Another stage victory at Tour de l’Aude.
Cervélo TestTeam impressed yesterday in the Tour de l’Aude with an excellent performance in the team time trial to claim victory on the 34.5km race in Clermont l’Hérault, France.
The team finished the challenging course about 35 seconds ahead of the runner up team HTC-Columbia and 52 seconds ahead of Nederland Bloeit, who took third spot. Unfortunately, the winner from yesterday’s stage, Elizabeth Armitstead (GBR) had a puncture after the first kilometer, dropped from the team and lost her leader jersey. The new overall leader is now Adrie Visser (NED – HTC-Columbia).
“I am extremely satisfied with the team’s performance today,” said Cervélo TestTeam Sport Director Egon van Kessel. “It was definitively a challenging course through narrow village roads, sharp corners and other technical highlights but the team was incredibly strong. The only thing that was not so nice today was Elizabeth Armitstead’s flat tire after only one kilometer. Her wish was that the team continue racing and not wait for her.”
“I’m very happy about the team time trial today. It was a hard stage but with the victory the pain was paid back,” commented Emma Pooley (GBR), Olympic silver medalist after the race. “To win with such a big margin was really great for us. So far we have had a very good Tour de l’Aude. I am looking forward to the other stages. Seven days are left and there are still some challenges in front of us.“
Tomorrow’s third stage course around Lèzignan Corbières is over 110 km. While it does not have any big challenges, there are two, second category mountains to overcome. The wind could also play a role, possibly providing an opportunity for a break away or giving the sprinters a chance for the stage victory before the race heads into the mountains on Tuesday.
Stage 2 – Clermont l’Hérault (TTT) 35.4 km
1 Cervélo Test Team
2 HTC Columbia +35 sec
3 Nederland Bloeit +52
Photo: TDWsport.com