WomensCycling.net - race coverage, Stage 5 - Tour de l'Aude 2008, Stage 5

After the second climb, Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (High Road) and Charlotte Becker (Équipe Nürnberger) broke away. The pair were suited to make a break which would stick; Teutenberg is a fast sprinter, but is known for breaking away on tough stages with just another rider, or a small group and then winning the stage. Becker, on the other hand is a talented endurance rider and is strong in hard efforts such as this.

The pair were able to gain a maximum advantage of almost one minute, but were slowly reeled in by the bunch as they approached the finish. With 10 kilometres to go, the pair were 50 seconds up, by the time they reached the outskirts of Toulouges, the bunch could see the pair just up the road, but were unable to catch them.

Teutenberg and Becker 'hung' off the front of the bunch through the winding and sometimes narrow approach to the finish line. With 200m to go, they were only a few bike lengths ahead. Teutenberg accelerated after negotiating a roundabout, the final corner of the stage, and with 100 metres to go, she was clearly going to take the win. She made sure by powering to the 25 metres point, then sat up and took a long, deserved victory salute. Becker hung on for second. Monica Holler (Bigla) led the bunch sprint in for third place. Susanne Ljungskog (Menikini) finished safely in the bunch and retained the yellow jersey.

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Post Race Comments

Ina-Yoko Teutenberg - "I didn't think we'd make it, at 2.5km to go they were right on us. But there was a bridge that really hurt and I think that messed up the chase a little. I just put my head down and went as hard as I could. It seemed like such a long way. When I saw the 500m to go mark I accelerated and managed to hold it."

Ronny Lauke (High Road Directeur Sportif) "The bunch could see Ina all the time from about six kilometres to go. They knew she was out there, they knew they had to catch her, but they couldn't do it. It was really exciting. What's great is that Ina enjoyed herself. She loves getting away in breaks like that and seeing what happens."

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Results - Top 10 - click here to see full result

Position	Name		Team	Time	Gap	Bonus
1	TEUTENBERG	Ina	TMP	02h56'51"		10"
2	BECKER	Charlotte	NUR	02h56'53"	02"	6"
3	*HOLLER	Monica	BCT	02h56'55"	04"	4"
4	BRODTKA	Angela	DSB	02h56'55"	04"
5	GEBHARDT	Elke	GER	02h56'55"	04"
6	MARTISOVA	Julia	GAU	02h56'55"	04"
7	BRAS	Martine	NED	02h56'55"	04"
8	DE GOEDE	Suzanne	NUR	02h56'55"	04"
9	LE FLOCH	Magali	FRA	02h56'55"	04"
10	POLIKEVICIUTE	Jolanta	LTU	02h56'55"	04"

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General Classification Top 10 - click here to see full GC

Position	Name		Team	Time	Gap
2	ARNDT	Judith	TMP	12h43'27"	03'39"
3	WORRACK	Trixi	NUR	12h43'43"	03'55"
4	COOKE	Nicole	GRB	12h44'09"	04'21"
5	*HAUSLER	Claudia	NUR	12h44'22"	04'34"
6	LAWS	Sharon	GRB	12h44'44"	04'56"
7	NEBEN	Amber	USA	12h44'47"	04'59"
8	THORBURN	Christine	WEB	12h45'34"	05'46"
9	*VILLUMSEN	Linda	TMP	12h45'46"	05'58"
10	MELCHERG	Mirjam	NED	12h46'05"	06'17"

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