Hausler outduels Arndt in Castel Del Monte

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Giro Donne race leader Claudia Häusler (Cervélo TestTeam) outsprinted compatriot and GC rival Judith Arndt (Team Columbia HTC Women) to win the seventh stage in Castel Del Monte. Arndt's American teammate Mara Abbott finished third, six seconds behind Häusler.

"The wind and the hot weather made today's stage difficult," said Häusler. "My team protected me perfectly and has worked very hard for me so that I could save all my energy for the final climb. Without this great team it would be not possible to ride like this. In the last uphill, Columbia was leading and working for Arndt but 500 metres ahead of the finish they went bust and I attacked with 300 metres to go and won the stage."

The time bonuses earned by Häusler for the stage win extended her tenuous general classification lead over Arndt from 12 to 17 seconds with two stages remaining.

"Our goal for the final two stages will be to defend our lead," said Cervélo TestTeam directeur sportif Manel Lacambra. "Claudia's victory is not only a stage victory for her also a victory for the entire team - they did an amazing job today."

The stage began with plenty of attacks, but none gained any distance until Russia's Tatiana Antoshina (Gauss RDZ Ormu - Colnago) escaped at kilometre 43 of the 131.2-kilometre stage and gained a maximum of advantage of 55 seconds. At kilometre 70 Antoshina was joined by Charlotte Becker (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung) and Katherine Carroll (US National Team).

The three-rider break never gained more than 35 seconds on the peloton and were caught approaching the four-kilometre ascent to the finish line. Fabiana Luperini (Selle Italia Ghezzi) attacked on the final climb, but was caught by Häusler, Arndt and Abbott inside the final kilometre and ultimately finished in eighth place for the stage.

"There were a lot of attacks during the race but nothing dangerous for our jersey," said Lacambra. "Columbia chased the breakaways back and were working for Arndt whose goal was to win the stage and take the bonus seconds for the maglia rosa. In the final four-kilometre climb there was a group with Arndt, Abbot, Häusler and Armstrong. Armstrong helped Claudia and Abbot was working for Arndt. At the end, Claudia had the best reserves and won the stage one second ahead of Judith Arndt."