STAGE 5

TEUTENBERG TAKES HER 23RD SEASON VICTORY

Columbia-HTC’s Ina-Yoko Teutenberg racked up her twenty-third victory of the season on Saturday’s stage of the Ladies Tour of Holland.

Teutenberg outpowered Netherlands rider Kirsten Wild in the bunch sprint that decided the 108 kilometre stage in Nieuwegein. Teutenberg has now taken 23 victories this season, whilst her latest win takes the tally for Columbia-HTC women’s team this season to 45.

“It was very windy, because 60 percent of the racing was along exposed roads and that made it a tough day overall,” Teutenberg said. “By the end of the stage the bunch had split completely and I think only 30 or 40 riders finally took part in the sprint.”

“But we’d done well and played it very aggressively throughout. I got into a break between kilometre 40 and kilometre 60 and then [Columbia-HTC team-mate] Chantal Beltman got a minute’s gap and kept off the front until there was five kilometres to go.”

“That meant we didn’t have to start controlling until the very end. There was a long straightaway leading to the finish, and I came round Kirsten to win.”

Teutenberg said she was pleased to have beaten Wild because the Dutch rider is “in really good shape and I haven’t been able to get past her back wheel all week.

“Well, I got past her back wheel yesterday [Friday] but then she accelerated again and got the stage! So today I was very happy to win and finally beat her. I would like to be in a bit better shape than I feel  I am right now, so this win is a very encouraging sign for me. I’m pleased.”

STAGE 2

VAN DIJK AND VILLUMSEN GO 1-2 IN THE TIME TRIAL

Columbia-HTC netted the top two places in Wednesday’s 13.3-kilometre individual time trial stage of the Holland Ladies Tour, with Dutchwoman Ellen Van Dijk finishing first and teammate Linda Villumsen of Denmark in second.

“It was a hard stage to win,” Van Dijk said later, “after a first long straightaway, there were lots of corners and I had to take a lot of risks. It was really scary!” Fortunately even though it was windy, it wasn’t raining like it did here on Tuesday and I could give it 100 percent.  Getting a win in your home country like today is something very special, and I’m really pleased.  Last week I rode in the Dutch national time trials and got third, which was ok, but I’d wanted to do better.  So here I had a point to prove to myself and I managed to get the win. And with Linda in second, it’s been a great day for Columbia-HTC.”

Overall Van Dijk is now second, tied on time with leader Kirsten Wilde, and she doesn’t rule out fighting for the overall in the next few stages.  “The next four stages are all flat and exposed, which is just how I like them. As a sprinter, I think I’ll have a chance.”