Amanda wins 3rd stage, Johansson takes lead in 2011 Internationale Thuringen Rundfahrt der Frauen
HTC-Highroad team’s Amanda Miller showed her brilliant performance and took secured her second victory in 2011 Internationale Thuringen Rundfahrt der Frauen in Schleiz, on Thursday July 21.
Emma Johansson retained her overall leader jersey. Miller took a total of 3 hours, 42 minutes and 44 seconds to cover the distance of 130 kilometres.
Sport director, Jens Zemke told the media, "Adrie [Visser] was in the first break of ten riders in the beginning and eventually another six, including Amanda [Miller] bridged the gap, which stayed at about two minute for the majority of the stage.”
Elizabeth Armitstead of Garmin-Cervelo was the runner-up with 2 seconds behind Amanda. Monia Baccaille of SC MCipollini Giordana was in the third place.
A group of seven cyclists made a successful breakaway, including Adrie Visser (HTC-Highroad), Sarah Duster (Nederland Bloeit), Sharon Laws (Garmin-Cervelo), Claire Thomas (Horizon Fitness), Trixi Worrack (AA Drink-Leontien.nl), Romy Kasper (German National
Team) and Jessie Maclean (Australian National Team).
All of them managed to gain a lead and pull away from the peloton. The three cyclists Baccaille, Denise Ramsden (Juvederm-Specialized) and Veronique Labonte (Juvederm-Specialized) increased their pace and joined the group of ten cyclists.
After a few kilometers, Irina Molitcheva, Sara Mustonen and Sylwia Kapusta got away and were joined by the other three cyclists Mille, Corset and Armitstead.
With 64 kilometres to go, the two groups joined together and build a lead of 1 minute and 10 seconds. In the final 10 kilometres, the group again launched the attack and Labonte managed to go away, but she pulled back.
However, in the last 2 kilometres, Miller showed her good effort and managed to gain a lead ahead of the other cyclists.
Zemke said, "Amanda attacked out of a hard corner and got a break of about five or ten meters, Then she turned it on full gas to the finish, and won ahead of some really strong sprinters [including Lizzy Armitstead of Garmin-Cervelo] with Adrie Visser in
fourth."
Trixi Worrack of AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling took the title of most aggressive rider ahead of Irina Molitcheva and Ruth Corset.
Emma Johansson took the overall lead with a timing of 9 hours, 51 minutes and 3 seconds. Amber Neben was runner-up with 7 seconds and Amy Pieters finished third with a difference of 13 seconds behind Emma.
The next stage will start in Zeulenroda and all the cyclists will cover the distance of 100 kilometres.
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