Teutenberg takes another Giro win

Team Columbia sprinter Ina-Yoko Teutenberg has claimed her second consecutive stage victory at the Giro d'Italia Femminile. Teutenberg continues to hold the race leader's Maglia Rosa jersey heading into tomorrow's Stage 4.

"I'm psyched to win the pink jersey and be able to ride with it another day," said Teutenberg. "We couldn't have had a better start in the giro and hopefully we can keep playing a big role in the race."

Teutenberg leads the event having also won the previous day's Stage 1. The German rider has enjoyed a strong campaign at the event, finishing eighth in the opening Prologue, which was won by Mirjam Melchers Van Poppel (Team Flexpoint)

"The girls brought me safely to where the sprint started," explained Teutenberg. "[Kirsten] Wild and [Giorgia] Bronzini jumped early with 250m to go but I could get on their wheel and come around Wild in the last 100m."

The flat Stage 2 from Ca' Tiepolo Porto Tolle - Rosolina Mare was hot and relatively fast with cross winds in the last ten kilometers. Team Columbia started the lead out for Teutenberg with three kilometers remaining in the race.

"It is excellent to win two stages in a row in such a prestigious women stage race," team director Ronny Lauke said. "Now we are even more motivated to go for more victories. The girls are confidence and the pressure is not as high."

The Giro is the squad's first stage race riding under the Team Columbia name, which recently replaced the High Road branding. The Bob Stapleton-owned outfit's men's squad has also made headlines this week, with its rider Kim Kirchen coming close to a Tour de France stage win on two occasions.