HTC-Highroad has a double-day as Amber Neben takes the yellow jersey
Judith Arndt (HTC-Highroad) won the fifth, time trial stage of the Thüringen-Rundfahrt, the Rund um Schmölln. As her teammate and compatriot Tony Martin was winning the time trial stage of the Tour de France, Arndt, the German time trial champion, was completing the rolling 19km course in a time of 27’13”. Arndt beat World time trial champion Emma Pooley (Garmin-Cervélo) by nine seconds, and her own teammate Ina Teutenberg by 19 seconds.
Former World time trial champion Amber Neben (HTC-Highroad) finished in fourth place, 32 seconds back, meaning the American team took three of the first four places.
Yellow jersey Emma Johansson (Hitec Products-UCK) started the day just eleven seconds ahead of Neben. The Swedish rider could only finish sixth on the stage though, 46 seconds behind Arndt; she lost 14 seconds to Neben, who moved into the race lead by three seconds.
“Now we are where we want to be with Amber in yellow, but with only three seconds it will be a hard fight tomorrow,” said HTC-Highroad sport director Jens Zemke, “There are three time bonuses including the final one on the finish line with ten seconds for first, six for second and four for third, so we have to do our very best to defend our lead.”
All that remains of the race is the 99.6km Rund um Altenburg, made up of four laps of a hilly 25.4km circuit. With such a slim lead in the overall classification for Neben, Zemke expects fireworks.
“Emma Johansson will be after the jersey tomorrow and she is a strong rider,” he said. “The girls will have to be on-point tomorrow to get Amber home safely.
“We will need those first two time bonuses to strengthen us for the finish,” he added.
Result stage 5
1. Judith Arndt (Ger) HTC-Highroad
2. Emma Pooley (GBr) Garmin-Cervélo @ 9s
3. Ina Teutenberg (Ger) Garmin-Cervélo @ 19s
4. Amber Neben (USA) HTC-Highroad @ 32s
5. Shara Gillow (Aus) Australian National Team @ 39s
6. Emma Johansson (Swe) Hitec Products-UCK @ 46s
7. Trixi Worrack (Ger) AA Drink-Leontien.nl @ 1’04”
8. Linda Villumsen (NZl) AA Drink-Leontien.nl @ 1’06”
9. Olga Zabelinskaya (Rus) Russian National Team @ 1’13”
10. Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) Horizon Fitness @ 1’17”
Standings after stage 5
1. Amber Neben (USA) HTC-Highroad
2. Emma Johansson (Swe) Hitec Products-UCK @ 3s
3. Shara Gillow (Aus) Australian National Team @ 26s
4. Linda Villumsen (NZl) AA Drink-Leontien.nl @ 49s
5. Noemi Cantele (Ita) Garmin-Cervélo @ 1’03”