Team Raleigh Lifeforce Creation's Karin Thürig won the first stage of La Grande Boucle Féminine from Saint-Gilles-Croix to De-Vie. The Swiss rider was in a break with Emma Pooley (Team Specialized DFW), whom she outsprinted at the end.
It's Thürig's first international victory ever in a road race although she is a two-time World Time Trial Champion (2004 & 2005) and a top former triathlete and two-time duathlon World Champion. She goes into stage 2 Thursday as the leader.
