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Thüringen Rundfahrt, 2008

WCN quicklink >>    Stage 1      Stage 1 Full      Stage 2      Stage 2 Full     Stage 3     Stage 3 Full    

                                Stage 4     Stage 4 Full    Stage 5    Stage 5 Full    Stage 6      Stage 6 Full

Stage 1

Schleusingen, 61.9km

A group of 7 riders attacked in the final 20 km of the race which managed to survive until within the last km of the race. The group, which included Noemi Cantele (Bigla), Trixi Worrack (Équipe Nürnberger Versicherung), Hanka Kupfernagel (German National Team), Carla Ryan (Cervelo Lifeforce), Kim Anderson (Team Columbia Women), Diana Zilute (Safi-Pasta Zara Manhatten) caused a late catch by the peloton in the final 300m of the race, that ended a bunch sprint won by Angel Hennig (DSB) ahead of Regina Schleicher (Équipe Nürnberger Versicherung) and Cantele.  

The race was active right from the first of the mountain points with attack after attack going off the front of the bunch. The German National team’s Kupfernagel was very active along with Webcor Builders, Team Canada, Équipe Nürnberger Versicherung and Team Columbia. All attempted to break away with Team Columbia the only team to successfully generate a lone break. Anderson managed to hold the peloton off for some time before a shared effort brought her back. Team Columbia and in particular Kim Anderson were awarded the most aggressive award for the teams efforts during the stage.  

Worrack completed the stage in the lead in the Mountain jersey competition, despite Hennig winning the first two climbs, Worrack was first over the GPM climb to gain valuable points. Cantele and team mate Monica Holler battled out the sprint points but the sprinters jersey was won by Cantele in the end. Marina Romoli (Menikini) in the young rider’s jersey for her 14^th place in the bunch sprint.

Angela Hennig (DSB) was very happy with her victory. She talked thought the final stages of the race. “It was a very tough race today. We had been trying to get away all race, but there were so many attacks from the teams of Columbia, Bigla, Gauss and Nürnberger but the race stayed together until a group attacked. At 3km we tried to close the gap and we caught them in the last 300m”. 

Regina Schleicher (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung) was very unhappy at the finish having been edged out of first place during the sprint. “It has been a tough day, the race was very hard. I had a good position in the sprint but Angela [Hennig] got the line” said Schleicher.

Noemi Cantele (Bigla) was disappointed with her third place today. “I thought the break would stay away and that I would have a good chance for the win. When we were caught the peloton came by so fast I did not have the legs to react” said Cantele.

Marianme Vos (DSB) was very happy with her team's performance in the first stage of the Thüringen Rundfahrt. She commented on Hennig’s victory. “Angela [Hennig] has been sprinting well coming into this race so this was a good result today. She also showed that she is a good climber too.” Vos was asked about the importance of this race so close to the Olympic Games and if she was going to be taking it easy this week. She added “This is good preparation for the Olympics; it would be too long between good stage races if I missed this.”

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