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Sharon Laws victorious in Stage 1 at Tour de Ardeche

September 07, 2010 - Filed under: TestTeam

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Sharon Laws (GBR) won her first UCI race today capturing the first stage at the Tour de Ardeche. Laws won the 112.4 kilometers stage from Le Pouzin to Beauchastel defeating Vicki Whitelaw (AUS) in the sprint, Cervélo TestTeam mate Lizzie Armitstead (GBR) came third.

“Today’s first stage in the Tour de Ardeche was an easy stage with only a small climb at the beginning of the race but the peloton stayed together,” said Egon Van Kessel, Sports Director. “The Australian rider Amanda Spratt was in the lead and with 75 km to go she had a quite a big gap. Than was some wind from the side so we decided to attack with the whole team. We took Spratt back and then Sharon Laws attacked and took Vicky Whitelaw (AUS) with her, together they took quite a big advantage. Sharon was able to beat Whitelaw in the sprint, winning her first UCI race ever. Lizzie Armitstead (GBR) won the bunch sprint, and came in third.

“My legs where good today, I felt that I was stronger than Vicki, as she mostly followed in my wheel and I was able to beat her in the sprint,” commented Sharon Laws after her stage win. “I have to say thanks to the team, today we were the smartest and strongest team. I will try to keep leader jersey as long as possible on my shoulders, and we have a lot of other options in the team. I have had some bad luck this year, I broke my collarbone in the Giro and didn’t race for a long time, so this is very gratifying.”

“Sharon is a really good rider who has given the team a lot of support this year” said van Kessel, “though she had never won a race. So it is great that she is able to win today, with a good perspective for the GC with an advantage of 1m41s.”

Tour de l’Ardéche Stage 1 Results: Le Pouzin – Beauchastel 112.4 km

1^st	Sharon Laws (GBR)	2.48.54	39.93 km/h (24.81 mph)
2^nd	Vicki Whitelaw (AUS)	s.t.
3^rd	Elizabeth Armitstead (GBR)	+1.41
4^th	Grace Verbeke (BEL)	s.t.
5^th	Vilija Sereikaite (LIT)	s.t.

25^th	Lieselot Decroix (BEL)	s.t.
33^rd	Claudia Häusler (GER)	s.t.
57^th	Patricia Schwager (SUI)	s.t.
66^th	Carla Ryan (AUS)	s.t.

General Classification after Stage 1:

1^st	Sharon Laws (GBR)	2.48.54	39.93 km/h (24.81 mph)
2^nd	Vicki Whitelaw (AUS)	s.t.
3^rd	Elizabeth Armitstead (GBR)	+1.41

25^th	Lieselot Decroix (BEL)	s.t.
33^rd	Claudia Häusler (GER)	s.t.
57^th	Patricia Schwager (SUI)	s.t.
66^th	Carla Ryan (AUS)	s.t.