WomensCycling.net - race coverage, Stage 3

Judith Arndt (GreenEDGE) wrapped up a great start to the season for the new team. Finishing 4th on the final stage and having secured bonus seconds during the race, Arndt completed the event, 6" lead over Trixi Worrack (Specialised Lululemon) and 2’06 over Kirsten Wild (NED) who won the final stage and claims the Silver jersey for points. The best young rider of the race Chloé Hosking (Specialised Lululemon) top off a good result for the team who tool overall team honours.

The third and final stage of the Ladies’ Tour of Qatar competed in windy conditions, ended in a bunched sprint. Like on day 1, Kirsten WIld powered to victory. But the star of the day was Germany’s Judith Arndt who managed to keep control of her leader’s Golden jersey and wins this 2012 edition of the event.

At the start of the third and final stage of the Ladies’ Tour of Qatar, new Golden jersey Judith Arndt (GRW) only had a slim 2" lead over compatriot and rival Trixi Worrack (SLU). In other words it would be a fierce battle between the two Germans.

Again, strong winds would make this final stage a very demanding one. While the pack was struggling against a head-wind all along the first half of the race, courageous Kendall Ryan (USA) broke away after 14 kilometres. Her advantage rapidly grew from 25" at km 15 to a maximum 3’25 at km 20.

The first bonus sprint (km 27) was claimed by Ryan while Wild (NED) was the fastest of the peloton ahead of Arndt gaining and extra bonus second overall. The gap had then dropped down to 2’. Just two kilometres later, Ryan only had a 1’ lead. The American was finally caught at km 40.

A pack remained bunched for the second intermediate sprint (km 42) won by Arndt ahead of Wild and Gunnewijk. As the riders headed west and the wind blew sideways, the peloton broke up into several groups and 16 favourites gathered at the front. The leaders enjoyed a maximum 30" advantage at km 49 before being caught back at km 57.

The peloton remained packed all the way to the finish at a very fast pace due to the tailwind all the way to the finish. Decision was to be made after a bunched sprint. Like on day 1, Kirsten Wild (NED) prooved she was the fastest of all, capturing her second success this year. The dutch rider beat her compatriots Ellen Van Dijk (SLU) and Adriana Visser (SKI) to the line.

Fourth of the stage, Judith Arndt kept her Golden jersey and wins this fourth edition of the Ladies’ Tour of Qatar. In the final GC, the German wins the event with a 6" lead over Worrack and 2’06 over Wild who claims the Silver jersey for points. The best young rider of the race remains Chloé Hosking while team Specialized-Lululemon finishes best team.

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Results - Top 10 - click here to see full result

Position	Name	Team	Time/Gap
1	Kirsten Wild	Netherlands	2:38:36
2	Elen Van Dijk	Team Specialized Lululemon	"
3	Adriana Visser	Skil-1t4i	"
4	Judith Arndt	GreenEdge-AIS	"
5	Chloe Hosking	Team Specialized Lululemon	"
6	Giorgia Bronzini	Diadora-Pasta Zara	"
7	Monia Baccaille	MCipollini Giambenini	"
8	Jessie Maclean	GreenEdge-AIS	"
9	Trixi Worrack	Team Specialized Lululemon	"
10	Elena Cecchini	MCipollini Giambenini	"

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General Classification Top 10 - click here to see full GC

Position	Name	Team	Time/Gap
1	Judith Arndt	GreenEdge-AIS	8:00:44
2	Trixi Worrack	Team Specialized Lululemon	.06
3	Kirsten Wild	Netherlands	.06
4	Elen Van Dijk	Team Specialized Lululemon	2:57
5	Chloe Hosking	Team Specialized Lululemon	3:04
6	Loes Gunnewijk	GreenEdge-AIS	3:12
7	Alexis Rhodes	GreenEdge-AIS	3:33
8	Jessie Maclean	GreenEdge-AIS	5:26
9	Monia Baccaille	MCipollini Giambenini	"
10	Elena Cecchini	MCipollini Giambenini	"

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