Trixi Worrack moved into the lead of the Brain Wash Holland Ladies Toer after her Specialized-lululemon took victory in the stage two team time trial in Dronten, central Netherlands. The German-registered team completed the flat 34km course in 41 minutes, four seconds, in an average speed of 49.66kph, to knock previous leader Orica-GreenEdge off the top step by 19 seconds. The Stichting Rabobank team, featuring race leader Marianne Vos, was last to start, but could only come within 57 seconds of Specialized-lululemon to take third on the stage.
"It was the last TTT test before worlds and it shows that we are in a good position with ten days to go," said Specialized-lululemon directeur sportif Ronny Lauke.
"There are still a few minor things that we can do better,” he added. “After winning all the important TTT's this season we can be confident but we definitely have a lot of respect for our competitors. The results have been close and it will be a close battle amongst the top teams for the TTT crown on September 16."
The Belgian National Team was the first to start, and posted a time of 45’20”, which was to stand up until Skil-Argos finished in 44’52” six teams later. The Dutch team was to sit on the top of the standings for just a few minutes however, as Belgian team Sengers Ladies stopped the clock in 44’23”.
Having finished second to Specialized-lululemon in the previous month’s Open de Suède Vårgårda team time trial, the Orica-GreenEdge team - of World champion Judith Arndt, Linda Villumsen, Loes Gunnewijk, Shara Gillow, Alex Rhodes and Melissa Hoskins - was one of the favourites for victory. The Australian team was fourth to last to start, but its time of 41’23” was exactly three minutes quicker than Sengers Ladies.
The AA Drink-Leontien.nl team - of Kirsten Wild, Shelley Olds, Lucinda Brand, Lizzie Armitstead, Chantal Blaak and Jessie Daams - could manage just 43’18” to go into provisional second, but was knocked down to third as Specialized-lululemon was next to finish.
Worrack, Ellen van Dijk, Charlotte Becker, Evie Stevens and Amber Neben stopped the clock in 41’04”, to go 19 seconds faster. Stage one winner Ina Teutenberg - who was the team’s best placed rider - was dropped part way around the course, so Worrack - who had finished fifth the previous day - moved into the provisional lead.
Only the Rabobank team - of Vos, Annemiek van Vleuten, Pauline Ferrand Prevot, Liesbet de Vocht, Iris Slappendel and Tatiana Antoshina - could deny the German team victory, but crossed the line in 42’02” to go third.
Result stage 2
1. Specialized-lululemon (Ger) 34km in 41’04”
2. Orica-GreenEdge (Aus) @ 19s
3. Stichting Rabobank (Ned) @ 57s
4. AA Drink-Leontien.nl (Ned) @ 2’13”
5. Sengers Ladies Team (Bel) @ 3’18”
6. Skil-Argos (Ned) @ 3’48”
7. Hitec Products-Mistral Home (Nor) @ 3’49”
8. Dolmans-Boels (Ned) 4’10”
9. Belgian National Team (Bel) @ 4’15”
10. Team Ibis Cycles (GBr) @ 4’21”
11. German National Team (Ger) @ 4’44”
12. Italian National Team (Ita) @ 4’58”
13. People’s Trust Ladies (Ned) @ 5’50”
14. Team Jan van Arckel (Ned) @ 5’56”
15. Faren-Honda Team (Ita) @ 5’58”
16. Restore Cycling (Ned) @ 6’42”
17. Team Specialized DPD (Ned) @ 7’51”
Standings after stage 2
1. Trixi Worrack (Ger) Specialized-lululemon
2. Ellen van Dijk (Ned) Specialized-lululemon
3. Charlotte Becker (Ger) Specialized-lululemon
4. Evelyn Stevens (USA) Specialized-lululemon
5. Judith Arndt (Ger) Orica-GreenEdge @ 19s
6. Linda Villumsen (NZl) Orica-GreenEdge
7. Loes Gunnewijk (Ned) Orica-GreenEdge
8. Marianne Vos (Ned) Stichting Rabobank @ 46s
9. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Stichting Rabobank @ 58s
10. Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Fra) Stichting Rabobank