Credit: CJ Farquharson

Credit: CJ Farquharson

Credit: CJ Farquharson

Credit: CJ Farquharson

Credit: CJ Farquharson

 

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Teutenberg takes opening stage of Holland Ladies Tour

September 02, 2008

Ina-Yoko Teutenberg has scorched to a classy sprint victory in the opening stage of the Holland Ladies Tour in Hellendorn.

"She won it comfortably, by a good three bikes lengths. It was very impressive." Sports director Ronny Lauke said afterwards.

"It was a fairly tough finish, too, a little bit uphill in the last kilometer, a few concerns and with some covvled sections on the run-in."

"But Ina got into the right postition with 800 meters to go, and then just went for it."

"But we controlled the race during the whole stage - which was through typical Dutch terrain, just a few small hills with a couple of loops of one large circuit then a couple more of a smaller one before the finsih."

"They weren't any serious breakaways, so we kept things together for Ina for the sprint, dropped her in the last kilometre, and she did exactly what was expected of her.”

“She didn’t even have a lead-out, but once she was in the right position for the sprint, really it wasn’t going to be possible to stop her.”

Lauke is optimistic that Teutenberg will do her utmost to defend her overall lead in the flat 20.5 kilometre time trial on Wednesday.

“Ina’s not a specialist, but she definitely knows how to turn in a solid ride in a time trial.”

“With any luck, she could hold onto the lead - or one of her team-mates might take over, who knows?”

“Whatever happens, Ina’s not going to throw away this lead lightly. I know that for sure.”

The Ladies Tour of Holland finishes on Sunday in Valkenberg.