Teutenberg makes it a clean sweep

Ina-Yoko Teutenberg has proven herself to be queen of this year's Giro Donne, claiming her fourth straight stage victory in the 90km race from Ficarolo to Lendinara on Monday by besting Cervelo's Kirsten Wild and the USA's Shelley Evans in the sprint.

The German from the HTC-Columbia team equaled her record from 2008, but surpassed the achievement by taking all four stages in a row.

"It's a very special moment. I don't think in 30 years of racing as an amateur and professional that I've ever managed to take four wins in a row before," Teutenberg said. "We didn't think we were going to win the stage, we knew that a lot of the other teams were going to try for breaks, but they never seemed to work out."

The moment came on roads familiar to Teutenberg, having won the stage and taken the maglia rosa in the same town at the start of her 2008 romp.

"I remembered the finish from two years ago, and everybody went from 300 metres to go. But I came off the right wheel and was able to raise my hands before I went across the finish line. I knew I had got the win, which was nice."

The next few stages see an increasing number of hills leading up to the penultimate stage finish atop the Stelvio on Saturday. Tomorrow's 122km run into Pettenasco features a number of short climbs and a tougher finish than the previous four days.

"It's a very difficult last three kilometres, and it'll be an uphill finish, so I'll have fight hard to hold onto the lead. If it doesn't work out, I've just switch my brain into worker mode and make sure one of my teammates ends the race on Sunday as leader."

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