Credit: CJ Farquharson

Credit: CJ Farquharson

Credit: CJ Farquharson

 

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Teutenberg takes third stage win, second overall in Holland

September 07, 2008

Columbia’s Ina-Yoko Teutenberg took a strong solo win in the last stage of the Holland Ladies Tour  - a victory which secured her second place overall and first place in the points competition.

On a tough, hilly stage in south Holland, aggressive team-work by Columbia culminated when Teutenberg moved clear of the field.

“It was a very tense, spectacular day’s racing.” Teutenberg commented.

“The last part of the stage consisted of six laps on the hills around Valkenberg, and things started hotting up  on the fourth when [Dutchwoman] Marianne Vos made a big attack.”

”Four riders went away, then I got across, but on the fifth lap it all started to come back together.”

“Then [Columbia team-mate] Judith Arndt counter-attacked, finally got caught, and I went away alone immediately afterwards.”

“I got a maximum of 57 seconds advantage, which was great, but they started to reel me in.”

“I think Vos must have been 10 seconds behind me at most at the summit of the final climb and the finish. It was really very close.”

“The last 500 metres were very hard, and it was only in the last 50 metres that I realised that I could win and that Vos wasn’t going to catch me. Being able to fend off such a talented climber is a good feeling!”

Teutenberg admitted that Columbia were going all out for the overall win, but that she could not be unhappy with  the team’s performance in the six-day stage race.

”We got second overall, four stages wins, and the points jersey. I can be really satisfied even if we were riding today to see if we could take the race outright.”

“That  didn’t happen, but we did everything we could.”

“Today I’ve showed once again, too, that I can do more than fight for wins in bunch sprints. I’ve got other  cards to play.”

As for the upcoming World Championships, Teutenberg is cautious, saying “I’m feeling in good shape for the World Championships and the terrain is similar to today’s stage, but it’s a very different race with a very tough field.”

“Next stop for me, in any case, is the last round of the World Cup.” - the GP Rund um Die Nürnberger in Germany on September 14th.