Emma Pooley (AA Drink-Leontien.nl) won the second stage of the Emakumeen Euskal Bira in Lekeitio, in typical solo fashion. The former British champion escaped her two breakaway companions, AA Drink-Leontien.nl teammate Lucinda Brand and Australian champion Amanda Spratt (Orica-GreenEdge), on the final climb of the day, and held off a chasing group of ten to the finish of the 98km stage. Annemiek van Vleuten (Rabobank) won the sprint for second place, 20 seconds later at the head of the chasing group, with Trixi Worrack (Specialized-lululemon) taking third.
Despite losing 12 seconds in stage one, after being caught behind a split in the wet, technical finish, Pooley’s margin of victory was enough to give her the race lead.
The first successful attack of the day came from Pooley’s AA Drink-Leontien.nl teammate Lizzie Armitstead after just over 20km. The British champion only managed to get 30 seconds clear however before a group of riders managed to bridge across.
In this group were mountains jersey wearer Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (Hitec Products-Mistral Home), Spratt and Linda Villumsen (both Orica-GreenEdge), Kaat Hannes (Lotto-Belisol), Liesbet De Vocht (Rabobank), Brand, Eneritz Iturriagaechevarria (Lointek), Lisa Brennauer (Specialized-lululemon), Joanne Hogan (Bizkaia-Durango) and Romy Kasper (Germany). They managed to get more than a minute ahead but, as the peloton split behind them, they were caught before the next climb.
As the race came together again, another group got clear, made up of Ellen Van Dijk (Specialized-lululemon) and Mascha Pijnenborg (Dolmans-Boels), with Armitstead, Brand, Spratt and Hogan again. Pooley bridged across to her two teammates then, as she accelerated, only Brand and Spratt could follow.
On the approach to the top of the final climb Pooley dropped first Spratt, then Brand, and continued alone over the top.
Chasing the former time trial champion on the descent were van Vleuten, Worrack, Swedish champion Emma Johansson (Hitec Products-Mistral Home), Belarusian champion Alena Amialyusik (Be Pink), Claudia Häusler (Orica-GreenEdge), World time trial champion Judith Arndt (Orica-GreenEdge), Anna Sanchis (Bizkaia-Durango), along with Brand, Armitstead and Laws. The British rider managed to hold them off however, to take the stage victory and overall race lead.
Result stage 2
1. Emma Pooley (GBr) AA Drink-Leontien.nl
2. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Stichting Rabo Women @ 20s
3. Trixi Worrack (Ger) Specialized-lululemon
4. Emma Johansson (Swe) Hitec Products-Mistral Home
5. Alena Amialyusik (Blr) Be Pink
6. Claudia Häusler (Ger) Orica-GreenEdge
7. Lucinda Brand (Ned) AA Drink-Leontien.nl
8. Elizabeth Armitstead (GBr) AA Drink-Leontien.nl
9. Judith Arndt (Ger) Orica-GreenEdge
10. Sharon Laws (GBr) AA Drink-Leontien.nl
Standings after stage 2
1. Emma Pooley (GBr) AA Drink-Leontien.nl
2. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Stichting Rabo Women @ 8s
3. Trixi Worrack (Ger) Specialized-lululemon
4. Alena Amialyusik (Blr) Be Pink
5. Emma Johansson (Swe) Hitec Products-Mistral Home
6. Anna Sanchis (Spa) Bizkaia-Durango
7. Judith Arndt (Ger) Orica-GreenEdge
8. Claudia Häusler (Ger) Orica-GreenEdge
9. Sharon Laws (GBr) AA Drink-Leontien.nl
10. Lucinda Brand (Ned) AA Drink-Leontien.nl