World championship favourites do battle in final preparation race
Marianne Vos (Nederland Bloeit) won the fifth stage of the Giro della Toscana between Segromigno in Piano and Capannori after outsprinting the rest of a breakaway group of six. The 23-yesr-old Dutchwoman beat Judith Arndt (HTC-Columbia) and Emma Johansson (Swedish National Team) at the end of the wet 100.9km stage.
After paying its respects at the memorial to the late Michela Fanini, to whom this race – and the team – is dedicated, the peloton left Segromigno under leaden skies that were later to give way to rain.
On the four 19.6km laps Luisa Tamanini (Chirio Forno d’Asolo) sprinted for mountains points on each 2nd category climb to Segromigno in Monte. The first time she beat Valentina Carretta (Top Girls-Fassa Bortolo-Ghezzi) and Martina Ruzickova (Michela Fanini-Record-Rox), the second Carretta again and Trixi Worrack (Germany), the third time Elena Berlato (Top Girls-Fassa Bortolo-Ghezzi), and on the fourth time Berlato and third place overall Evelyn Stevens (HTC-Columbia).
None of the sprint led to a successful attack though, and the peloton was still complete with 25km to go.
As the 1st category climb to Valgiano began with 20km to go Iris Slappendel (Cervélo TestTeam) attacked and the HTC-Columbia team of race leader Noemi Cantele allowed her to get 30 seconds clear. As the peloton approached the top World champion Tatiana Guderzo (Valdarno) attacked with teammate Tatiana Antoshina. With the two Valdarno riders placed fifth and fourth overall they were too dangerous to let go and so Arndt followed.
The three riders caught and passed Slappendel, and they too were soon joined by Vos and Johansson, with Polish champion Malgorzata Jasinka (System Data).
At the finish Vos’ sprint was too powerful for the others and she took the victory in front of Arndt and Johansson.
Cantele finished in the first big group, 45 seconds later, losing her pink jersey to teammate Arndt. Antoshina also overtakes the Italian, pushing her down to third place overall.
“Judith was watching out for the breaks for Noemi [Cantele] as was her job, and she followed a move that went over a climb,” said HTC-Columbia Sports Director Ronny Lauke. “Vos then got across and that strengthened the break, which stayed away to the finish. Judith hadn’t done any work because she was defending Noemi’s lead and she had a lot of energy for the final sprint.
“It was important for us to be sure we stayed in control of the overall classification, and that’s what we’ve done with Judith,” he added.
Result stage 5
1. Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit
2. Judith Arndt (Ger) HTC-Columbia
3. Emma Johansson (Swe) Swedish National Team
4. Malgorzata Jasinka (Pol) Team System Data @ 2s
5. Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) Team Valdarno @ 3s
6. Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Team Valdarno
7. Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned) Nederland Bloeit @ 19s
8. Rasa Leleivyte (Ltu) Safi-Pasta Zara
9. Trixi Worrack (Ger) German National Team @ 21s
10. Natalia Boyarskaya (Rus) Fenixs-Petrogadgets @ 22s
Standings after stage 5
1. Judith Arndt (Ger) HTC-Columbia
2. Tatiana Antoshina (Rus) Team Valdarno @ 29s
3. Noemi Cantele (Ita) HTC-Columbia @ 41s
4. Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) Team Valdarno @ 58s
5. Emma Johansson (Swe) Swedish National Team @ 1’03”