GIRO D’ITALIA FEMMINILE
ITALY
JULY 6-15, 2007

Stage 8 (July 14: Seregno - Seregno, 106.4 km):  Congratulations to Andrea Dvorak, Tina Pic, Alison Powers, Sarah Tillotson, and Iona Wynter-Parks of the Colavita/Sutter Home Women’s Cycling Team presented by Cooking Light for a magnificent debut at the Giro d’Italia Femminile!  Alison Powers finished the final stage in 26th and held the same position on general classification for the overall race, the second-highest ranking for an American woman at the nine-stage event.  Alison also ranked 9th for the overall mountain classification.  According to USA Cycling, over the course of eight stages, the best American performance was Alison’s 16th-place ride in the opening three-kilometer prologue in Cocetta del Montello.

Stage 7 (July 13: Misinto/Lazzate - Ceriano Laghetto/Cogliate, 120.8 km):  Cycling News featured a photo of Alison Powers chasing Ombretta Ugolini (USC Chirio Forno D'Asolo) climbing over the rolling terrain in the seven-lap race.  Colavita/Sutter Home teammate Tina Pic was again the top finisher for the squad but Alison Powers retained her GC ranking at #28.  Cycling News also caught a bit of Sarah Tillotson’s style in a pre-race photo.

Stage 6 (July 12: Cornaredo - Cornaredo, 128.7 km):  Tina Pic is the top finisher for the Colavita/Sutter Home Women’s Team in the nine lap race around Cornaredo.  Alison Powers ranked 7th in the Mountains classification and held on to her top-third position on general classification.

Stage 5 (July 11: Cittiglio - Cittiglio, 103.4 km): Team Director Jim Williams sounds breathless with excitement as he describes Alison Powers’ breakaway ride during the big mountain stage of the Giro d’Italia Femminile, writing “in the stage with two Category 2 climbs and one Category 1, Alison broke away from the main field after the first QOM sprint at 20 KM with one cyclist along side her.  They gained around two minutes with a chase group of 11 behind. The chase group was reabsorbed at the bottom of the 2nd QOM. Alison dropped her partner on this climb and kept on going. She had 2:40 at the base of the Category 1 climb with 14 switchbacks, rising 650 meters over 5.5 km.  Alison got over the top before the feather light climbers and was in a very select group down the descent.  After the leader went over the edge on one turn, the lead group drilled it. Alison held on until the last little climb 10 km out.  A huge effort and incredible ride” that was televised in Italy.

While stage and GC results have not yet been posted, Cycling News reports that Alison won the second mountains sprint at Brinzio (see Cycling News photo) Cycling News captured Alison’s solo breakaway on the Arcumeggia climb her spectacular ascent Cycling News also published a photo of the entire Colavita/Sutter Home squad.

Stage 4 (July 10: Novara - Novara, 129 km): Tina Pic was the first Colavita/Sutter Home cyclist to cross the line in today’s stage.  While Alison Powers finished in the top half for the stage, she remains in the top third on general classification.

Photos from a Colavita fan who says “The Colavita women cycling team moves very well in the race and the team are appreciated in GiroDonne”

Stage 3 (July 9: Buti - Prato a Calci, 10.2 km): Alison Powers is the top finisher for the Colavita/Sutter Home squad.  She remains in the top third on general classification.  Cycling News featured photos of teammates Iona Wynter-Parks and Tina Pic during the stage.

Stage 2 (July 8: Correggio/Rio - Correggio, 125.7 km):  Tina Pic and Iona Wynter Parks finish in the top half for the stage, Tina and Alison Powers hold their positions in the top 25 on general classification.

Stage 1 (July 7: Riese Pio X - Pontecchio Polesine, 150.6 km): A long, hot race with Alison Powers again the top finisher for the Colavita/Sutter Home Women’s Team, putting her in 16th on general classification.

Prologue (July 6; Cocetta del Montello, 3 km):  Alison Powers was the top finisher for the Colavita/Sutter Home Women’s Cycling Team presented by Cooking Light at 16th. Cycling News featured a photo of teammate Tina Pic in its coverage of the Prologue; view the photo here