Claudia Häusler wins fourth stage as Specialized-lululemon dominates the overall classification
Evie Stevens (Specialized-lululemon) secured overall victory in the inaugural Exergy Tour, after a successful attack with 20km of the final Boise stage to go. The US time trial champion jumped from what was a small peloton as teammate Clara Hughes was reeled in; she was joined by former German champion Claudia Häusler (Orica-GreenEdge), and the two riders quickly distanced the field.
As they rode together to the finish, Häusler outsprinted Stevens to take the stage victory in the 75km team, but Stevens had the overall tied up; taking the yellow jersey from teammate Amber Neben, who’d worn it since the stage two time trial.
Jasmin Glaesser (Canada) won the sprint for third place, ahead of Carmen Small (Optum), 55 seconds later. Neben was safely in the group but dropped to second overall and, although stage three winner Ina Teutenberg was left behind, Canadian teammate Hughes was there to make sure of an all-Specialized-lululemon podium.
Reactions to follow
After Stevens had taken the maximum points over the Cartwright Road climb, the first break of the day came from Hughes, with Tayler Wiles (Exergy-TWENTY12). The two of them managed to open up a lead of over a minute over the peloton around the large, hilly circuit; Tibco-To The Top, Canadian National Team led the chase, which reduced to front peloton to just a dozen riders.
With 20km to go, as they were about to be caught, Hughes went off alone, but the Canadian time trial champion was caught shortly afterwards. As she was taken back Stevens jumped over the top of the unclassified climb, and Häusler quickly joined her.
As Stevens and Häusler turned onto the road back to Boise, and the second time over the Cartwright Road climb, their lead opened up to almost a minute with the final ten kilometres approaching. Stevens was doing the lion’s share of the work but, with Hughes blocking the chase behind, the gap was not closing.
Stevens took maximum points over the top again - to secure the final mountains jersey - and the chasers were 1’07” behind as they followed over. They continued to co-operate on the fast descent back into Boise, and held their lead until, as they rounded the final corner, the German came around and won the sprint.
Result stage 4
1. Claudia Häusler (Ger) Orica-GreenEdge
2. Evelyn Stevens (USA) Specialized-lululemon
3. Jasmin Glaesser (Can) Canadian National Team @ 55s
4. Carmen Small (USA) Optum Pro Cycling
5. Megan Guarnier (USA) Team Tibco-To The Top
6. Alison Powers (USA) Now and Novartis for MS
7. Flavia Oliveira (Bra) Forno d’Asolo-Colavita
8. Amber Neben (USA) Specialized-lululemon
9. Rachel Neylan (Aus) ABUS-Nutrixxion
10. Kristin McGrath (USA) Exergy-TWENTY12
Final overall standings
1. Evelyn Stevens (USA) Specialized-lululemon
2. Amber Neben (USA) Specialized-lululemon @ 50s
3. Clara Hughes (Can) Specialized-lululemon @ 1’02”
4. Shara Gillow (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge @ 1’16”
5. Alison Powers (USA) Now and Novartis for MS @ 1’23”
6. Claudia Häusler (Ger) Orica-GreenEdge @ 1’40”
7. Jasmin Glaesser (Can) Canadian National Team @ 1’50”
8. Kristin McGrath (USA) Exergy-TWENTY12 @ 2’01”
9. Carmen Small (USA) Optum Pro Cycling @ 2’12”
10. Megan Guarnier (USA) Team Tibco-To The Top @ 2’32”