Race Writeup

Sarah Duester (Cervelo Test Team) was awarded first place on stage 5 into Schmölln, after a jury decision relegated Adrie Visser (HTC Columbia) to third. Hanka Kupfernagel (German National Team) took second.

The fifth stage round Schmölln was a rolling course with many undulations. The main climb assured the peloton would split. It was long and challenging.  The damage did in fact, came on the first climb where the main section of the road was cobbled. The bunch split left and right to power up the climb at speed on the smooth tarmac area. This created a break in the bunch and a lead group of approximately 45 riders formed. 

This group stayed together until the fourth time up the climb in Sommeritz. An attack from Kupfernagel on the climb split the group and a lead group formed that included seven riders. Kupfernagel, Visser, Duester, Julia Martisova (Gauss RDZ Ormu), Vera Koedoodor (Netherlands National Team), Elke Gebhardt (Noris Cycling) and Petra Dijkman (Red Sun Cycling).  Chasing from behind were Luisa Keller (HTC Columbia)Andrea Bosman (Netherlands) and Trixi Worrack (Noris Cycling). 

On the final loop, Gebhardt attacked the group with 8km to go to the finish. She quickly gained 11 seconds before being joined by Duester and Keller. Keller, immediately counter attacked and gained a 10 second advantage before being joined by Kupfernagel and Deuster. At 5m to go the group of four were chased by Koedoodor and Bosman. 

On the fast descent to the finish, Duester was on front but as they came into the 300m right hand turn to the finish line the group were together. The tight finishing straight narrowed as it reached the line. Duester had taken the left line, Visser had a gap on the right and Kupfernagel was squeezed out between them. 

On the line Visser looked the clear winner but was relegated after the judges deemed she had not held her line against Kupfernagel. 

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