July 6/09 14:07 pm - Giro Donne: Stage 2 and 3

Posted by Editoress on 07/6/09
 

Stage 2

Amber Neben (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung) 20:39 won Sunday's Stage 2 individual time trial. Cervélo TestTeam took the other two podium positions with Kristin Armstrong (20:53) in second and Emma Pooley (21:09) in third.

We decided to go full power with Armstrong, Pooley, Häusler and Ryan and save the other 4 girls for Monday with it's mountain finish atop Monte Serra, certainly one of the hardest stages we face in this race," said Manel Lacambra, Sports Director. "So second and third are good results today. Neben was in front of us but we were close behind with our 2 girls. Today's circuit was better suited to a rider like Neben, with its steep climb about 1 km from the finish. Emma Pooley worked especially hard today and had a great ride, staying in front of the other climbers. For Monday's stage, we are very focused and motivated and ready to show our team's strength. The performance of the team will have to be great because I believe it will be the best team, not the best rider that wins."

Kristin Armstrong

Cervelo TestTeam report

Stage 3

Report by Team Columbia-HTC

A tough mountain stage in the Giro d"Italia Femminile has seen Mara Abbott claim victory for Columbia-HTC.
Abbott outsprinted British rider Emma Pooley at the end of the 106-kilometre stage three of the giro d'Italia Femminile, which started in Calcinaia and finished with a double ascent of the gruelling Monteserra climb.

The 23-year-old American was delighted about the victory.  "It's really exciting. There are so many good riders on this team that even though I felt strong, it was difficult to imagine that I could actually be strong enough to go for the win," Abbott said afterwards.

Abbott initially broke away with Pooley on the first ascent of the 10-kilometre Monteserra, but came off her bike on the downhill section of the climb.  "The descent was very tricky because it had rained and I crashed, although fortunately I wasn't injured.  Linda [Villumsen, Columbia-HTC teammate] guided me back up to the front group before we reached the Montesierra again.  Almost as soon as we did, I got away again with Pooley. Then when [Pooley's teammate Claudia] Haussler got across, I attacked and managed to drop her, which left me and Pooley as stage leaders. Pooley did most of the work, but I couldn't collaborate because I wanted to defend [teammate] Judith Arndt's position on GC.  Finally at the summit, I attacked about 800 metres from the top and went for the win."

Now second overall, Abbott was cautiously optimistic about Columbia-HTC's chances of winning, either with her or another rider.  "There are some very tough stages coming up, but Judith [Arndt] is still high up on the overall so we've got a lot of options, not just me. But in any case, I'm very pleased about things have worked out today. It was cool!"