Vos breaks Teutenberg's streak

The stranglehold of Ina Yoko Teutenberg (HTC Columbia Women) at the Giro Ciclistico Internazionale Femminile was finally broken as the race reached its first mountainous stage. The 122 kilometre stage to Pettenasco was won by Marianne Vos (Netherlands National Team), who moved into the general classification lead as she crossed the line just one second ahead of Italian Tatiana Guderzo (Team Valdarno).

Teutenberg’s victories on three early sprint stages came as little surprise to most, but victory in the 16.9 kilometre time trial shocked most and gave the German a clean sweep of the opening four stages. HTC-Columbia teammate Judith Arndt remains well place to challenge for the race’s maglia rosa, sitting 21 seconds behind Vos overall after finishing just eight seconds behind the Dutchwoman today.

Vos and Arndt were key members of a breakaway that splintered as the race reached its final climb to the finish. The 2.5 kilometre climb saw the group fracture, with riders finishing up to 79 seconds behind Vos before the first group of six riders were led across the line by Ashleigh Moolman (Lotto Ladies Team), 1:21 behind Vos.

A fourth placed finish just nine seconds down helped Mara Abbott make up for lost time in the early stages. The US National Team rider is now eighth overall, 1:29 minutes behind Vos.

Cervelo TestTeam placed itself well overall with both Claudia Häusler and Emma Pooley finishing inside the top 10 on the stage. The pair hold fourth and fifth respectively overall, less than 1:20 minutes behind Vos, pleasing team director Egon van Kessel.

"It was a hilly stage today with a steep final climb of about 2.5 km," said van Kessel. "The race was marked by a lot of attacks at the beginning and at the end of the competition. Claudia Häusler was in the final break away at the last hill. Emma Pooley also came back into the leading group halfway down the mountain.

“Our team did reach their goal - with Emma and Claudia as we now have two riders very close to the GC lead and both are looking forward to the tough mountain stages starting on Thursday," he added.