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25th International Thuringen Rundfahrt der Frauen

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Stage 3 - Worrack sprints to victory

Greiz, 128.4km

Race Writeup

Trixi Worrack (Specialized Lululemon) won the sprint from a group 30 riders. Lizzie  Armitstead (AA Drink) was second ahead of Martine Bras (Dolmans-Boels) who has finally found her former speed after an early season crash put her out for most of the season so far.  

Leading the team classification, Specialized Lululemon started without the Canadian champion, Clara Hughes. Hughes like many riders is focused on the Olympics. She is the first of many of the top riders we might see drop out of the race after the stage 4 individual time trial.    

98 riders started stage 3 in blustery but dry conditions. Although rain threatened during the race and fell heavily at the finish line in Greiz, the riders managed to stay dry all race. 
The profile of the stage 3 ensured that the race would break up. The first and main attack of the day came at Hohenleuben after 7km. Alexis Rhodes (Orica AIS) quickly moved away from the filed and without reaction she was allowed to go.  

The Australian rode the first 50km alone and only when the first climb appraoched did the bunch start to react. Rhodes held a 4 minute 45 second lead.  

Within 5km the gap was down to 3 minutes 36 seconds. Emma Mackie (Abus Nutrixxion) tried to get a jump on the bunch and managed a 10 second gap before AA Drink, RusVelo and Specialized moved to the front to close the gap further on Rhodes.  

After 60km alone Rhodes lost momentum when she suffered a flat tire. The gap to the chasing peloton was down to 2 minutes 5 seconds.  

The wind picked up and started to blow diagonally against the bunch .The strong winds created breaks in the peloton and eschelons formed as riders were desperately trying to gain some shelter from the rider in front of them. AA Drink were driving on thefront with Hitec Products Mistral Cycling Team and  RusVelo.

With 40km of racing to go the gap to Rhodes was down to 30 seconds.  Romy Kasper
(RusVelo) bridged to Rhodes and went past her. Finally the initial break was over after 89km of racing.

Kasper's advantage was growing and she quickly created a 50 second lead. However after 106.9 the second of the climbs was approaching and Kaspers lead was shrinking fast.

Again the strong wind created eschelons and split the chasing bunch. A leading group of thirteen riders formed. Included in the group were; Kasper, Emma Johansson, Sylvia Kapusta and Elisa Longo Borghini (Hitec), Judith Arndt and Claudia Hausler (Orica-AIS), Sharon Laws (AA Drink),Armitstead, Worrack, Sarah Duester (Rabo Women), Amber Neben (Specialized Lululemon), Joelle Numainville (Canada), Jessie Daams (AA Drink) and Adrie Visser (Skil Argos.

With only  25km to go. The 13 leaders were being chased by a group of 17 at 30 seconds. The chase was being led by RusVelo, in an attempt to get Hanka Kupfernagel into the leading group. On the outskirts of Greiz the two groups came together.

 As the leaders crossed the start finish area to complete the final lap, Marta Bastianelli (Mcipollini Giambenini) led the leading group before Romy Kasper RusVelo. Johansson secured the third sprint point to move her one point ahead of overnight points leader Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Specialized Lululemon).

After the sprint, the bunch was strung out and started to split a little. As the leader reached the final climb,  Worrack went over first ahead of Kupfernagel and Johansson.

On the run to the finish the tempo was extremely high. Unlike previous days Specialized Lululemon led out Worrack for the win. Teutenberg celebrated with her as she crossed the line behind in 22^nd place.

Alexis Rhodes was awarded the most active rider jersey after her solo effort.

Comments

Trixi Worrack (Specialized Lululemon) normally leads out Teutenberg. Today the team led her out, "I felt really great today so I'm happy now that my form is starting to come up for the Olympics. I just needed a bit of racing. The next three days here will be the perfect final preparation."

"The break started really well," said Worrack. "But it wasn't a perfect situation for a few of the teams so eventually another group of about 15 riders caught us with a lap to go.

"We had Emilia [Fahlin] doing a great job covering breaks and at the end she started the lead out and Ina [Teutenberg] finished it and led me into the sprint."

Ronny Lauke (Team Sport Director Specialized Lululemon) was very happy with his teams third win, "The last 40km of the race were pretty windy," said Lauke. "AA Drink went on the attack and split up the peloton. In the front group of 11 we had Trixi and Amber [Neben] so it was a good situation for us."

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