Trixi Worrack matched her Specialized-lululemon teammate Ina Teutenberg as she took her own second stage in the 2012 Thüringen-Rundfahrt in the stage four Rund um Altenberg time trial. The former German champion was fastest on the rolling 20.7km out and back course, finishing in a time of 29’49”, at an average speed of 41.654kph.
"I'm excited," said Worrack, after enjoying the undulating course. "I felt really good again so things seem to be going to plan for me leading into the Olympics."
Worrack’s time was just seven-tenths of a second faster than former teammate, World time trial champion Judith Arndt (Orica-GreenEdge), but 16 seconds faster than yellow jersey, Swedish champion Emma Johansson (Hitec Products-Mistral Home). Despite narrowly missing out on the stage victory however, Arndt had the considerable consolation of taking over the race lead.
The German champion - who won the 2007 and 2008 editions of the race - now led by five seconds over Worrack, with defending champion Johansson slipping to third, eight seconds back. It was Specialized-lululemon that had dominated the race so far however, having won all four road stages to date.
"The girls have just raced so well together all week," said the team’s directeur sportif Ronny Lauke. "Its nice to see Trixi continue to get better every week. She's really moved herself back up to the top of women's cycling this year."
With two members of the German Olympic team having taken two stages each, and one now leading the race, it had already shown itself as one of the teams to beat in London the following week. There was a worry for the fourth member, Claudia Häusler (Orica-GreenEdge) - who leads the mountains classification - dislocated her shoulder as she climbed off to fix a bike problem mid-race.
Result stage 4
1. Trixi Worrack (Ger) Specialized-lululemon, 20.7km in 29’49”
2. Judith Arndt (Ger) Orica-GreenEdge
3. Emma Johansson (Swe) Hitec Products-Mistral Home @ 16s
4. Amber Neben (USA) Specialized-lululemon @ 18s
5. Ina Teutenberg (Ger) Specialized-lululemon @ 25s
6. Esther Fennel (Ger) Koga Ladies-Central Rhede @ 42s
7. Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) RusVelo @ 51s
8. Elizabeth Armitstead (GBr) AA Drink-Leontien.nl
9. Emilia Fahlin (Swe) Specialized-lululemon @ 1’08”
10. Sharon Laws (GBr) AA Drink-Leontien.nl @ 1’10”
Standings after stage 4
1. Judith Arndt (Ger) Orica-GreenEdge
2. Trixi Worrack (Ger) Specialized-lululemon @ 5s
3. Emma Johansson (Swe) Hitec Products-Mistral Home @ 8s
4. Ina Teutenberg (Ger) Specialized-lululemon @ 26s
5. Elizabeth Armitstead (GBr) AA Drink-Leontien.nl @ 48s
6. Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) RusVelo @ 57s
7. Amber Neben (USA) Specialized-lululemon @ 1’24”
8. Olga Zabelinskaya (Rus) RusVelo @ 1’48”
9. Sharon Laws (GBr) AA Drink-Leontien.nl @ 1’51”
10. Emilia Fahlin (Swe) Specialized-lululemon @ 2’03”