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Armitstead wins La Route de France finale and best young rider

August 14, 2010 - Filed under: TestTeam

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Lizzie Armitstead (GBR) who finished top five throughout this week’s La Route de France brought it all together today winning the mass sprint in the 118 km seventh and final stage of La Route de France. She also captured the best young rider jersey. Giorgia Bronzini (ITA - Gauss RDZ Ormu) took second today and Lisa Brennauer (GER -Hitec Products Uck) placed third. Overall Annemiek Van Vleuten (NED-Nederland Bloeit) won the GC, though Cervélo TestTeam had three of the four riders remaining in the race in the GC top ten – Armitstead in fourth, Charlotte Becker (GER) in sixth and Sarah Düster (GER) in tenth.

“Being the Sports Director and winning the last stage is always super nice as well as being on the podium and winning the jersey for the best young rider – well we accomplished what we expected to do,” said a satisfied Jens Zemke after today’s stage. “We rode aggressively and had two riders in the leading group of eleven and we were going very hard and if that group had arrived first we would have had Charlotte Becker on the podium and we would have won the team competition. But Nederland Bloiet chased really hard, they got company from Fenixs at the end so they were able to chase this group down.

“As the action started again, we were always there with lots of attacks. Then Lizzie attacked and at the end it came to a final sprint of maybe 30 riders and Lizzie beat all of them. It was her first win of a mass sprint beating many other fast riders. But she was really strong and the team did a fantastic job here with only four riders.”

“Sarah Düster was in a really good breakaway with Luise Keller (GER- HTC Columbia Women) the Safi rider Olga Zabelinskaia (RUS) brought the break back but it was really perfect riding from Sarah. Then when they came back I attacked but there were too many fresh girls ready for the sprint,” explained Lizzie Armitstead after winning the stage. “So I just held my position and Sarah, who is well known for how crazy she is in the corners, did a really good technical finish with three corners in the 750 meters. She went into the last corner full gas. I lost her wheel a little bit but it was also a little early so it was good and then there was nobody so I thought I’ll take this corner and take on the sprint a little bit early and see what happens and it worked. Winning today is really good for my confidence. I’ve been coming closer each day and I needed a hard day like today, the team was really perfect.”

La Route de France Stage 7 Results: Saint Die des Vosges - Vittel 118.0 km

1^st	Elizabeth Armitstead (GBR)	2.51.30	41.28 km/h (25.65 mph)
2^nd	Giorgia Bronzini (ITA)	s.t.
3^rd	Lisa Brennauer	s.t.
4^th	Joelle Numainville (CAN)	s.t.
5^th	Adrie Visser	s.t.

11^st	Charlotte Becker (GER)	+0.04
30^th	Sarah Düster (GER)	+0.14
35^th	Patricia Schwager (SUI)	+0.46

General Classification after Stage 7:

1^st	Annemiek Van Vleuten (NED)	15.48.29	39.24 km/h (24.38 mph)
2^nd	Judith Arndt (GER)	+0.06
3^rd	Olga Zabelinskaia (RUS)	+0.20

4^th	Elizabeth Armitstead (GBR)	+0.48
6^th	Charlotte Becker (GER)	+1.38
10^th	Sarah Düster (GER)	+4.34
30^th	Patricia Schwager (SUI)	+10.28