richelle Gilmore, riding for the Italian Selle Italia outfit, has won the first stage of the Route de France féminine. The regular Cyclingnews diarist, who recently also won in Germany, outsprinted compatriot Belinda Goss, who is riding for the Australian national team. Many spectators came out to see the exciting finish sprint, which was slightly uphill. Gilmore won with more than a bike length. Goss in second also was well clear of Russian Svetlana Bubnenkova, who came in third.
After the prologue and stage one the overall on the other hand is dominated by the Americans, with Kori Seehafer leading and Amber Neben in third, both part of the US national team.
