Longo powers to French title #58

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Cordon claims U23 victory

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Jeannie Longo, the French time trial champion(Image credit: AFP Photo)

The "eternal" Jeannie Longo has added yet another national championship victory to what is arguably the most impressive palmarès ever in women's cycling. At 52 years of age, Longo snatched her 58th national championship crown, taking her fourth consecutive of a total of 11 victories in the women's time trial.

On the 19km-course around Boulogne-sur-Mer, Longo was 42 seconds faster than her runner-up Christel Ferrier Bruneau. Third-placed Audrey Cordon was 52 seconds down, and fourth-placed Pauline Ferrand Prévot - hailed as Longo's successor at 19 years of age - conceded 57 seconds.

Longo had been preparing to defend her title, notably in Canada and in the United States where she took part in several time trials including the Iron Horse Classic, Colorado. "I've been working the time trial a lot. Since this spring, Patrice [Ciprelli - her husband and trainer - ed.] succeeded in motivating me once again by finding time trials all over the place. It's true that it starts to get difficult finding objectives that change a little from routine," she had told L'Equipe ahead of the event, before revealing her next goal.

"I still have an eye on the Worlds in Denmark this year, it'll be pancake-flat. So I'm working a lot on raw power."

Ferrand Prévot, the new star of French women's cycling, took the start of the time trial diminished due to illness. "I got a cold last weekend," she explained afterwards. "I felt really bad and even considered not to start at the championships. But I talked to Gerard Brocks [her and Julien Absalon's trainer - ed.] this morning who told me I could still do the 19 kilometres on my 'class' be going flat out."

Ferrand Prévot clocked the best intermediate time mid-race, but then had trouble holding her pace until the end. "The first part of the parcours was good but then I had difficulties in the climb," she confirmed.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Jeannie Longo (AS Palais Sports Alpexpo)0:29:46Row 0 - Cell 3
2Christel Ferrier Bruneau (Beziers Mediterranee Cyclisme)0:00:42Row 1 - Cell 3
3Audrey Cordon* (VC Pays De Loudeac)0:00:52Row 2 - Cell 3
4Pauline Ferrand Prevot* (AC Bazancourt Reims)0:00:57Row 3 - Cell 3
5Edwige Pitel (AS Palais Sports Alpexpo)0:01:20Row 4 - Cell 3
6Julie Krasniak (A.C Competition)0:01:27Row 5 - Cell 3
7Magdaléna De Saint Jean (Ventoux Velo Sensations)0:01:47Row 6 - Cell 3
8Mélodie Lesueur* (ESGL 93)0:01:58Row 7 - Cell 3
9Sandrine Bideau* (CSM Puteaux)0:02:22Row 8 - Cell 3
10Alna Burato (AC Bazancourt Reims)0:02:38Row 9 - Cell 3
11Emmanuelle Merlot (C. Poitevin)0:02:45Row 10 - Cell 3
12Amélie Rivat* (Chambery Cyclisme Competition)0:02:51Row 11 - Cell 3
13Joanne Duval (ASPTT Dijon)0:02:52Row 12 - Cell 3
14Alexia Muffat* (ASPTT Dijon)0:03:27Row 13 - Cell 3
15Justine Macret* (USSA Pavilly Barentin)0:03:37Row 14 - Cell 3
16Aurore Verhoeven* (U. V Angerienne)0:03:46Row 15 - Cell 3
17Lucie De Carlo* (Pedale Chalonnaise)0:03:47Row 16 - Cell 3
18Jénifer Letue* (VC Pontivyen)0:03:58Row 17 - Cell 3
19Aurélie Bramante (Chambery Cyclisme Competition)0:04:26Row 18 - Cell 3
20Ludivine Loze (Montauban Cycling Feminin 82)0:04:30Row 19 - Cell 3
21Emilie Blanquefort (VC Pays De Langon)0:04:41Row 20 - Cell 3
22Béatrice Thomas (Velo Sprint Narbonnais)0:04:58Row 21 - Cell 3
23Anaïs Valiavanos (UVC Charleville Mezieres)0:05:51Row 22 - Cell 3
24Monique Gallo (AC Thann)0:06:46*U23

 

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