Milan, Italy, April 25, 2004 � Russian Olga Slyusareva (SC Nobili) today won the Gran Premio Liberazione held in Crema, near Milan. Slyusareva outsprinted Italian Valentina Alessio (Team Bianchi � Aliverti La Rocca) and Katia Longhin (Michela Fanini Record Box). The pace was high, and the winner completed the race�s 100 kilometres in 2 hours, 40 minutes and 5 seconds, for an average speed of 41.22 km/h. Team RONA�s Genevi�ve Jeanson finished 32nd, in the same time as the winner.

The 19th edition of the GP Liberazione was held on a totally flat 10-km course around the town of Crema. About five racers dropped out of the race following a crash during the second of eleven laps. None was seriously injured. The 2004 GP was an aggressive race marked by numerous attacks. But the pack was vigilant and reeled in any initiative that became threatening. One breakaway lasted almost one lap, with about 15 riders on board, including the eventual podium (Slyusareva, Alessio, Longhin), as well as Oenone Wood (Team Australia), Genevi�ve Jeanson (RONA), Hayley Rutherford (AUS, Michela Fanini) and others, but the pack bridged to them. Then two Australians from different teams (MIchela Fanini�s Rutherford and Team Australia�s Sara Carrigan) managed to build a 20-second gap, before the field came back on them. So it was to be settled in a massive sprint, neatly won by Slyusareva.

�We generally raced well today, analysed Jeanson near the finish line. We certainly raced much better than we did at the Fl�che Wallonne four days ago, but we didn�t manage to collect the result.� Added her teammate Helen Kelly, �We were aggressive, we were moving the front very well, we initiated moves, but to have any chance, the four of us needed the cooperation from other teams � some of whom had up to ten riders today. But nobody would work with us, so our chances were slim.�

source : Daniel Larouche, for the RONA Cycling Team

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