Ina Teutenberg (HTC-Highroad) won the fourth stage of the Giro d’Italia Femminile, between Forlimpopoli and Forli, as the sprinters were finally allowed their day. The German champion beat World champion Giorgia Bronzini (Colavita Forno d’Asolo) into second place, with former Italian champion Monia Baccaille (MCipollini-Giambenini) in third at the end of the fast 74.1km stage.
“The team did an excellent job today,” said Teutenberg at the finish, “putting me into the ideal position for me to express myself. In the stage finale in the city centre it wasn’t easy to control the race.
“I’m really happy to get my first victory at this Giro Donne,” she added. “I’ll again tomorrow, although it’s over a much more challenging distance.”
At just 74.1km long, the fourth stage offered precious few opportunities for anyone to get away. With the almost completely flat parcours, after three hilly days, the sprinters were highly unlikely to pass up an opportunity by allowing a breakway to steal the victory.
The intermediate sprint after 7km was taken by 2009 race winner Claudia Häusler (Diadora-Pasta Zara), ahead of Valentina Carretta (Top Girls-Fassa Bortolo) and Italian champion Noemi Cantele (Garmin-Cervélo); it was not until the 37th kilometre though, that the first attack came in, when Marijn De Vries (AA Drink-Leontien.nl) got away.
The Dutchwoman was only able to get 15 seconds clear though, before being pulled back, and the rest of the stage saw the sprinters’ teams in complete control.
Baccaille launched her sprint with 300 metres to go, but the two-time Italian champion was unable to hold off Teutenberg, who has now taken twelve stages in the Giro Donne. The German passed Baccaille with around 150 metres to go with Bronzini in tow, to take an emphatic victory.
Race leader Marianne Vos (Nederland Bloeit) finished the stage in tenth place and, with all of the time bonuses taken by the sprinters, holds on to her pink jersey, with Sylwya Kapusta (Gauss-Rdz-Ormu) just eight seconds behind.
Result stage 4
1. Ina Teutenberg (Ger) HTC-Highroad
2. Girogia Bronzini (Ita) Colavita-Forno d’Asolo
3. Monia Baccaille (Ita) MCipollini-Giambenini
4. Emma Johansson (Swe) Hitec Products-UCK
5. Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Nederland Bloeit
6. Bras Martine (Ned) Netherlands National Team
7. Rasa Leleiyte (Ltu) Vaiano-Tepso-Solaritech
8. Lucy Martin (GBr) Garmin-Cervélo
9. Trixi Worrack (Ger) AA Drink-Leontien.nl
10. Marianne Vos (Nederlad Bloeit)
Standings after stage 4
1. Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit
2. Sylwya Kapusta (Pol) Gauss-Rdz-Ormu @ 8s
3. Emma Pooley (GBr) Garmin-Cervélo @ 36s
4. Shara Gillow (Aus) Bizkaia-Durango @ 1’15”
5. Sharon Laws (GBr) Garmin-Cervélo @ 1’19”