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Thüringen Rundfahrt, 2009

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Stage 1- Vos wins stage and leads after day 1

Altenburg, 70.7km, 21 July 2009

In what was probably the toughest start to the Thüringen Rundfahrt in many years, and the victory went to Marianne Vos (DSB Bank) in a sprint to the line ahead of Emma Johansson (Red Sun Cycling) and Rasa Leleivyte (Safi Pasta Zara Titanedi). 

The course was challenging and full of sections with cobbles to test the handling skills of the riders. The rolling roads tested the legs and ensured that the pace was high. In the first 10km there was a crash involving Emila Fahlin (Columbia HTC) and Marina Romoli (Safi-Pasta Zara Titanedi). Fahlin was taken to hospital with injuries to her right knee and elbow. The knee required stitches but thankfully there were not broken bones. Karin Thurig (Bigla) was also caught up in the crash and her team dropped back to bring her back to the bunch. 

At the base of the climb to Kotteritz, the cobbled section through the village, ensured that riders had to fight to get into position for the fist of the mountain classification climbs. At the front of the group the Cervelo Test team and MTN Energade Cycling Team's Larissa Kleinmann led team mate Carla Swart over ahead of Tina Leibig (DSB Bank). 

The sprint in Altenburg,  was extremely tough and challenged the riders. It was a 1km decent into the town and it twisted and turned over the cobbled sections. The first time the riders were cautious and edged their way through. Sarah Duster (Cervelo Test Team) led the bunch down for the first sprint but she was passed by Noemi Cantele (Bigla) and team mate Monica Holler on the line.

There were a number of teams active at the front of the race, including Columbia HTC, DBS Bank, Bigla and Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung. Linda Villumsen deserved the most active award. She broke away from the bunch alone and it took some time for the chasing peloton to chase her back. 

At the climb for the second time, Leibig (DSB Bank) led the bunch over ahead of Petra Dijkman (Red SunCycling Team) and Charlotte Becker (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung). 

Despite the hard work from a number of teams to try to get riders away, the bunch arrived at Altenburg for the second time in a large group. Trixi Worrack (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung) won ahead of Cantele and Duster. 

The third lap the bunch stayed pretty much together and came to Altenburg again in a bunch sprint. The third one was won by Duster ahead of Vos and Holler. 

Luise Keller and Kim Anderson (Columbia HTC), Nicole Cooke (Vision 1 Racing) and Vos were active on the front of the bunch a for the final lap. Villumsen attempted to get away again but was closed down by Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung and Bigla. The final climb at Kotteritz, Leibig (DSB Bank) led the bunch over again ahead of Petra Dijkman (Red SunCycling Team) and Madeline Sandig (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung)

In the final 1km the peloton was almost complete and the fast decent to the line was challenging for the riders. It was Duster again who led the group down the cobbled section. Vos was on her wheel and into the final corner she made her move. Johansson was on her wheel but Vos was too strong.

The second place in third sprint and the win in the final sprint gave Vos the sprint jersey ahead of Duster and Cantele. Vos also holds the U23 category. The two first places over the climb for Leibig ensured she was placed in the Mountains jersey ahead of Kleinmann.

Marianne Vos (DBS Bank) was absolutely shattered at end of stage 1, despite it being a relatively short 70.7km, it was the toughest start to the Thuringen Rundfahrt for many years. “It was a horrible last kilometre. It was a fast decent and from 1km to 600m it ws so steep and had cobblestones. It was just eyes closed and fingers crossed and hope I will get there. I was second behind Sarah Duster and I knew from the lap before that she had done a pretty good decent. I knew that if I was on her wheel in the last lap that I would be in a good position and I was,” said Vos

Tina Leibig (DSB Bank) was very happy to get the Mountain jersey today, "I am very happy and surprised. We did not think we could get it and we are very surprised. We will have to see if we can defend this and the yellow jersey," said Leibig

Linda Villumsen (Columbia HTC) had mixed feeling at the end of the stage. "We lost a team mate today, [referring to the crash involving Emila Fahlin] so I am not so happy about how it went, I hope she is ok. We were all in breaks and even with a couple of riders struggling we had a good first stage," said Villumsen

Emma Johansson (Red Sun Cycling Team) was riding her second Thuringen and reflected on the stage. "I had not seen all of the final section before and it was horrible. Everyone was asking if i had seen the last kilometre and I had only seen the final 300m because of traffic. It was only after the first lap that I learnt how to get through it and I knew I had to be near the front so I did not crash," said Johansson

Carla Ryan (Cervelo Test Team) worked hard all race and finished in the bunch. “It was a tough stage. There were some interesting pave sections which made it interesting. For me personally it was good to open the legs up after the Giro Donne. The team rode well, Sarah will wear the Sprint jersey which wasn’t planned. It was a perfect course for her and she loves this kind of racing. It is great, it is really good for her and the team.” Asked if there was a hope the Sarah [Duester] could hold the front to the line, Ryan added, “She loves this kind of racing and gave it a try. I am really happy for her.”

Suzanne De Goede (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung) worked hard to close the break for her team, "That is one of the most dangerous stages I have seen. that decent to the finish was so fast and with the cobbles it made it very difficult. Tomorrow is another day and another stage to look forward too," said De Goede.

Vikki Whitelaw (Vision 1 Racing) is riding her first Thuringen Rundfahrt and was not expecting the first stage to be so hard, "A lot harder than expected, we wanted a much easier introduction. That was tough, not only was it pavé there were a lot of broken sections which meant that riders were skidding everywhere. There was a lot of breaking and accelerating which made it very hard on the energy systems. It was really hard," said Whitelaw. "It was a really leg sapping stage and I am hoping it isn't going to get harder from here. If that is an indication of the rest of the week, this is going to be a tough tour. This is my first Thuringen, I did not know what to expect, I was hoping to be eased into it but obviously that is not the case" added Whitelaw.