Emma Johansson holds onto overall lead as Specialized-lululemon dominates stage wins
Trixi Worrack (Specialized-lululemon) won the third stage of the Thüringen-Rundfahrt, the Rund um Greiz, the fastest of a thirty-rider breakaway, as her team – and the German riders in it that would take part in the Olympic Games road race ten days later – continued to dominate the sprint finishes of the race. The former German champion out sprinted former British champion Lizzie Armitstead (AA Drink-Leontien.nl) on the line, with Dutchwoman Martine Bras (Dolmans-Boels) third.
Bonus seconds on the line moved Armitstead into second overall, but – largely thanks to seconds secured at intermediate sprints – defending champion Emma Johansson (Hitec Products-Mistral Home) held on to her overall lead.
“The break started really well,” said Worrack afterwards. “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.
“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 128km stage was dominated by a long solo attack from former Australian champion Alex Rhodes (Orica-GreenEdge), who escaped after just seven kilometres. She managed to build a lead of 4’45” in the first 50km but, as peloton began to close in on her, she suffered a puncture and decided to sit up and wait.
Rhodes was caught by the group after 87km, and this was followed by an immediate attack from Romy Kasper (RusVelo). The German was swallowed by a 13-rider group however, which included Worrack, Armitstead, Johansson and German champion Judith Arndt. On the approach to the finish however, another group made it across to the front of the race, but Specialized-lululemon led Worrack into the finish to take the team’s third straight victory in the race.
Result stage 3
1. Trixi Worrack (Ger) Specialized-lululemon
2. Elizabeth Armitstead (GBr) AA Drink-Leontien.nl
3. Martine Bras (Ned) Dolmans-Boels
4. Marta Tagliaferro (Ita) Mcipollini Giambenini
5. Joelle Numainville (Can) Canadian National Team
6. Emma Johansson (Swe) Hitec Products-Mistral Home
7. Judith Arndt (Ger) Orica-GreenEdge
8. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Hitec Products-Mistral Home
9. Sarah Düster (Ger) Stichting Rabobank
10. Petra Zrimsek (Slo) Be Pink
Standings after stage 3
1. Emma Johansson (Swe) Hitec Products-Mistral Home
2. Elizabeth Armitstead (GBr) AA Drink-Leontien.nl @ 5s
3. Judith Arndt (Ger) Orica-GreenEdge @ 8s
4. Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Ger) Specialized-lululemon @ 9s
5. Trixi Worrack (Ger) Specialized- lululemon @ 13s
6. Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) RusVelo @ 14s
7. Adrie Visser (Ned) Skil-Argos @ 26s
8. Claudia Häusler (Ger) Orica-GreenEdge @ 36s
9. Olga Zabelinskaya (Rus) RusVelo @ 43s
10. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Hitec Products-Mistral Home