Emilia Fahlin begins perfect day for HTC-Highroad after taking Prologue stage of de l’Ardeche 2011
HTC-Highroad team’s Emilia Fahlin secured her first big international victory after winning the opening stage of Tour Cycliste Feminin International de l’Ardeche 2011 on Monday, September 5. She also took the overall leader’s yellow jersey.
The race started and ended in Vallon Pont d’Arc. Fahlin took a total of 3 minutes and 9 seconds to cover the 2.4 kilometre distance.
After winning the stage, Emilia Fahlin told the media, "We're going to try to keep the jersey as long as possible, I'm feeling pretty good and we have a good team here so we'll give it everything."
Leire Olaberria Dorronsoro of DEBABARRENA – GIPUZKOA was runner-up with 32 seconds down to Fahlin. Pascale Schnider (Switzerland) finished third with a difference of 1 minute and 71 seconds.
In the short course, the six cyclists including Emilia Fahlin, Leire Olaberria Dorronsoro, Pia Sundstedt, Iris Slappendel, Lizzie Armitstead and Pascale Schnider increased her pace and managed to gain a lead of few seconds over the other riders.
Iris Slappendel and Schnider tried her best to take the lead and Dorronsoro followed Fahlin. However, HTC-Highroad rider Fahlin powered to cross the line first without any difficulty.
Lizzie Armitstead (GARMIN-Cervelo), Amber Neben (HTC-Highroad) and Emma Pooley (GARMIN-Cervelo) was in sixth, seventh and eighth place respectively.
HTC Sport Director Ronny Lauke said, "She's really excited, she had to wait for another 80 finishers to find out if she won. It was nerve racking but she pulled it off and she's very happy. For, it's a great confidence builder, World Championships are coming
up not far from her home and she has some great form.”
HTC-Highroad team took first place in the overall team standing with the timing of 9 hours, 38 minutes. Garmin-Cervelo was in second place with 1 seconds and the French team was in third place with 1 minute and 15 seconds down to HTC.
The first stage will run in Le Pouzin and finish in Beauchastel. All the riders will cover the distance of 112.5 kilometres to take victory.
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