Lithuania’s Leleivyte Takes Opener – 2010 Ladies Tour of Qatar Stage 1

Rasa Leleivyte (Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan), the current Lithuania National Road Champion, took today's 103.5km Stage 1, from the Museum of Islamic Art to Al Khor Corniche, of the 2010 Ladies Tour of Qatar in a bunch sprint just ahead of a hard charging Giorgia Bronzini (Italian National Team), who won Stage 1 in last year's event, and Australia's Chloe Hosking (Team HTC-Columbia).

Leleivyte, a 21-year-old originally from Vilnius, is a former Junior World Road Champion (2006) and European U23 Road Champion (2008). This season, Leleivyte takes over as Safi - Pasta Zara Manhattan's top sprinter, a position which coincidentally belonged to former teammate Bronzini.

Stage 1 Results
1. Rasa Leleivyte (Safi - Pasta Zara Manhattan)
2. Giorgia Bronzini (Italy)
3. Chloe Hosking (HTC Columbia Women)

Other Notables
19. Kirsten Wild (Cervelo TestTeam)
26. Trixi Worrack (Germany)
27. Lauren Tamayo (US National Team)
28. Judith Arndt (HTC Columbia Women )
31. Susanne Ljungskog (Team MTN)
32. Noemi Cantele (HTC Columbia Women)
50. Emilia Fahlin (HTC Columbia Women)
66. Elizabeth Hatch (Lotto Ladies Team)
67. Janel Holcomb (US National Team)
68. Ruth Corset (Australia)
69. Katharine Carroll (US National Team)
70 Shelley Olds (US National Team)
81. Sinead Miller (US National Team)
DNF Lynette Burger (Lotto Ladies Team)
DNF Nadège Matthey De L'Endroit (Switzerland)
DNF Carla Swart (Team MTN)
DNF Elizabeth Armitstead (Cervelo TestTeam)

General Classification After Stage 1
1. Rasa Leleivyte (Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan)
2. Giorgia Bronzini (Italy)
3. Kirsten Wild (Cervelo TestTeam)
4. Chloe Hosking (HTC Columbia Women)
5. Adrie Visser (HTC Columbia Women)
6. Sarah Düster (Ger) Cervelo TestTeam
7. Monique Van De Ree (Netherlands)
8. Loes Gunnewijk (Nederland Bloeit)
9. Rochelle Gilmore (Lotto Ladies Team)
10. Marina Romoli (Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan)

Next: Stage 2 - Al Zubarah to Oryx Farm (107 km)

Photo: KARIM JAAFAR/AFP/Getty Images

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