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Armitstead wins stage 3 at Tour de l’Ardéche

September 08, 2010 - Filed under: TestTeam

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There were two stages today at the Tour de l’Ardéche. Stage two this morning was the individual time trial and stage three, which followed from Vals les Bains to Le Tell was a 90 km road race, won by Cervélo’s Lizzie Armitstead (GBR).

“The time trial this morning, though short at three kilometers, was quite dangerous,” said Egon van Kessel, Sports Director. “Ruth Corset (AUS) won it and Lizzie Armitstead (GBR) was third. Vicki Whitelaw (AUS) finished in fourth putting her one second ahead in the GC of Sharon Laws (GBR) who finished fifth. So heading into stage 3 Whitelaw took over the GC from Sharon with teammate Lizzie Armitstead in third.”

“Today’s third stage,” according to van Kessel, “was marked by a seventeen rider break lasting until the final 30 km when they came together before the finish in the long climb. The climb was not that heavy, so we really couldn’t make a difference to the others. We had four riders in the break Armitstead, Laws, Carla Ryan (AUS) and Claudia Häusler (GER). A rider did try to break out of the group but was taken back in the final. We decided to go for the sprint with Lizzie and she was able to win it. Whitelaw was also part of the group and retains the leaders jersey. There are some heavy stages ahead and the team is still in a good position. We now have several options for the GC with Sharon for sure, but also with Lizzie and Claudia.”

“It was a good victory today with great teamwork again from Lieselot Decroix (BEL) and Patricia Schwager (SUI),” said Lizzie Armitstead. “They worked hard in the first part of the race, enabling us to have four riders in the front. I remembered the course from last year. With 600 meters to go I took a fast corner and had a small gap and I just gave it full gas to the finish and nobody could pass me.”

Tomorrow is the queen’s stage from Saint Sauveur de Montagut to Cruas. The 117 kilometer stage contains one, cat. 1, two cat. 2 and one cat 3, the last climb before the finish in Cruas.

Tour de l’Ardéche Stage 2 Results: Vals les Bains – Vals les Bains 3.5 km

1^st	Ruth Corset (AUS)	0.05.32	37.95 km/h (23.58 mph)
2^nd	Christelle Ferrier-breneau (FRA)	+0.08
3^rd	Elizabeth Armitstead (GBR)	s.t.
4^th	Vicki Whitelaw (AUS)	+0.12
5^th	Sharon Laws (GBR)	+0.13

13^rd	Claudia Häusler (GER)	+0.18
57^th	Carla Ryan (AUS)	+0.50
68^th	Lieselot Decroix (BEL)	+0.56
69^th	Patricia Schwager (SUI)	+0.57

Tour de l’Ardéche Stage 3 Results: Vals les Bain – Le Teil 90.1 km

1^st	Elizabeth Armitstead (GBR)	2:16:18	39.66 km/h (24.64 mph)
2^nd	Grace Verbeke (BEL)	+0.04
3^rd	Froydis Waerstad (NOR)	s.t.
4^th	Ashleigh Moolman (RSA)	s.t.
5^th	Vicki Whitelaw (AUS)	s.t.

9^th	Sharon Laws (GBR)	s.t.
14^th	Claudia Häusler (GER)	+0.09
15^th	Carla Ryan (AUS)	s.t.
44^th	Patricia Schwager (SUI)	+3.02
49^th	Lieselot Decroix (BEL)	+3.02

General Classification after Stage 3:

1^st	Vicki Whitelaw (AUS)	5:11:00	39.74 km/h (24.69 mph)
2^nd	Sharon Laws (GBR)	+0.01
3^rd	Ruth Corset (AUS)	+1.29

4^th	Elizabeth Armitstead (GBR)	+1.33
10^th	Claudia Häusler (GER)	+1.52
16^th	Carla Ryan (AUS)	+2.24
46^th	Lieselot Decroix (BEL)	+5.23
47^th	Patricia Schwager (SUI)	+5.24